My two careers dovetail better than you might think! The common thread is advocacy and empowerment of the self. 

I recently retired from my program manager role in education, responsible for five levels of Advanced Academics. Professional development and coaching of colleagues was a component of this position, as was curriculum design and implementation. Some years this role was funded only half-time, so I went for that dream of therapeutic massage certification. Private practice remains a joy. Along the way, I found myself designing professional development for other wellness providers or courses for their clients. Can’t stop teachers from teachin’!

I love the process of guiding others to the revelation that they know more, can do more, can accomplish more, already are more. My underlying goal for my students was to help them embrace being active participants in their learning. Not passive recipients of something ‘dumped’ into their brains. (Kids are not sponges; that analogy is outdated and inaccurate.) Applying that same philosophy in a therapeutic massage setting means facilitating learning of body awareness. My underlying goal is to help client’s learn what it means to actively participate in the body so that healing can happen.

In the space that therapeutic massage creates, connections and awareness might surface regarding specific habits contributing to neck/low back, etc pain. Meanwhile, each session is tailored so that we match the right massage technique(s) to what you need on that particular day. 

BestBodyMind is born out of that core drive that I have to share with people how they have this great capacity to be an active participant and to direct what comes next in life by connecting to themselves and to being happy and pain free.