The best massage ever

When people ask why I became a massage therapist, I tell them about my first massage.

I played sports when I was young. I was sore and achy a lot of the time. It was just part of playing. My parents decided to send me to a massage therapist, and I had no idea what to expect.

It was one of the best experiences of my life at that point. It opened everything up and took away a lot of the pain. I still think of it as the best massage ever.

What I remember about it

I don't remember every detail. I remember how I felt afterward. I could move. My body felt like it belonged to me again, not like something I had to push through.

That's when I figured out that pain and tightness aren't just things you put up with. Someone can help with them.

Why it stuck with me

I wanted to do that for other people. That's the whole story. I didn't have a big plan. I knew what it did for me, and I wanted people to get the same thing.

It's been 22 years on the table. I still think about that first session when someone walks in and says they've been hurting for a long time.

What a good massage looks like to me

My idea of a good massage comes straight from that first one. It's not complicated.

• You're heard. If something hurts, I want to know where and for how long.
• You get to be quiet. You don't have to talk during your session. Talk if you want to. Don't if you don't.
• Nobody rushes you. An hour is an hour.
• You leave feeling better. Looser, calmer, and able to move more easily.

If you're not sure what you need

Lots of people don't know what kind of massage to book. That's normal. I offer a few different sessions:

• Therapeutic Massage is a balanced, full-body session to ease muscle tightness and reduce stress. It's a good place to start if you're not sure.
• Heated Bamboo Massage uses warmed bamboo stalks to knead and roll out deep muscle tension and improve circulation.
• Prenatal Massage is a gentle session for pregnancy-related tension and swelling. It's done side-lying or with a pregnancy pillow. It isn't recommended in the first trimester, and your provider may need to clear you.

If you can't decide, there's also a free consultation. It's a short call before you ever get on the table. Tell me where it hurts, what you've tried, and what you want out of the hour. If you don't know what you need, that's fine. That's what the call is for.

Your first one might be the one

I'm not promising your first massage with me will change your life. I can't know that. I do know a first massage can show you what your body is capable of feeling like. Mine did.

If you've been putting it off, or you've only ever had a rushed one, book a time and come in. You don't have to say much.