MA71275
My journey to being a massage therapist started in July 2010 while I was sitting in a conference room, taking my PhD qualifier exam. The question that started this journey was simple, "Why do you want to have a PhD?" And the simple answer was, I didn't want the degree. In that moment, I realized academics was not my path. One week later I had withdrawn from the program and began searching for my new path.
A year later, I began learning how to be yoga teacher. This was a dream I had been holding onto since I was a teenager. I have been a yoga student since 1995 and have had the opportunity to study with many gifted teachers in Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, and Baptiste Power Yoga. I am honored to share my love of yoga with people and hopes that the skills learned on the mat can be easily integrated into daily life. In 2012 I completed the yoga teacher training at Sanctuary Yoga in Gainesville, FL.
After completing my yoga training, I felt strongly that to be an excellent and competent yoga teacher, I would need more training in anatomy. I played with idea of taking anatomy at the local community college, perhaps moving towards a health career. A little voice inside my head said, "Go check out the massage school ... just go and see," so I went to an open house and I knew that I needed to be there. I didn't know how I was going to pay for it, I didn't know that I was going to love it, I just knew that I had to go there.
I graduated from Florida School of Massage where the curriculum and training focused on using massage and hydrotherapy to foster awareness and personal growth. Modalities taught include Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Neuromuscular Therapy, connective tissue therapy, Polarity Therapy and Sports Massage Therapy. In addition to the massage modalities, courses focused on Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology, Communications, Business and Law.
A year later, I began learning how to be yoga teacher. This was a dream I had been holding onto since I was a teenager. I have been a yoga student since 1995 and have had the opportunity to study with many gifted teachers in Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, and Baptiste Power Yoga. I am honored to share my love of yoga with people and hopes that the skills learned on the mat can be easily integrated into daily life. In 2012 I completed the yoga teacher training at Sanctuary Yoga in Gainesville, FL.
After completing my yoga training, I felt strongly that to be an excellent and competent yoga teacher, I would need more training in anatomy. I played with idea of taking anatomy at the local community college, perhaps moving towards a health career. A little voice inside my head said, "Go check out the massage school ... just go and see," so I went to an open house and I knew that I needed to be there. I didn't know how I was going to pay for it, I didn't know that I was going to love it, I just knew that I had to go there.
I graduated from Florida School of Massage where the curriculum and training focused on using massage and hydrotherapy to foster awareness and personal growth. Modalities taught include Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Neuromuscular Therapy, connective tissue therapy, Polarity Therapy and Sports Massage Therapy. In addition to the massage modalities, courses focused on Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology, Communications, Business and Law.
My goal is to cultivate awareness in my community through massage therapy and yoga. I feel that life is short, regular massage therapy and a solid yoga practice can help people enjoy life on life's terms. If you want to work hard, you're going to have to "work hard" at relaxing too, at least that is my opinion!
[In addition to my my massage and yoga training, I hold a BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts and a MS in Entomology from the University of Florida.]
Office
Tree Top Massage is a cooperative of like-minded practitioners striving to offer a place of relaxation and healing to the people of Gainesville. Our offices are in a converted home on the second floor, nestled in the trees. It's a cozy and lovely escape.
Office
