Unwind

Therapeutic Bodywork & Massage

Questions?

Contact me with questions or direct booking:

Text or Call 970-690-6015

email: unwind.fortcollins@gmail.com

Online Booking Portal

Feel free to book online at your convenience by clicking below.  Always book directly through my website, otherwise you may experience issues with massagebook.com

Gift Certificates

Buy a gift certificate online for a 60 or 90 minute session through massagebook.com.  Set up a free account and choose from a variety of designs.  Conveniently print or email. 

What to Expect

My sessions include a blend of massage modalities and approaches, tailored to address the goals and needs of the client.

For people experiencing muscle tension from overexertion or underuse (weekend warriors to desk workers), I’ll use a blend of techniques often found in the world of sports massage and therapeutic massage (neuromuscular therapy, muscle stripping, PNF stretching, etc.) There are both passive and active components of this kind of massage, which engage the client’s nervous system and soft tissues. The aim of these techniques is to relieve stiffness from sitting at a desk (underuse) or tightness/stiffness from strenuous activities like biking, hiking, exercising (overuse). Clients with soft tissue injuries should consult their physician or physical therapist to determine when or whether massage can be incorporated into their recovery program, as massage in itself is not going to magically heal an injury.

For clients looking to reduce stress and anxiety, I incorporate flowing techniques and compression found in both Swedish and Asian massage modalities that calm the nervous system by inhibiting the sympathetic system (fight, flight or freeze) and activating the parasympathetic (rest, digest). I occasionally check in with clients on comfort and pressure and am happy to engage with clients if they wish, but clients can otherwise expect a quiet session for them to relax.

Cancelation Policy: If you need to reschedule, please do so 24 hours before your appointment so I have an opportunity to give that space to someone else. If you’re sick or under the weather, please reach out as soon as possible to reschedule.

Feel free to use my online booking portal below or text me for availability if that’s more convenient for you. Payments are usually done after the session. Prepay options are available when booking online but are not necessary. Cards, cash and checks accepted.

 

Philosophy & Approach

I prefer the more holistic approach to bodywork and massage, which views the body more as a whole than its individual parts. 

Through the reductionist model we have reduced the musculoskeletal system into its smallest parts, named its muscles and their individual functions. This can be very useful in the study of human anatomy, but viewing the body in this way has its limitations when seeking therapeutic outcomes of soft tissue massage and manipulation. 

Therefore, when I’m working on a client with stiff, sore shoulders from working at a desk all day, not only will I be directly working on that area, but also upstream and downstream from the shoulder. Working to create a sense of freedom, space and relief in the shoulder means we should massage the upper chest, all areas of the neck, the sides of the body, the whole arm and even the armpit area. 

When I explain my approach to new clients, a common response I often hear is “well, everything is connected”, which always makes me smile. The interconnectedness of the human body and its function as a whole is becoming a mainstream concept, which I’m grateful for as it makes my life easier! Therefore, one should expect my work to be more encompassing than just massaging the area of concern.

My Massage Story

After graduating from University of Houston, I sold all of my stuff and jumped on a plane to Japan. It was my lifelong dream to experience the rich culture and deep insights that only living and working in a foreign country can provide, and I had a particular interest in Japanese language, culture, food and its unique approach to martial arts. I spent 10 years there and had a variety of experiences that equal a lifetime of learning and adventure. I worked as an assistant lecturer at Taisho University and did some freelance work as an editor for a handful of educational books. In my spare time I devoted myself to fitness, music and martial arts, which eventually led me to explore the world of manual therapy and massage.

One of the unique aspects of martial arts culture is an emphasis on taking care of one’s body. Without a strong, supple body one cannot expect to be successful in this hobby, and avoiding injury is paramount, and was especially important to those who lived in more difficult times. We have the luxury today of being able to surgically fix injuries which would have been utterly disabling just a hundred years ago, so self-care practices including bodywork and massage were a necessary part of life back then.

So, through this realization and my personal experience with the benefits of massage, I decided to study these arts so that I might someday be of benefit to the community around me. I moved back to the States to formalize my education at the Healing Arts Institute in Fort Collins, Colorado, and have been practicing ever since.

Location

 1030 Centre Ave. Suite B 
Fort Collins, CO 8052

Hours

Sun          10am – 3pm
Mon         2pm  – 8pm
Tues     3:30pm – 8pm
Wed          2pm – 8pm
Thurs   3:30pm – 8pm

Contact

Email:   unwind.fortcollins@gmail.com

Text or Call:   970-690-6015

Pricing

30 Minute Focus    $45

60 Minutes    $80

75 Minutes      $100

90 Minutes     $120