I've been a massage therapist since 1980.

 

After being a sculptor in clay for many years, my interest in bodywork got its start with the study of Jin Shin Do and Shiatsu, Japanese methods effecting acupuncture meridians. I continued the pursuit of energy related healing modalities by studying/apprenticing with Rosalyn Bruyere and managing her westside healing center for a year or so.

I then began what was to become a comprehensive exploration of virtually every substantial mode of bodywork I could find: Swedish massage and its influence on circulation, lymphatics and stress, deep tissue styles, including Rolfing, Deep Transverse Friction (DTF) for tendinitis, tendinosis and fascial adhesions, St. John Neuromucular Therapy (NMT), Trigger Point Therapy, sports massage from Craig Nelson and John Harris (including his versions of myofascial release and active release), Onsen and more sports massage from Rich Phaigh.

In 1996 I received a training certificate, CFT1, from the International Sports Science Association (ISSA) in Santa Barbara. ISSA education director, Charles Staley, while still the education director there, collaborated with me in designing training periodization programs for several of my clients who were preparing for the 2000 Summer Olympic trials and a MMA competition.

As a result of those collaboratons I earned a MSS (Masters of Sports Science) from ISSA. Charles asked me to write "The Role of Recovery In Injury Prevention" section in his first book, "The Science of Martial Arts Training".

 

I then studied with Dr.Mel Siff to gain more understanding of how to apply Active Recovery methods from the USSR which he learned from several of his Eastern European mentors. (Dr. Siff and Michael Yessis edited a book containing Russian abstracts from the 1970s and 80s on USSR recovery studies “Sports Restoration and Massage, Secrets of the World's Greatest Superstars").

I intend to continue to study what's current in my field. I’ve now acquired a quiver of techniques that allow me to tailor each session to my client’s needs. Much of what I've learned I've refined by being taught by my clients, a wide spectrum of really great teachers.