Hi There!  I'm Heather and I’m ready to get real with you about why I am here and what I believe. Yes, you already know that I’m a licensed massage therapist by looking at my name and credentials.  Yes, you already know that I offer individual bodywork sessions to aid in your well-being.  You may also know that I facilitate women circles and teach workshops throughout the Chicagoland area. What you may not know is what got me here and what drives me to share with you the work that I’m currently doing in the world.  The essence of why I do what I do, is what I want to share with you. In a nutshell, I believe that everybody, including you, have the ability and capacity to heal. I’m there to help you tap into that healing place; a place that’s already within you.  I am not here to do the healing for you though.  I’m not healing you, but rather facilitating you. It is important for me to create a safe space, whether in session, circle or workshop; for you to let your guard down, and feel truly seen and heard for who you are and where you are at on your healing journey.  Whatever shit needs to come out; through the use of my hands, energy work, experience and intuition; in combination with your voice and your body’s guidance – we, together, are releasing the issues trapped in your tissues. Our tissues hold memories and emotions.  They hold onto trauma that wasn’t fully healed. I want you to know they are coming to a space where that’s recognized and that you’ll be able to have those things addressed. Authentic healing is something that I strive to facilitate in my sessions, in circle and in workshops….it’s not fluffy.  Let’s get real.  It’s not cookie cutter.  It’s individual.  It’s not me healing you.  It’s me helping you tap into that healing place within yourself. It also brings me tremendous joy to witness you feeling empowered!  I love it when I see you walk away from our time together feeling more connected to your body, with a better understanding of how it works.  I strive to educate you the best way I can so you can feel like you are well connected to the vessel you are living in during your time here on earth. Now I can sit here till I’m blue in the face and tell you all about what I believe.  I do think it’s important for you to know the experienced background that stands behind these beliefs.  So here it goes… It all began during my previous career of dance, upon graduating with honors from Columbia College Chicago in 2000. I spent six years performing, then teaching and choreographing dance for 15 years throughout Chicago and the Northwest suburbs. My performing credits include Thodos Dance Chicago, Estradanza, as well as the privilege of working with the independent artists, David Dorfman, Colleen Halloran, Jon Leher, Altin Naska and Amy Wilkinson. I’ve taught and choreographed for several District 214 high schools as well as at the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters conventions. Throughout my career in dance, I experienced several dance related injuries that left me unable to perform.  Disheartened and depressed from the unexpected twists and turns in my career, I begrudgingly decided that I needed a plan B.  My sad outlook turned around when I reconnected with a passion I felt in college for the subjects of anatomy and kinesiology and as a result, I decided to learn about healing by expanding my knowledge in these two subjects and attended the New School for Massage; Bodywork and Healing in Chicago, IL in 2004. My experience in massage therapy school changed my life, and as a result, I chose to dedicate my career to the service of helping others heal. Since my graduation from massage therapy school, I worked in chiropractic offices, wellness centers and high-end spas such as Allyu Spa, The Four Seasons Hotel Spa and Urban Oasis. While the experiences working at such fine establishments were positive, something was missing for me. It wasn’t until 2011, where I had an opportunity to step out on my own and create a pain management practice that focuses on massage therapy, reflexology and Reiki, did I realize how important is was for me to own and operate a practice that focuses on the client as an individual with a unique set of pain management needs and conduct sessions accordingly. I bring the best of my experience to each session while working with an intuitive approach to the healing arts. I draw from Myofascial Release (MFR), as created and taught by John F Barnes (JFB), craniosacral therapy, chakra balancing and body wisdom coaching techniques to create sessions tailored to meet your individual needs that address, not only the physical body, but the energetic bodies that house our mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. This way of working addresses you as a human being and not just a human body.   Staying well connected with the performing arts world, many of the clients I work with are world renowned dancers, musicians, actors and circus performers. I also work with a number of physicians, nurses, and office workers; many who are experiencing chronic pain, neck and shoulder injuries, headaches, low back pain, plantar fasciitis and TMJ Dysfunction. I'm licensed in the state of Illinois and am Board Certified through NCBTMB, as well as a member of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP). I’m a BIG lover of education and I regularly participate in continuing workshops to enhance my skills, and I’m also an active educator throughout the Chicagoland area. Some of my recent teaching experience includes The School of The Art Institute Chicago, The New School For Massage and courses on Fluidify Fascia & Wellness. After 20 years of personal yoga practice, my latest venture was completing her 200 hour yoga teacher training with the Chicago Yoga Center under the direction of Suddha Weixler in 2021. I’m currently studying with The School of Movement Medicine and The Power Path School of Shamanism, and I look forward to sharing how my studies with these schools will morph and inform the work I do with clients in the years to come. All in all, it lights me up inside to bring a compassionate, listening ear to each session, and I enjoy helping clients empower themselves on their healing journey!  I look forward to working with you soon!