Hello, fellow human! I’m grateful that the universe – working in its mysterious ways, through client word-of-mouth and/or my marketing materials – has brought you here.  My name is Woozy Wootters (they/them) - I am a licensed massage therapist and an insured member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), as well as a part of the Sanctuary Collective of bodyworkers, yoga instructors, and other healing arts practitioners. My modalities include Swedish, deep tissue, and myofascial release. I’ll be direct: I am aware that there are a lot of massage therapists around here. If you live in the Pioneer Valley, you might know one personally, and if you live in Northampton, you probably tripped over one on your way to work. That said, massage therapists are not a monolith. We all have different philosophies, styles, personalities, etc., and it can take time to find one that works for you. So in the interest of streamlining your search, I want to plainly lay out the  four core beliefs  that define my practice, so you can get a sense of whether or not working with me will be beneficial for you. Ready?   1. The best expert on your body is  you .  I obviously love that my clients trust in my abilities and knowledge, but at the end of the day, my expertise is never going to be more valuable than their lived experience. I know how frustrating it is to go in for a massage, and identify an area that needs attention, only for that area to be completely ignored because the “real problem” is somewhere else. This is also why… 2. Open communication is  vital .  I always do a thorough in-person intake with new clients, because virtually all information about someone’s lifestyle is good to know. When familiar clients come in, I naturally want to get a sense their physical state, but getting a sense of their emotional state is just as important. Life can be…  a lot , and all of it affects our physical wellbeing. A good massage session should allow us to unload whatever we’re holding on to. While I don’t challenge my clients in the way that a good psychotherapist would (unless we’ve built up that kind of relationship) I am always here to listen - before, during, and after the massage. 3. Pain during a massage does  not  equal effectiveness.  Don’t get me wrong - when I get a massage, I like receiving deep and firm pressure, and I’m happy to go deep when I work. That said, there is a notion in our culture that “real” improvement is supposed to  hurt , and I have seen no evidence of this being true. To me, this belief reveals the antagonistic relationship that many of us develop when living with chronic pain. We don’t want to feel like our body is bullying us - we want to feel like we’re fighting back. But at the end of the day, when we have this mindset, we are fighting ourselves, and hurting ourselves. Letting go can be difficult, but often necessary. 4. As luxurious as it feels, massage therapy should  not  be a luxury.  We sadly live in a culture where physical touch is less and less common, and where we are encouraged - if not required - to ignore the needs of our bodies in order to get through the day. In this context, massage therapy is not a luxury, it is basic maintenance. I keep my prices relatively low for this reason, and I encourage people to reach out if they need extra financial consideration. Finally, as a bonus tenet, here’s the "free space" on the massage therapist bingo card, the belief that you should expect from  any  massage therapist: EVERY BODY DESERVES RESPECT.  You are unique, and you are beautiful, and I hope that every day you look in the mirror and say that you love and accept yourself, exactly as you are. Thank you for reading this far, and if you feel that this is what you’re looking for, then I hope to hear from you soon. Take care, Woozy