Greeting: 

      Attention to service, quality and following my Intuition, have made me an Asset to my Profession and Community.  Client well-being, health and safety are paramount.  I will constantly and consistently strive to meet and exceed your expectations.

I look forward to working with you.

Meet Your Therapeutic Massage Specialist

     Shawna All, LMT/RmT/MMT

Currently Resides in the Pendleton area with her Husband, Momma and 3 fur-babies.     

     Shawna truly understands Chronic Pain as  she has lived with Fibromyalgia for more that 30 years and Lives With an assortment of Mental Health issues,  like millions of others. 

"Massage & Chiropractic have been life changing for me."

     Shawna grew up On the Cayuse-Umatilla Reservation.  She attended both Weston-McEwen and Pendleton High Schools, graduating the spring of 1993.  

      Her grandparents  (Maggie and Ivan 'Slim' Bill,) her cousins, her Mother (Becci Lindsey) and the elders of the Rez taught her much about who she would become. 

     After Graduation, She moved to Alaska, which became HOME for nearly 13 years.  In 1998 she completed Alaska Job Corps, Construction Trades/Maintenance Program.  Shawna attended Alaska Career College's 915hr-Therapeutic Massage Specialist Program in 2007.

(top of her class with Honors.)

     She built her practice quickly working for herself, a beauty salon, Alaska Club Athletic Club and Arctic Chiropractic West Mat-Su. 

After successfully running her Business 'Pangea Manual Therapy', she returned to Oregon to reconnect with her (NOW) husband. and build her New Business:  Intuitive Body-Werx, Massage for the Masses.

     While Still in the Portland Area, Shawna updated her skillset,  attending the University of Western States, 738-hour Massage Program. Assimilating new research and protocols, as well as, Developing a Network to support expanding Clientele.

     She continues to update her skillset year after year,  to fulfill her long-term desire to bring healing to the Rez that helped shape her into the Shamanic-Healer she has become.

...Now, with 18 years Experience...

LET THE HEALING BEGIN!!

Things to consider When Seeking out a Massage Therapist:

Ask a Friend

 If you have a friend who sees a massage therapist, don't be shy, ask them for a reference.

Speak with the available massage therapists,  Prior to making an appointment.

     A good massage therapist will be willing to discuss your expectations and what style of massage will work best to relieve your symptoms.

Inquire about their facilities: 

     Know if they are "Handi-accessible" if needed.  You may prefer to be seen an office setting rather than in your home or the home of the massage therapist.

Credentials are Important:

     Making sure the massage therapist is Currently licensed! Ask about how long they've been practicing, where they were schooled, how many hours of training did they complete and if they've had any advanced training in specific massage techniques.

Finally: 

     If you are Uncomfortable being fully undressed, you can discuss alternative options with your massage therapist. A good massage therapist will be accommodating to your needs, & if they're not, you can always find a massage therapist who Will.

Glad You Found Us!  

History of Massage and more:

     WHY MASSAGE?

What are the benefits of Massage and Bodywork? 

See the list below, here are few, and there are so many more...

Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.

• Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
• Ease medication dependence.
• Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system.
• Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
• Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
• Improve the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin.
• Increase joint flexibility.
• Lessen depression and anxiety.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
• Reduce post-surgery adhesions and swelling.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.
• Relieve migraine pain

Powerful Ally

There's no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management), massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.

Increase your benefits, with Frequent visits:

    Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of Disease is stress related.  And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress.

This translates into:

• Decreased anxiety.
• Enhanced sleep quality.
• Greater energy.
•  Improved concentration.
• Increased circulation.
• Reduced fatigue.

Furthermore,

     Clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical benefits:

• Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
• Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow.
• Burn injury patients port reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
• High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
• Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
• Preterm infants have improved weight gain.

     Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating a percentage of on-site massage practitioners and even spas to treat post-surgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.
 

     Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you'll be and how youthful you'll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn't mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.

Review massage information from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

HISTORICALLY:

     The practice of using touch as a healing method derives from customs and techniques rooted in ancient history. Civilizations in the East and West found that natural healing and massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses. What’s more, it helped reduce stress and produce deep relaxation.

Massage therapy began as a sacred system of natural healing. However, cultural shifts rendered it a disreputable form of indulgence for extensive periods of history. Enduring these turns, massage has experienced resurgence in modern times. Today, massage therapy stands as a highly respected holistic healing method practiced across the world. Here’s how massage has evolved into the relaxing and therapeutic practice it is today:

A Form of Massage Emerges in India

Started practicing massage in approximately 3,000 BCE*, possibly earlier

     Believed to be of divine origin and passed down orally through generations, Ayurveda is the traditional holistic medical system in India. Ancient seers and natural scientists developed this system based on centuries of studies, experiments and meditations.

Texts detailing Ayurvedic principles and practices were written some time between 1500 and 500 BCE. Based on these texts, Ayurveda was widely adopted throughout India and Southeast Asia.

Ayurveda views that individuals incur illnesses and diseases when they live out of harmony with their environment. To treat their conditions, individuals must restore their natural mental and physical balance by reestablishing harmony between themselves and the world around them. At that point, they can begin to heal naturally.

Based on the patient’s health imbalances, constitution and the time of year, Ayurveda recommends how to use the five senses to interact with the environment in order to create balance. Treatments in Ayurveda include diet and herbalism, aromatherapy, color therapy, sound therapy and touch therapy.

A Hint of the Massage Culture Appears in Egypt and China

Started practicing massage between 3000 and 2500 BCE

     The earliest written records of massage therapy were discovered in Egypt and China. Tomb paintings in Egypt depict individuals being kneaded by others. Furthermore, Egyptians are credited with creating reflexology in approximately 2500 BCE. In this system, the practitioner applies pressure to specific points or reflex zones on the feet and hands. In turn, the recipient experiences beneficial effects on the areas of the body that connect to those zones.

In China, texts documenting the medical benefits of massage therapy date back to approximately 2700 BCE. The Chinese tradition of massage therapy was developed from the combined expertise and methods of doctors in traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners of martial arts, Buddhists and Taoists who viewed touch as essential to their spiritual yoga training, and laymen who offered massages for relaxation.

Chinese massage methods originated from the principle that diseases and illnesses arise due to a deficiency or imbalance in the energy in specific pathways or meridians that represent physiological systems. Through massage and other specific bodywork techniques, energy will flow more harmoniously through these pathways, allowing the body to heal itself naturally.

Techniques include Tui-Na, Amno, acupuncture and acupressure, to name a few. Practitioners may complement massage treatments with herbal remedies, dietary therapy and exercise recommendations.

Monks Bring Massage Therapy to Japan

Started practicing massage in approximately 1000 BCE

     Starting around 1000 BCE, Japanese monks studying Buddhism in China observed the healing methods of traditional Chinese medicine, including massage therapy. Japan soon began to import and customize Chinese massage techniques, giving rise to traditional Japanese massage or Anma, which grew into Shiatsu.

The primary goal of Shiatsu is to raise the energy level in the patient. In turn, this increased energy level regulates and fortifies the functioning of the organs and stimulates natural resistance to illnesses.

Massage practitioners stimulate pressure points in the body in an effort to rebalance the patient’s energy. They use their thumbs, fingers and palms, working without needles or other instruments. Through treatment, patients can achieve balance in both their physical body and emotional well-being.

Athletes and Philosophers Introduce Massage to Greece

Started practicing massage between 800 and 700 BCE    

     Derived from the Eastern philosophies and practices, massage progressed into Western civilization in approximately the eighth century BCE.

Athletes in Ancient Greece employed massage to keep their bodies in peak condition prior to competitions. Physicians of the time used herbs and oils in combination with massage techniques to treat many medical conditions. Greek women recognized the benefits of these aromatic oils and used them as beauty treatments on their skin.

In the fifth century BCE, Hippocrates prescribed “friction” to treat physical injuries and instructed his physician colleagues on the benefits of rubbing to help the body heal itself. Moreover, he promoted a combination of massage, proper diet, exercise, rest, fresh air and music to restore the body to a healthy state.

“Do as the Romans Do” – Massage Spreads to Rome

Started practicing massage between 200 and 100 BCE

      In Rome, during the first century BCE, Galen, a physician to many emperors, began using massage therapy to treat different types of physical injuries and diseases. Following Hippocrates’ principles, Galen believed in exercise, healthy diet, rest and massage as integral pieces in restoring and maintaining a healthy body.

While the wealthy received massages in their homes by personal physicians, many Romans were treated in public baths where trainers and doctors delivered massages. The recipients would first bathe themselves and then receive a full body massage to stimulate circulation and loosen their joints. Massages typically included oils to benefit the skin.

     Highly popular in Roman culture, the public baths eventually earned a reputation as being more about excess and the pursuit of pleasure instead of as an avenue for healing. In the fourth century CE**, the Roman Emperor Constantine condemned the public baths for adding to the abuse of sex in Roman culture.

Europe Recognizes Massage’s Healing Powers

The 17th through 19th centuries CE**

     Massage therapy declined in popularity and practice in the West until approximately 1600 CE. Scientific breakthroughs in medical technology and pharmacology were changing the foundation of modern medicine. Manual methods of healing faded from view.

Between 1600 and 1800, numerous physicians and scientists observed and documented the benefits of massage. However, Western techniques made few advances until the 19th century.

In the early 1800s, the Swedish physician Per Henrik Ling developed the Swedish Gymnastic Movement System. This system incorporated massage with medical gymnastics and physiology. Techniques included stroking, pressing and squeezing, and striking to manually treat physical issues.

The United States, Massage and the Wellness Boom

     Through the early part of the 20th century, an increasing number of new and rediscovered massage techniques were documented and practiced. In particular, massage was used to treat World War I patients who suffered from nerve injury or shell shock.

However, massage remained out of the mainstream as a form of treatment for many years. It was perceived as a luxury reserved for the wealthy. Furthermore, its reputation endured another unsavory period with the advent of massage parlors where the practice became associated with the sex trade.

In the latter half of the 20th century, rising interest in natural healing methods revitalized massage. More and more states started to regulate the practice, and industry standards in licensing and education emerged. As a result, massage earned a place as a legitimate and respectable form of alternative and complementary medicine and because recognized in society’s wellness boom—the focus on disease prevention through maintaining wellness.

Today’s massage therapists practice a multitude of techniques originating from ancient methods. From those roots, they remain inspired by a goal cultivated centuries ago – to help others heal their physical and emotional well-being and experience a higher quality of life.

*BCE is known as “before the Common Era” or also known as the “Current Era.”
**CE represents the “Common Era or Current Era.”

Sources: Holistic Online, Massage-Wire.com, PlanetHerbs.com

Even the Great Gengis Khan...Karmic Zones:

     It is said that Genghis Khan instructed his soldiers to massage their arms and legs after each day’s battle.  He believed that the memories of bloodshed and of their fallen compatriots lived in their bodies and could negatively affect their ability to fight in the future, and that massage could work these memories out of their muscles, leaving them fresh and strong to fight anew.

Recent postural and psychological study of individuals has concluded that certain emotions or “frames of mind” do tend to settle in specific areas of the body.  The following is a guideline that suggests possible psychological indications of certain areas of tension in the body.  So keep in mind that a massage isn’t only for the physical leg of our body, mind, and spirit triad.  A massage can help with your emotional state as well.

FEET TO ANKLES–Tension in this area prevents connection to the ground, so you might feel as though you don’t have a strong foundation, or you might feel inhibited from “being yourself.”  Others might say you are flighty, and not well-centered.

ANKLES AND CALVES TO BASE OF KNEES–Problems here could be manifested by a fear of action, or by procrastination or indecision.  Insecurities disallow the ability to adapt.

KNEES–Tension here points to a fear of death; literal death or perhaps the figurative death of a situation or relationship, or even the death of ego, brought on by an embarrassing situation.  Transition is difficult.

THIGHS–Stress in the quadriceps covers the fear of weakness and inadequate strength, of binding the kath current eliminating the possibility of real strength.

ISCHIAL TUBEROSITY TO TIP OF COCCYX–Problems here might indicate that a fear of losing things have manifested a clinging to unnecessary objects, situations, or relationships; the holding onto figurative clutter.

PELVIS FROM TOP OF ILIAC CREST–A frozen pelvis might mean that you are afraid of really living and taking risks.

RIB CAGE TO PELVIC BONE–Breathing and the assimilation of food relates to your ability to assimilate or process experiences.  

SHOULDER (PECTORAL, DELTOIDS, BICEPS, TRICEPS)–If you believe that things never go your way, that something always goes wrong in your life, or you feel overburdened with disappointments and unmet expectations then you are likely to experience tension, pain, or soreness in these muscles.

FOREARM & ELBOW–Tension here points to a fear of punishment, or of being inferior.  Think of “ducking a blow” to ward off the blows of life.

HANDS TO WRISTS–Memories of mistakes are held in the hands, which lead to a fear of doing, and always believing that you never do anything well.

UPPER BACK, INCLUDING TRAPEZIUS–Here you might feel a heaviness of life, or the feeling of having too many responsibilities might manifest itself by pain and tension in this area.  Simply, a busy and stressful day might land here.

RHOMBOIDS (BETWEEN SHOULDER BLADES)–Unexpressed anger and resentments settle here.

SHOULDER BLADES TO PELVIS (ERECTOR SPINAE)–Tension here points to support issues and a fear of losing.  Self-esteem issues settle here as well, as you say to yourself that you always fail.

Here's what folks had to say of: 

Shawna All  LMT

Owner/Operator of Intuitive Body-Werx

Formerly:      ***Pangea Manual Therapy  (...in Alaska.)***

     Dear Shawna, I wanted to Say thank you so much for my massage sessions!  To say thank you seems a little inadequate for how much better my body feels afterwards!  I can honestly say my back and legs are much happier carrying my body around this earth.  I had no idea how much relief massage would give to my body and soul, but it certainly does.  You have a very caring way about you and make a big difference in the lives you touch. (Literally!)  Your techniques are extremely effective, and I appreciate the fact that you are so informative as to what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what else can be done to achieve healthier habits and goals.  Who would've thought I could actually have a toner body from massage, it's one of the best and most surprising side effects, not to mention how great I feel afterwards!  I appreciate ALL  you do for me,    and wish for others to know what a difference you (and massage therapy) can make in their life!

With Warmest Thoughts,

-Eva Prewitt 

      I have been a client of Shawna' s for a few years now; and in that time I have regained aspects of my health that I thought were lost for good.  I did not realize that massage therapy could not only feel good but also help with my nerve and joint pain or that It could help me regain better posture and mobility as well.    I have been through many therapists trying to find a small measure of relief, to no avail.  After my first session with Shawna, I felt noticeably better than I had after numerous sessions with others'.  I want to say that Shawna has an excellent way of communicating with your body, understanding what its telling her, and adjusting to what suits the need.  She has a healing touch that cannot be gained by formal education alone, but in combination with her Intuition, makes her adept at helping you reach your health/comfort goals.  I cannot think of any higher praise I could give her but to tell you, honestly, that I would absolutely  send any/all family, friends, and associates to Shawna without hesitation or reservations. 

Thank you so much Shawna!

-Janine K. 

     Ms. Shawna Stewart (ALL) has been Massaging me for over 6 months now, and I have gained much relief from my chronic neck/shoulder and upper back pain through her bodywork as well as "homework". (eg.stretching and exercises)  Shawna is very knowledgeable in many systems of the body, and how they relate to each other.   She also works along side a very credible Chiropractor here in the Mat-Su Valley, Whom I receive care from in conjunction with the Massage Therapy.  In unison this is a very effective treatment for myself.   I would highly recommend her services to anyone that needs/wants pain relief, or just a relaxing Massage to unwind from the MANY stressors in all our daily lives. 

 You will truly feel the difference and relief from such a dedicated professional, such as Shawna.

-Rick B.

     I would highly recommend Shawna's out-call Massage sessions (she comes to YOU in your home when needed) to anyone who has stress in their life. (don't we all?!)  I have a VERY stressful Job, at the end of which my neck and my back are ALWAYS so knotted up.  Shawna has been coming to my home once a week for several months now, and wow, what a difference!  I so look forward to my "weekend session of healing".  After my massage, I am so relaxed.  I'm sleeping much more restfully, have more energy, and my headaches have decreased considerably.  She is truly gifted at what she does and has helped me more than she'll ever know.  And my "dog children" LOVE her!!

Thank you  so, so much!

-Vickie R. (MS client, RIP)