About Essie Essie Hicks is a Licensed Massage Therapist certified in several different healing modalitiesincluding Craniosacral Therapy; Lymphatic Drainage; Aromapoint Therapy; Pregnancy massage; traditional Deep Swedish massage; Sports Massage; detoxification and herbal applications; hydrotherapy; trigger point therapy and ZenBodytherapy ®. She has been a massage practitioner since 1999. Essie lives in Tumwater, WA with her youngest 3 teenagers of her 5 sons, husband, two Labradors, and one kitty. She enjoys gardening, growing fruit trees, spinning yarn, painting, hiking and photography. You may see some of her work for sale on her walls in the massage studio.   History | Education | Experience Essie began training in massage therapy in 1992 in Yreka, California as an apprentice after high school.   She studied under master bodyworkers, and herbologists with the Mount Shasta Herbal Company. She studied energy work, sports massage, and traditional Deep Swedish Massage. Under the supervision of master herbologists, she learned how to blend high quality body products. She completed her Massage training at the Alexandar School of Natural Therapeutics in 1999 and went directly into an internship as a teachers aide. Essie taught HIV/AIDS education and awareness, Spa modalities, aromatherapy, deep tissue, and continuing education courses with the Alexandar School until 2007. Essie started Absolute Relaxation Therapeutic Massage in the South Sound area of Yelm and Olympia in 1999. Her first patients were professional rodeo athletes, Elders of the Nisqually Tribe and active duty, and veterans of the military. She is experienced with geriatric massage, PTSD, and traumatic injuries to the back and neck. Essie also provided consulting services to small massage practices, day spas and destination spas.   After turning her practice over to an associate in 2007, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in social science and a master’s degree in public administration. She is a graduate with honors from South Puget Sound Community College, Washington State University and Seattle University. After she and her husband relocated to the shores of Lake Washington, Essie continued to consult with local spas, and completed her first training in Craniosacral Therapy at Bastyr University. She was on the executive leadership opening team and Spa Director at the Lodge at St. Edward in Kenmore, WA.   Philosophy and Approach to Healing Arts With over 20 years of experience in the practice of healing arts, Essie brings unique and effective treatment modalities to treat the individual needs of her patients. She is constantly learning in order to provide the most effective treatment with the most modern techniques. Her philosophy on treatment is that healing touch should be restorative, pain reliving and calming. Patients should feel pain relief and freer movement after a session with her.   Location Essie is thrilled to be back home in beautiful Yelm, WA where she started her practice in 1999. Her studio is located within Northwest Spinal Care at 503 1 st street where she takes clients and continues to provide consulting services to spas and massage clinics.