Austin Beal
Massage Therapist
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | Massage therapy has been the most rewarding work I have ever done. After 8 years in the restaurant industry, I wanted to do something that would make people feel better. My boyfriend had recently gotten his massage license. I saw how much it helped him grow, physically and mentally. I quit my job, went to massage school a couple days later. My life has changed for the better since then. Plus, I have been greeted warmly by the industry. I love massage therapists, they just want to take care of people!
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | Diet and exercise! I meal prep a lot of vegan foods so that I don't convince myself to stop a P-Terrys for dinner. I exercise with my boyfriend twice a week at the roller rink. We also have 3 huskies who love to hike and swim with us! Self care has been hugely important to my personal growth as well. For me, its yoga, salt scrubbing my feet, getting a massage from my boyfriend and meditation.
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | It depends greatly on the client! My toolbox includes, but isn't limited to, myofascial, flushing, deep tissue, deep massage, breathing, stretching, and body mobilization techniques. I like to discuss whats best for my client and choose the best session for their specific needs.
Q | Do you have particular parts of the body that you prefer work on?
A | I feel my strengths are in the hands, feet, low back and shoulders. But, honestly, I enjoy working on the troubled spots the most! I am a problem solver.
Q | What are your specialties?
A | Deep tissue, Swedish, Sports, Myofascial, Body Mobilization Techniques and Pre Natal Massages
Q | What continuing education courses have you taken?
A | The Lauterstein-Conway School of Massage
Bryan Dodson
Massage Therapist
Q | How long have you been a massage therapist?
A | Since 2013
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | I was looking for a new direction when I realized that I didn't actually want to go to college for computer engineering. At the time, I was dating an esthiology instructor at the Aveda Institute in Houston, which has a massage therapy program. When she told me that I had a "healing touch" and a special talent for finding problem areas in the body, I took that seriously. It came as a surprise to everyone in my life that expected me to go into engineering, but I've found that helping people feel better in their body is a much more gratifying vocation than working with computers.
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | I like working with a high level of detail and specificity, and I believe strongly in the communicative power of touch. Often I have a clear idea of what I'm trying to do, and if I can communicate that goal to the client with only my hands, I feel that it can have a much more profound effect on the outcome.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | Just doing the massage work that I do helps a lot to keep me in good shape. My mantra for general well being is "hydration and mobilization." As long as you're drinking lots of water and keeping everything moving, you're off to a great start. Besides that, I find that I feel a lot better on a fully plant-based diet and a consistent 7 hours of sleep per night.
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | When a client describes a problem to me, I immediately start trying to think about what kind of restrictions I might find in the muscular and connective tissues. Often I tend to find what I'm looking for, and when I don't, I make it a point to investigate and try to find the missing link. I'm not shy about asking questions in order to get an understanding of the full scope of the problem.
Q | Do you have particular parts of the body that you prefer to work on?
A | I'm always happy to see clients that have low-back pain, just because I can always get good results there and it makes a huge difference for them. Same with shoulder and neck pain. Really, any part of the body that is limiting an individual's ability to move freely and comfortably.
Q | What are your specialties?
A | Deep tissue and trigger point therapy
Q | What continuing education courses have you taken?
A | I'm currently enrolled in the advanced program at Lauterstein-Conway, which is a 250 hour program covering orthopedic and integrative massage.
Jennifer Ratliff
Massage Therapist
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | Massage therapy, for me, has become a more connective path that has bridged the gap between just working and actually helping others and making a positive difference in clients’ lives, as well as my own life. As much as massage has made a huge impact throughout my own personal life, I want to pay it forward and make a difference by upholding my core beliefs in how self care, hardwork, and massage can change your life.
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | My massages focus on pain relief, restoration of range of motion (ROM), flexibility, and working on reestablishing connective breathwork to get through the difficult and sometimes painful spots. I can go from firm to very deep, depending on the situation at hand, but always within the comfortable levels to accomplish the set goal.
Q | How has massage therapy affected your life?
A | Massage has been part of my life and self-care regiments for many years. I have noticed that giving and receiving massage has made me a more present person overall. So, my life has become more enriched through massage therapy.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | I keep myself ready to rock and roll through personal healthy choices through massage, yoga, Qi gong, a vegan lifestyle, and hiking & camping. Also, taking breaks to stop and smell the roses!
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | If a client comes in and is experiencing discomfort, but truly needs deep work, I switch to a deep tissue relaxation massage. The main ingredient to a deep tissue relaxation massage is getting angry muscle bundles and fascia to relax and engage without causing additional inflammation. I use heat, breathwork, and communicate about what is going on to cause the tissue issue at hand, and how to incorporate self-care maintenance.
Q | Do you have particular parts of the body that you prefer work on?
A | I do not have a particular part of the body I prefer to work on, I am always up for new challenges through massage.
Q | What are your specialties?
A | Deep tissue, therapeutic yoga stretches, cupping, sports massage, and injury specific issues.
Q | Where did you receive your massage training?
A | Therapeutic Body Concepts in San Antonio
Q | What continuing education courses have you taken?
A | Thai massage, Ashiatsu Thai, yoga, Muscle Energy Technique (MET), and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF).
Sheri Steinmetz
Massage Therapist
Q | How long have you been a massage therapist?
A | 8 1/2 years
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | I had taught Middle School Math and Science for 32 years and wanted to do something helpful and peaceful after I retired.
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | I combine techniques from Deep Massage, Deep Tissue and Zero Balancing to create a modified myocardial massage that works on the body and the persons energy for wellbeing.
Q | How has massage therapy affected your life?
A | It has given me a way to connect with people who are interested in being healthy in body and mind, which then challenges me to be a better person and therapist.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | I live on a micro farm in south Austin, and as you know farming is a very physical vocation. I get lots of exercise taking care of gardens, animals and infrastructure. I also make time for my friends and family, and I get body work as often as I can.
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | I listen to what they want and to how they describe how they feel and then I tailor my massage to their needs.
Q | Do you have particular parts of the body you prefer to work on?
A | No, however, approximately 80% of my clients tell me that they hold their stress in their neck and shoulders, so I do a lot of work there on my clients.
Q | What are your specialties?
A | Deep Massage, Stretching with massage, Deep Tissue work, modified myocardial massage and Zero Balancing.
Q | Where did you receive your massage training?
A | Lauterstein Conway School of Massage in Austin TX.
Q | What continuing education courses have you taken?
A | Hot Stone massage 25 hours, Cold Stone Massage 6 hours, Zero Balancing 100 hours, Lymphatic Massage 25 hours from the Cancer Center at MD Anderson in Houston, Massage Therapy Instructor course 30 hours, and Massage Ethics 24 hours
Katie Nicholas
Massage Therapist
Q | Where did you receive your massage training?
A | A New Beginning School of Massage in Austin, TX
Q | How long have you been a licensed massage therapist?
A | I graduated in February of 2014.
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | I have always had a focus on health and fitness, so massage was an easy choice for me. It satisfies my need to be creative, to be active and most importantly, it satisfies my calling as a healer.
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | My massages are a melting pot of different modalities. I have picked up a lot over the years.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | I have 2 amazing rescue dogs that keep me active outdoors, but I also enjoy yoga and reading to keep my mind and body balanced.
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | My massage approach is highly intuitive and extremely focused with a strong emphasis in compassion. It is my personal mission to provide a safe place for clients to receive what they need from our sessions together.
Kira Sinclair
Massage Therapist
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | I focus on what the client needs and fixing the issue. My technique can also very from relaxing lomi lomi to deep tissue.
Q | How has massage therapy affected your life?
A | Learning about the body has taught me to look at it like a puzzle that is interesting to fix. Massage is relaxing and sometimes meditative for me and helping people is very fulfilling.
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | I like to find exactly what the client is struggling with and focus on what could benefit them. Some people need relaxation and breath work, some need injury treatment.
Summer Del Monte
Massage Therapist
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | Integrative massage, using Swedish, orthopedic, and deep techniques tailored to my client’s individual needs.
Q | How has massage therapy affected your life?
A | Receiving regular massage has had a profound affect on my nervous system. I am much more relaxed and aware of my body. Becoming an LMT has also made me feel more connected to others.
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | I first address areas of complaint, and then backtrack to possible causes of tension and discomfort. After the initial treatment, I focus on self-care and pain prevention.
Matt Hernandez
Massage Therapist
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | Massage has so many physical and psychological benefits. I have a passion to improve the lives of others and believe massage has incredible healing power.
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | Crafted to meet and exceed each individual clients needs.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | I make sure I drink plenty of water. I get massage regularly. I play disc golf.
Sheree Wormley
Massage Therapist
Q | How has massage therapy affected your life?
A | It gives me the opportunity to follow my passion of healing people in a natural way.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | Meditation, yoga, and eating a vegan alkaline diet.
Q | What is your approach to delivering relief to your clients?
A | Calming and centering myself so I can be tuned into what each individual body needs.
Daniel Peterson
Massage Therapist
Q | How do you describe your massage to others?
A | My clients experience relief through increased blood circulation to the muscle tissues that are bound up, while engaging the nervous system to integrate the body and mind.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | Weekly massage, dancing and reading books is what I do to keep my mind and body grounded.
Q | Do you have particular parts of the body that you prefer to work on?
A | Headaches and poor posture are often caused by tension in the upper back, neck and shoulders so relieving this stress is my favorite.
Nora Hansel
Massage Therapist
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | I chose massage therapy as a career because massage has always felt like an intuitive healing art to me and I’m fascinated with the role soft tissue plays in our well being and the ways it responds to and is affected by touch.
Q | How has massage therapy affected your life?
A | Massage therapy has helped to anchor me in my body and practicing body work has taught me the power and importance of being present.
Q | What are your specialties?
A | I would say I specialize in glutes and neck work.
Dakota Willingham
Massage Therapist
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
A | I have always enjoyed receiving massage, and want to help others.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | I use lacrosse balls to roll out areas of tension, receive massage, and pay attention to my posture.
Q | What are you specialties?
A | Deep tissue and Swedish massage.
Krystal Kincaid
Founder
Q | Why did you choose massage therapy as a career
A | I chose this as a career because I thrive on helping clients with pain management. I equally love creating wellness plans and developing relationships with my clients. Anatomy and human body movement never seizes to amaze me. I love learning new techniques and continuing to support my clients on their health journeys. It’s very rewarding to help my clients feel better and witness progression and improvement; they are always happy to see me and happy when they leave.
Q | How has massage therapy affected your life?
A | It’s so rewarding to see clients improve. Receiving massage therapy myself has allowed me to continue my health and wellness journey, injury free.
Q | What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
A | I exercise 5-6 days per week, count my macros, and meal prep to ensure a balanced diet. I also foam roll and self massage at home.
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