Jennifer

I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. I have been practicing various forms of massage for nearly 10 years. My path to massage and bodywork began at age 9 with a series of car accidents. Western medical doctors just ignored my chronic neck and back pain, saying I would "grow out of it". By age 24 I needed help to simply get out of bed in the morning. A great friend and massage therapist gave me my first massage and I was surprised by the results. In all honesty I could not remember feeling so good in all my life. My coursework began in Shiatsu and Reiki shortly thereafter- with the intention of healing myself so I could continue on with traditional college courses. Every class presented new physical challenges, dedication to practice helped to ease the discomfort and in under 3 months I had a loyal client base not to mention mobility and reduced pain levels. In 2001 I moved to Oakland, California where I volunteered my skills at a few nonprofit agencies. My work was focused on supporting men and women who had been abandoned by friends, family, and their own insurance companies due to HIV infection, Hepatitus C, and Cancer. In 2003 I enrolled in a 1000 hour massage training program at the Heartwood Institute in Humboldt County, California . I graduated in November 2004 with a Holistic Health Practitioners Certifiaction, over 200 hours of student teaching and an intership with Acupuncturist and Naturopath Dr. Peter Stern. In the Fall of 2006 I returned to my beloved second home of Philadelphia. I am currently establishing a private massage practice while working part time for a major spa.