My work with the body began in the fitness industry. I worked as a personal trainer in San Francisco during the peak of the AIDS crisis, serving many who had more at stake than fitness or appearance.  In a community that needed hope, people used exercise and fitness to take charge of their health and change unhealthy habits proactively.  I learned to appreciate the therapeutic benefits of exercise and the importance of having resources for taking positive action. I began exploring alternative health practices, including massage, chiropractic, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.  I studied in the yoga teacher’s training program at the San Francisco Iyengar Institute, practiced Qi Gong, and was introduced to meditation practices. I began my foundational massage education at the National Holistic Institute and became a certified therapist in 2006.  My initial experience as a massage therapist included bodywork in an acupuncture clinic focused on fertility and women’s health, a chiropractic clinic, and the UCSF fitness center.

 In 2008, I opened Bodywork Balance in Sacramento, California, offering massage, myofascial therapy, and Craniosacral therapy. I was introduced to Craniosacral work in 2008. I acquired my certification (CST) at the Upledger Institute, where I now serve as a teaching assistant and take advanced courses.  In 2013, I began coursework in teaching Pilates, becoming certified through Balanced Body and the National Pilates Certification Program. I wanted to give clients a proactive way to help themselves between bodywork sessions, and I was privileged to teach in my private practice and at EPY Pilates, where I received life-changing mentorship.  I discovered Visceral Manipulation through my Craniosacral network and began studying at the Barral Institute in 2019, where I continue to learn. After the pandemic, my husband and I joined our family in Portland, Oregon, and I relocated my practice, focusing on Craniosacral therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Myofascial work, and Pilates.

When I’m not doing bodywork or studying my craft, you can often find me in a local café, engrossed in a piece of fiction, or exploring Portland’s vibrant food scene (I’m an avid cook).  I love taking walks through the city’s streets and parks as I get to know our new home, and I find it difficult to resist a good thrift store. I still enjoy my daily workouts and movement practice, and my daily meditation practice, which I’ve maintained for the past 20 years, is a cornerstone of my spiritual health.