Massage Therapy
I began my massage training at Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts, Santa Cruz, CA, in 1999. I completed a 200 hour intensive program which included Polarity Therapy, Integrative Swedish Massage, Anatomy/Physiology and Business Practices. I was blessed to have instructors who taught presence as much as technique. Concurrently I worked at the Tea House Spa as a receptionist and Massage Practitioner, and at the Food Bin and Cafe Del Sol, where I learned about health foods and nutrition. Working as a healer for the first time brought up many issues that I needed to heal in myself, and one way I processed was through cleansing. I pre-cleansed with a three month alkalizing raw food diet, then completed a month on the Arise and Shine program. I have cleansed yearly ever since, in a variety of ways.
In 2000, I entered Mesa Institute in Orange, CA, for a 1000 hour Sports Massage certification. I studied advanced bodywork, deep tissue, sports and clinical massage, acupressure, lomi lomi, pre/post natal, aromatherapy, reflexology, and qi gong. During this time I worked for a chiropractor, a small day spa, and a phenomenal yoga and pilates based Physical Therapy facility, Movement Works. Under my mentor, Mary Light, I learned to refine my skills, learn hands on therapeutic applications, supervise patient rehab protocol, and perform soft tissue manipulation of patients as a PT aide. My aunt, Beverly, initiated me in Reiki, levels I and II.
I made a move to San Francisco in 2002, where I worked for the destination spa, Nob Hill Spa at the Huntington Hotel. Here I learned and performed over 21 body treatments with products from Jurlique [organic], Babor [German, pharmaceutical grade], Aromatherapy Associates [aromatherapy], Jamu [Balinese], and Tara [Ayerveda]. I joined the Structural Release team after training with Tucker Sharp. Additionally, we were given invaluable training in customer care by industry professionals. I studied Orthopedic Massage with DC Tom Hendrickson in Berkeley, CA. In my private practice I worked with patients with RSI, fibromyalgia, cyclists, scoliosis, injuries, and people with chronic tension. In 2003 I volunteered for the AIDS/LifeCycle as a Massage Therapist for the event. In 2004 I trained and fundraised for the same event, this time as a cyclist, completing a 585 mile ride and helping raise over 4 million dollars for research, education, and services for those with AIDS. I also participated in my first ten day Vipassana meditation course, and was active in my yoga practice. I was also on the staff of International Orange, The Mindful Body, and Osento.
Back in Southern California, I joined up with Burke Williams Day Spa, Santa Monica, where I was on the Deep Tissue Team. I also worked with a small private practice in Long Beach, Healing Hands Massage, in the office of Dr. Price, Bio-Cranial practitioner. I increased my knowledge in essential oils in my practice, and began distributing for Young Living Essential Oils. As a consultant, I sat on the board for Seed Interiors Group and helped research and develop the concept and curriculum for a residential massage school and retreat center. My continuing education included Channeling and Energy work with Robin Clark, and A Year to Live with Noah Levine, founder of
The Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, Iyengar yoga with Paul Cabanis. I had the great joy of performing again with Dream Circus Theater and was part of the Urban Rootz dance troupe.
Before moving to Portland, I traveled and studied Massage at Esalen, Breema at Breitenbush Hot Springs , Whole Body Breathing, with Eugene Cash, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
Before I entered the field of healing arts, I had been a DJ at UCSC, where I was earning my BA in Cultural Anthropology. I was passionate about music and dance culture, and was preparing for a career in the music industry. However, the summer before my last quarter, I had an outdoor education course through UC extention that changed my life. My cultural studies and interest in Earth based spirituality came together in the Olympic Peninsula, WA, during a five week course in Nature Philosophy. Out in nature, I came to realize my calling to come back to the body. As a classically trained ballet dancer, I abandoned my body wisdom when I entered college. While I still studied dance, and began a yoga practice, my courses were largely theory based. So, when I reconnected with my body, with nature, and what was true for me, I realized that I could pursue a career that was of service in a real, tangible form. I remembered that my body is a divine conduit, a nexus, for healing energy, and is the connection between heaven and Earth. I went directly into Twin Lakes after I graduated from UCSC.
Now, ten years later, I have developed ways to support my clients that are empowering. Through coaching and personal training, there is an active component to healing, to balance the passive and receptive nature of massage. I am excited to return to being an LMT, bringing my offerings full circle.
any questions? contact me :)
Change
Here are two projects that have made an impression:
Produced + Directed by my pal:
Ashley T. Hughes
323-377-3833
www.ashleythughes.com
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Playing for Change is a project that connects and remixes street performers’ music from all over the world. Very powerful!
