If you’re looking for support that cares for your whole self along with the wounded parts, you’re in the right place

After experiencing a shock or impact trauma, we might go through surgery, rehabilitation, therapy, and long recovery paths. Often times our providers return us back to “functional form” (and thank goodness for that), but we still feel a disconnect from our body, from our self. Something has changed. 

You want to feel more than functional, you want to feel ease.

You might even be looking for ways to regain sensation, manage pain, improve your mobility, and tend to lingering emotions held in your body from the event.

This is where bodywork work comes in.

My name is Rachel (they/she), I am a licensed massage therapist, somatic practitioner, mobility specialist, movement guide, and nervous system health educator.

I help people reconnect with their body after experiencing physical trauma.

(otherwise known as impact or shock trauma)

  • Perhaps you incurred a recent injury that has left your body feeling tight and no amount of self massage is helping

  • Maybe you’ve been discharged from physical rehabilitative care or surgery, and you know you still need support in your healing process

  • It’s also possible that the traumatic event you experienced is affecting your ability to connect with not only your self, but others, and talk therapy isn’t quite helping you process your whole experience

When I feel disconnected from my physical self it affects my whole world, including how I engage with others.

What helps me find recovery and resolution, is working with somatic practitioners, movement specialists, and bodyworkers. This is the care I continue to take, to this day. 

As a licensed massage therapist, with over 15 years of experience in health care, I have supported hundreds of people through the injury recovery process by supporting them in the building of deeper relationship to their bodies. 

I want every individual I work with to find resolution from trauma, recovery from injury, build practices that foster connection with body, and live life knowing a sense of ease. 

Sound like care you’re looking for?

I often work with:

  • women and gender expansive folks

  • people who experience mental illness and/or neuro-divergence

  • folks with EDS, hyper mobility, and autoimmune conditions

  • people who have incurred bodily/shock trauma due to car accidents and impact injuries

  • folks with sprains, strains, and repetition injuries

  • individuals looking for pre and post surgical support

I stand behind anti-oppressive care practices that prioritize the experience and empowerment of the individual within the systems.

As we are not made of segmented parts, I consider all aspects of the individual including mind, body, and spirit.

My offerings are trauma informed, and focused through a biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual lens.

When we work together, all of who you are, is welcome.

On a personal note…

  • I am a virgo rising, leo moon, and gemini sun. I give care through counsel, comedy, and considerate affirmation

  • I am the oldest of 5 children aka: a pseudo parent

  • I have lived in two countries, five states, and multiple cities throughout my life

  • As much as I love to travel, I am most comfy at home with my wife, fur babes and our tiny farm

  • After various injuries, I have reconnected with my running routine - it’s been a slow process, but I’m glad to be back

  • I am slowly building the skills to create functional ceramic art, which has been a really fun and challenging process. Maybe one day I’ll show you ;)

Qualifications

    • Studied and practiced Interdisciplinary Movement and Somatic Groundwork with Kaila June

    • Over 15 years of anatomy and physiology education including formal courses

    • Numerous formal kinesiology courses based in exercise science and fitness

    • Completion of the Introductory Herbal Course with The Herbal Academy

    • First aid, CPR, and AED training through the American Red Cross

    Countless hours of continuing education courses including:

    • Orthopedic and sports massage techniques

    • Manual lymphatic drainage based in The Vodder Technique

    • Anatomy Trains & Structural Integration informed courses

    • Chest binding health and care

    • Somatic coaching

    • Neuro Affective Touch

    • Polyvagal theory

    • Pain science

    • Scar tissue care methods

    • Plant medicine

    • Fascial anatomy

    • Breathwork methods

    • Earth and elemental practices

    • Somatic practices and therapies

    • Herbalism in support of the container that is our earth body

    • Neuroscience informed techniques for bodywork and movement re-education

    • The nervous system, specifically within the relationship to our body, our engagement, and overall health

I am grateful for my community, teachers, and resources that have and continue to support my path of purpose. I believe the core of why I do this work is to develop supportive connections with others, earth, and myself. Stemming from my value in relationship, is a great curiosity and interest in how our bodies function and experience life on this planet. Through my ever evolving practice, I strive to consistently develop and provide quality offerings for those I have the privilege of communing with.

Lineage & Land Acknowledgment

I first want to name that all somatic and body based practices originate from various, global indigenous cultures. The majority of modalities, techniques, and tools we see in the western wellness market having been appropriated from eastern practices, many massage techniques included. With this understanding, I continually seek to learn how to best appreciate the lineages of which I practice, and benefit from, in efforts to not perpetuate harmful erasure.

My personal somatic practice began with the lineage of Hatha Yoga, 20 years ago. This practice, along with Ayurvedic principles, have deeply nourished, liberated, and developed the person I am today. I want to take space here and acknowledge that these teachings, which originate in India, have been taken out of context and widely misinterpreted from the source. In the west, this often looks like shapes and movement (asana) being centered in environments, excluding a large portion of the population. As a student, I aim to share my practice with community in accessible ways that honor this 8 limbed spiritual path and prioritize pointing others in the direction of teachers that hold this ancient practice in its full and complex form.

With deep reverence, I name the land on which I practice as the ancestral lands of the Osage people among many others who have called this region home, including the Sioux, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Quapaw, Cherokee, and Miami peoples. With gratitude for this land and inhabitants (past, present, and future) I prioritize supporting and applying regenerative practices where I am able, within the capacity I contain. Ultimately, I believe these lands should be given back, and cared for by the original stewards.

In addition to these statements, I am active through my practice, relationships, and connection to earth.

I welcome feedback and conversation in relation to these acknowledgements.

As I learn, grow, and evolve so too will the words on this page.

We are all interconnected.

The name Earth Body is a recognition of our physical form that is inextricably linked to the land.

Through my work, I aim to weave in reminders of this beautiful connection.

Reminders that we are not separate from the trees, clay, rivers, and seas.

We share qualities with the skies, airways, and space in between

Even fire is our kin, as we carry its heat within our bodies.

May we not forget.