Shawn S. | Licensed Massage Therapist
Specialties: Deep tissue, relaxation, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, injury treatment, pin and stretch, sports massage, Reiki. He has a Masters in Energy Medicine and advanced training in passive release, and myofascial release for the ribs and thoracic region. Shawn has experience working with clients of all ages including minors and is experienced in treating clients with thoracic outlet syndrome, mental health conditions, headaches including migraines, pregnancy, plantar fascitis, and sciatica. He offers Himalayan salt stones, basalt hot stones, Aroma Ritual, Herbal Ritual, and cupping.
Summary: "During my mid to late twenties I pursued playing music as a career while working in food service during the day. I was in a band that had honest potential but eventually broke up. During that transition I realized that playing music as a career took the fun out of it for me so I started looking for a new direction. I knew I wanted to do something helpful and that did not require years of schooling so I could start my new career sooner. I had heard good things, from a coworker, about the school that I ended up attending and it was only one year of school. Since friends and family had always complimented me on my knack to find the tight spots, I decided to look into massage school. From the first meeting with admissions, I felt a deep intuitive sense that massage was the right fit for me and I haven't looked back since."
What makes your massage unique? "It is in every way my goal to make sure that by the end of a session you are feeling better than when you came in, whether that be in terms of addressing specific areas of pain and tension in the body, general maintenance work to “get the knots out”, or momentarily stepping away from the world into a quite space so the mind and soul can come to rest while someone else takes care of things. I have a wide range of techniques I can use, and want to find whatever is the right blend of those for you and your individual wellness goals.
However I am just as passionate, if not more so, about being a guide for those on a path of cultivating a lifestyle aimed at wellness and stepping into new ways of being that will create lasting, permanent change beyond temporary relief. It is my honor to empower you with self-care knowledge, including ways to care for the soft tissues such as specific stretches, proper use of self -massage tools, and ice and heat, as well as mindfulness and other techniques to process and deal with stress, which can often be the root cause of what we are feeling physically. My background in energy medicine also includes consciousness work, so for those who feel called to do so we may also look at mental and emotional issues that could be manifesting as dis-ease in the body. Utilizing these methods has been vital in my own healing journey, and it is my hope they may serve you as well."
Success Story: "I saw a client who was working through recovery from a car accident. They had seen some improvement working with other massage therapists but still had a way to go in their recovery. During our massage sessions together, they were able to have deeper release in their body and started progressing faster in their recovery. While checking in with the client at the end of one session, they told me with tears in their eyes, "I remember why it's good to be alive!"
What do you appreciate most when receiving massage yourself? "When the therapist is truly in tune with and responding to my body's needs instead of just mindlessly following a protocol or cookie cutter routine."
What keeps you passionate about massage therapy? "I love that there is always something to learn! Not only have I seen amazing results in my clients but I am living proof of the benefits of massage therapy as it was a major part of my recovery after experiencing four car accidents within seven months."
What do you enjoy doing outside of massage therapy? "Even though it is no longer a career goal, music is still a huge part of my life. I also enjoy nature and cooking. Along with learning about the physical body, I love learning about the self and existence from the mental, emotional, spiritual, and philosophical."