For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion to create a better world.  When I was 13 and 14, I spent my summers overseas doing volunteer work.   After returning from Brazil at 14, I became ill with a mono-like malady that would confound doctors.   Dealing with a compromised immune system and mysterious flu-like symptoms for the next ten years, I began a search into alternative healing methods to find some kind of relief.  Researching “alternative” medicine opened up a whole new world that fascinated me, and in the process I made the decision to study massage therapy.  I received my massage therapist certification in 2001 from Hands on Healing Institute in Tujunga, a school that I was drawn to because of their emphasis on the mind/ body/ spirit connection as an integral part of the work.

As our world today faces increasing crises – social, environmental, economic, and spiritual-  I feel more challenged than ever to bring whatever piece of healing I can offer to my corner of this beautiful planet.   The benefits of therapeutic massage are immediate, lasting, and powerful; and it is exciting to see more and more people taking control of their health, and ultimately their lives.  

 "what kind of massage do you do?"

My work has evolved over the years, starting with a strong focus on the deeply relaxing therapeutic benefits of Swedish massage .  Next, I spent a year studying energy work with Heather White (in the tradition of Rosalyn Bruyerre).  I then became interested in myofascial release, a therapy which targets the fascia tissue which connects and runs through our entire system.  The myofascial work resonated with me because of the relatively light touch that ultimately reaches very deeply into the tissue, bringing powerful results.  I studied in depth with Frances Nicolais, and in an interesting twist, the myofascial therapy seemed to become a metaphor for my own practice:  as I worked with the fascial system, I found myself doing more and more deep tissue work- as if the fascia was guiding me ever deeper into the body’s intricate layers.

Today, a majority of my clients come to me for “deep tissue” massage.  I work with runners, dancers, and other athletes; as well as individuals with chronic pain or deeply held tension.   Re-structuring the body’s unhealthy holding patterns  is one of my primary focuses, as the ultimate goal is to assist you in creating a body that functions beautifully and effortlessly.  I invite you to contact me and let me know how I can help you- your body's own wisdom is our guide.

~Rachel Hardy, LMT