About The Therapist
After
spending 27 years in New England, I packed up my belongings, and my beloved
cats, Alex & Isabella, and drove just over 2,000 miles before arriving at
the yurt in New Mexico. While there I graduated from a year-long
massage training program at the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts
in the fall of 2007.
In June of 2009, I relocated to Seattle, WA from Albuquerque, NM where I had been enjoying my private massage practice.
After 2 1/2 fantastic years in private practice in the Seattle area, I returned home to Massachusetts to be closer to her family in early December 2011. In addition to my massage education, I received my BFA in Music Theatre Performance in May of 2000 from the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Hartford. In Seattle I nourished that part of myself as Director of Musical Theatre, Tap & Jazz Dance and Private Voice Instructor at Spotlight Dance Center in Renton. In my spare time I greatly enjoy hiking, photography, reading, backpacking, crafting, and horseback riding amongst other things.
Massage Style
I do not believe that we must hurt in order to heal; therefore I do not advocate a 'grin and bear it' approach. I highly encourage communication from each client so that we can find an ideal pressure and experience to achieve maximum results. I consider my work to be gentle and relaxing, yet firm. I draw on a wide variety of techniques to customize each massage to a client's particular needs at the time of their session. Most of the work I do is of a therapeutic/medical massage nature. A segment of my practice is also devoted to prenatal and postpartum massage to nurture and support women during and after their pregnancies.
Lastly, I believe that massage (and touch in general) can build and support bridges between people, so I teach Couples' Massage Education to spouses, partners, and family members to aid them along their path to more confident and safe at-home massage exchanges. I believe that massage can play an important part in our overall health and well-being.
Issues that I frequently find myself working with include: Low Back Pain, Shoulder and Neck Tension, Stress, Insomnia, Migraines and Pregnancy-related aches and pains.
Massage & Healing Arts Training
To date over 850 hours of training.
| Certificate in Massage Therapy |
New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts |
September 2006 - September 2007 |
|
Certification in Pre- & Perinatal Massage |
Body Therapy Associates | July 2009 |
|
Deep Tissue Massage: Psoas, QL, and Diaphragm (The "psoas" and QL muscles can be very important in working with low back pain!) |
Therapeutic Training Center |
March 2010 |
| Qigong Level-1 Instructor Certification |
Supreme Science Qigong Center |
August 2010 |
| Heartspire Lomilomi Training |
Heartspire School of Hawaiian Massage |
September 2010 |
|
Lower Body Deep Tissue Lomi Loku o ka Honua |
Heartspire School of Hawaiian Massage |
October 2010 |
|
Upper Body Deep Tissue Lomi Loku o ka Lani |
Heartspire School of Hawaiian Massage |
December 2010 |
Accessibility
I am willing to work with anyone that is in need of assistance but whom cannot afford the regular rate. Over the years I have been blessed to have been assisted along my own path by those willing to work within my own budget constraints. I consider my skills to be a way to help give back to the greater community; if you find yourself in great need without the corresponding "great budget", please get in touch and we will see what we can work out (I am also open to bartering for acupuncture, fresh garden vegetables, hair cuts/coloring, massage/reflexology, mechanic work on my vehicle, unused gift certificates, etc.) I only ask that you respect my willingness, time and effort accordingly.
Please, however, do not substitute therapeutic massage in place of seeking treatment or consultation from your regular doctor. While massage has a number of physical and mental benefits it is not an appropriate substitution for treatment by a medical doctor. Massage is not intended to treat serious medical conditions and in a number of instances it is contraindicated.
Kristen Rayner, LMT (#10393 in MA), LMP (#60088318 in WA)
(781) 707-6012
Professional Member of AMTA
Certified in Pre- & Perinatal Massage