therapists
Sara Armstrong, LMT
My intention when I give massage and bodywork is to help facilitate the natural healing process which comes from within an individual. Every living being is a genius in action, and learning how to tune into that inner wisdom is what I believe bodywork is all about. My goal is to communicate with your body in such a way that your own inner workings begin to heal and eliminate discomfort and disease. The heart of my practice comes from a space of compassion and respect for each person, and their own unique journey towards well-being.
I have been a part of many wonderful healing communities, and learned from many talented and inspirational teachers. I graduated from the Ashland Institute of Massage in 2006, and practiced in the Ashland community for four years. I have worked with Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Acupuncturists. I have witnessed many amazing transformations which come from the combination of massage, bodywork and yoga.
Each massage session that I provide is unique to the individual and the present moment. The modalities that I most often incorporate include Orthopedic Massage, Myofacial Release, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), Cranio-Sacral, Polarity Therapy, Esalen and Swedish Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Muscle Energy Techniques, Radiant Circuit Illumination, Thai Massage techniques, and Reiki.
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Erik Cannard, LMT
Erik completed the 801 hr Massage Training Program from East West College of the Healing Arts in 2007. In addition to the traditional Swedish Relaxation course of study, Erik chose to pursue therapeutic techniques including: Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy. Erik firmly believes that massage techniques are really tools to help tailor a session to suit each and every client as an individual and has never given the same massage twice. He has a passion for assisting the body in its natural need for balance and loves finding ways to see success in both the short term and long term.
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Ruth Cole, LMT
Ruth is a 2002 graduate of East-West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, Oregon. During her training she studied an array of massage modalities. Since her licensure she’s worked in several spa environments, becoming fluent in an assortment of treatments, such as body exfoliations, wraps, hot stone massage, hydrotherapy, and ayurvedic treatments. Ruth is excited to be a part of a wellness center, practicing in an integrative center amongst many experienced therapists, doctors, and instructors. Ruth looks forward to growing within her own health and well-being, as well as nurturing the clients she works with. Ruth’s style of massage consists of an overall relaxing experience, integrating a variety of massage techniques such as, Swedish, myofacial release, trigger point therapy, and energy work. She views massage as a partnership between herself and the client in order to revitalize one’s mind-body connection.
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Laura Cumming
I began my career after graduating from East/West College of the Healing Arts and have continued to expand my knowledge and skills. The modalities I draw from include Thai, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Acupressure, Myofascial Release and Polarity. I am dedicated and passionate about exploring the intricacies of the body. I believe massage is an educational process through which everyone can experience release, healing, and restore balance. Through the medium of touch, I aim to assist clients with reconnecting to their physical self and explore the interplay between the mind and the body.
I practice conscious bodywork balancing compassion and intuition with solid technical skills, utilizing both relaxation and therapeutic elements. I approach each session with a deep understanding of the changing rhythms within each of us. As a therapist, I am aware of the body’s counter-balancing nature and I work accordingly structuring my sessions so that the oppositional relationships are taken into account. My primary goal is to re-establish the proper balance of energy movement and muscular forces around the skeleton, returning the body back into a state of ease. I strive for this with each client always working with a deep commitment to individual limitations. By approaching the body from a holistic perspective I believe each session will give longer-lasting and profound results.
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Victoria Gates, LMT
I got into the art of massage as a way to connect to my community and help heal through my hands. I like to listen to the body and let it tell me where to go. I utilize both intuition and simple technique, which flow together to create a harmony within, and help the body and mind communicate and find balance.
Every human body is beautiful and unique, and yet universally the same. Through touch we can become more in-tune with our self and our environment. So much of the time we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we forget to stop and enjoy the simplicity of it all. I find massage a time to quiet the mind, calm the nerves, let go of our daily tension, and simply breathe and be one with our selves.
Through a mixture of basic and comfortable technique such as Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Tapotement, Thai massage on the table, Reflexology and breath work, I try to create a smooth, steady and lasting experience for every client. I’ve been doing massage full-time for over three years now, and love that it continues to be a new experience with every client that walks through my door. I find there is something to learn from every individual, and human connection is the first step to communication. I’m honored to take part in your journey of a healthier and more balanced life style.
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Claire Gauntner, LMT
The more attuned we are to ourselves, the more open we can be to the world around us. I believe that bodywork and other complementary therapies promote this connection–allowing us to fully participate in, and not just survive, the day at hand. My integrative approach focuses on relieving pain & the physical manifestations of stress, all the while addressing the body as a dynamic whole. My specialties include deep tissue, Swedish, prenatal, sports, & rehabilitative work, often incorporating techniques of Five Element shiatsu. Every session is tailored to the individual, working within the client’s comfort zone to create a feeling of release & reunion.
I have an AOS in Massage Therapy from the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences, a BA from Fordham University, and am currently pursuing a yoga teaching certification. I am certified by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, licensed for massage by the New York State Office of the Professions, the Ohio Medical Board, & the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists, and am a Professional Member of the American Massage Therapy Association.
My most cherished affiliation though, is with my clients. Your body is a temple, and it is an honor to worship with you.
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Alexis Gil
I strongly believe that awareness is the most important gift that we can give ourselves. Once we bring awareness to our minds and our bodies we can eachbegin our very own natural healing from within. My goal during each massage session is to help facilitate the awareness and well-being of others. My massage can be described as intuitive, present, and full of intention.
I started my massage career after graduating from the Ohio College OfMassotherapy in 2006. I completed the National and Oregon certification formassage and body work shortly after. My specialties include Swedish, Deeptissue, Trigger point, Precision Neuromuscular, Myofascial release, Spa, andprenatal massage. I have actively been performing massage for six years and have had the privilege of practicing in many different massage settings. I am most excited about practicing and being a part of Root Whole Body. It was in this very community that I found comfort, happiness, relaxation, and was able to ignite my own awareness, peace and healing from within. I wish to bring that same experience to each of you.
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Bettina Hammersley, LMT
I began my passion for healing when I discovered the satisfaction of helping other people find their own inner power. I have found that massage therapy is an amazing form of bodywork that can create instant, healthy results. My practice focuses on relaxation, stress reduction, and pain management while promoting healing and body awareness. I personalize each session by combining a variety of bodywork specializations to meet each client’s specific needs. I received extensive training from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Boulder, Colorado. My specializations include Swedish and Pregnancy Massage, Integrative Therapeutic, Zen Shiatsu, and Deep Tissue Massage, including Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial Release. At Root, I have clients who are new to this type of healing, as well as those who have benefited from these arts for many years.
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Benjamin Harp, LMT
Massage presents an opportunity for us to learn about ourselves and potentially experience something new through the powerful practice of touch, attention, and release.
I have been practicing in the Portland community for three years, with training in deep tissue, trigger point, myofascial techniques, and Thai massage. From the beginning, Thai massage has been my specialty and passion, and its techniques and philosophy have greatly influenced all of my work. I enter each session with focused intention of love, compassion, awareness, and non-judgement. My style is deep and rhythmic, using movement, stretching, and breath to liberate joints and soft tissue from the pain and immobility of habits and injuries. It blends the scientific understanding of the body-puzzle, with the artistic expression of energy and movement.
I’m continually appreciative of the way this therapy challenges our awareness and acceptance of ourselves. One so often seeks massage to deal with something uncomfortable: stress, pain, anxiety, etc. Together, client and therapist face the uncomfortable; an act which requires us to be honest and present with who we are in this moment. The greatest work happens when the giver and receiver both honor their own individual practices of trust and communication, which together create a sacred space that allows for the uncomfortable things to arise and transform into profound experiences.
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Pat Kreipe, LMT
Massage therapy has been my career and my creative process for 20 years. My experience includes training in Hakomi therapy, deep tissue release, and Swedish massage for relaxation and stress management. In addition to private practice, I have performed injury treatment and patient education for 9 years in outpatient physical therapy, served 4 years in a membership fitness center, and most recently 2 years in a luxury spa. The continual integration of all that I learn from my clients, co-workers, and teachers makes my work an organically evolving process. As a Reiki Master, the healing energy of Reiki flows through my life and my work, empowering it as an art form, a gift, and a priviledge. As a member of the therapeutic community at Root, I look forward to supporting your needs for physical comfort, and healing treatment.
