My heart & soul is in my work! Thank you for visiting this website!
ABOUT ME - or: just skip this part - unless you have time to read :D
(Story form)
Since very young, i had this curiousity about the human anatomy & physiology...i mean, how did it all work together to do what it does?! Thankfully, mom was an R.N., who happily shared her vast knowledge throughout. My childhood memories are filled with [among other things], sneaking into her medical books, gazing at the 'gross' pictures, and reading all about it. Mom was an inspiration - as many are - for the things i will never do like she did and the things i wish i did just like she. BTW, mom worked in nursing in so many ways: Private duty, Operating room [theatre], Hospital 'floor' nursing, Private School Nurse, and finally Psychiatric Nursing in local treatment centers. Originally, she was hired by Yale University to teach nursing, but then she married dad and had us kids....
Okay, so....
***My studies for the first year out of high school: dental & medical sciences - Certified Dental Assistant.
My heart was into health & fitness early on, so i left this field, to study Exercise Science, nutrition, anatomy & physiology [2nd time for anatomy & physiology] -
***Certified Fitness Instructor & Personal Trainer for a leading health spa - Womans World Health Spa
From there, i branched out after a few years, to rent my own space to give what i called 'low impact' dance cardio - i was the first and only in the area that offered this. Other places i worked was the 'Adult continuing education' classes held in my local town. Night courses on exercise, low-impact cardio 'dance' and of course how to stretch. I felt almost grown up at this point - i mean, these classes i taught were held in the huge elementary schools gymnasium. My forte was and still is safe exercise technique and S T R E T C H I N G - each body part 30 seconds - or more!
***Certified Massage Practitioner - 1988
{no internet back then -Massage school was found via my ordering the yellow pages of the area, & studying maps :D]
What a blast. i got to have a complimentary gym membership, go mountain bicycling on my days off, work shifts in the afternoon - evening...and during the week, i had 3 day - 10 hour shifts at local Physical / Occupational Therapy clinics - whereby i treated approx. 30 patients per shift. I was trained to use several modalities by the Physical Therapists; Ultrasound therapy, Cervical Spine & Low back/Hip traction units, we had authentic pilates tables, whirlpool; hydrotherapy, ice therapy, etc. I was responsible for getting the patient ready, performing certain therapeutic functions, cleaning up and prepping for the next patient. This is where i really thrived in educational 'in house' seminars. I was able to meet 'famous important' experts in the field. Eventually, i applied to resorts and health spas all along the wine country [i don't drink though]; Calistoga, Napa, Sonoma, and St. Helena. Really, the time of my life.
If you are a bicyclist as i am, Marin and Sonoma County CA has the BEST trails! The areas i worked and lived in, are indeed recreational parks - land for enjoying hiking, bicycling, and the like. i enjoyed staying on trails which led me throughout marin country to across the golden gate, San Francisco and then back home. i recall one full day turning into nighttime on my ride home back to San Rafael....i was 'chilled' so i stopped into a Sausalito clothing shop to purchase a light parka for the ride home -then hopped back to San Rafael along the bike 'path'. These bike paths lead up and down hills, through neighborhoods, alongside freeways, then into the woods in and out of trails wooded and open. Mt. Tamalpais 'Mt Tam', is quite an uphill and then weeeeeee - downhill experience. Lots of stories tell you later i hope.
***1990- SHEN Institute of Sausalito, CA An amazing experience. More on this another time. All about somatic- emotional release through light touch - where the muscles tend to store 'memories' from the past. Great for those who may have issues with past trauma, abuse, neglect, PTSD, general anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, and other issues. Talk about becoming more self aware. It is a very peaceful non talking quiet introspective session. We humans really do hold onto emotions, memories in our muscles. Neuromuscular work anyone?
1995 - Sonoma Rehabilitation LNA course [nurse assistant], whereby i was employable to work w the elderly in their PT/OT department. i thoroughly enjoy seniors...it's a good thing, due to the eventual approaching of my own being one. [not good grammer sorry]. i so love the elderly population! They have so much wisdom to share. We also laugh a lot together and share stories with one another. i so enjoy spending time with the elderly, and those in need of support and encouragement.
Through all of this, i met an associate with a resort who needed an LMT to work on Peter island, USVI. This allowed me to live on the island of Tortola, BVI - near this friend. I will provide pictures later, maybe. The ferry boat ride to and fro Peter Island A COMPLETE BLAST. i usually sat on the 'bow' of the boat, getting splashed by the ocean waves...the white caps in the scenic ocean were enormously energetic and captivating to the eyes. Everywhere i looked was as if being inside of a post card. Too many stories here. Later.
***Oregon & Seattle after the BVI - had to explore more west coast territory. i had the pleasure of working in the PT dept. of Seattle's Swedish Hospital - the largest Hospital located in the Northwest - 13 city blocks large! Incredible experience there as well. Those steep hills reminded me of downtown S.F., CA.
Back east in NH 1997, reuniting with family and friends, while raising my lovely daughter.
***2004 McIntosh College, Dover, NH -Health Science major - Nationally Licensing courses for LMT.
BTW, every LMT takes a certain amount of state required 'CEU's - every 2 years. This enables us to broaden our knowledge, be updated, become certified in a number of various modalities.
i have chosen Geriatric studies along my path, due to my own interest in this field, as well as enjoying this age group, in general. i want to help make them [and others] more comfortable. Whenever i do this, is very fulfilling. As we give, we receive.
***In 2008, married the love of my life, Paul Castori. We live on the seacoast of NH. Very happily.
Helping others in this way, is what i am created to be doing. It's really that simple. I love people and i love my work.
Thank you.
Let's get started.
Love of my life
Places i enjoyed living way back when: Victoria, Australia, Bali Indonesia for a short while, Portland Oregon, Seattle WA, CA: Sonoma, St. Helena, Marin County and S.F, as well as Maine and NH.