Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 10, October 2003

Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

Massage practitioners make home

in Maple Leaf

By JAMES BUSH

What do you look for when siting your massage business?

It's like any other real estate decision, says Maggi Cameron, the key is location, location, location.

A charming cluster of businesses along 5th Avenue NE in the Maple Leaf neighborhood was the main attraction for Cameron and the four other massage practitioners to locate their practice there.

"It's a lovely little neighborhood, it has things like a café and a deli," says Cameron. "Of all the places I've been, my clients like this one the best."

Creating a friendly, inviting space to serve clients is the goal of licensed massage practitioners Cameron, Anders Ekströmer, Coleen Small, and Nate and Debbie Cuddihy-Garner. Two acupuncturists and a counselor also share the suite of offices in the Natural Health Center at 8401 5th Ave. NE.

"It's important that when clients come into the office, they feel at peace," says Cameron. "We want to give them a warm feeling, a welcoming feel."

Cuddihy-Garner says that it's a common for massage therapists to share space because few work full-time in their offices. Many massage therapists work with clients at their homes or go to client's offices to do chair massages. Small says she was also attracted to the idea of "working with people with the intention of creating a healing space."

Cameron is one of the veterans of the group, having practiced for some 22 years. She started by taking a class, but there were no massage schools or much advanced training at the time. "I would say a lot of the training for everybody in those early years came from your clients," she says.

Both Cameron and Ekströmer recall first becoming interested in body work through reading. He found a book about chiropractic in a new age bookstore; she checked a book entitled "Helping Yourself with Foot Reflexology" out of the library.

"I think all of us came to this by some sort of serendipitous event in our lives," Cameron says.

Debbie and Nate Cuddihy-Garner can relate. Employed as a social worker, "I was affecting change, but not at the level I wanted to," says Debbie. Giving massages to friends resulted in many compliments on her skill, so she decided to give massage school a try.

Nate, who had always been involved in sports and martial arts, also took a circuitous route into massage. "I did manual labor and found that my intellect wasn't satisfied," he says. "I did office work and found that my body wasn't satisfied."

Small spent 13 years working in a business environment, but felt unfulfilled.

"I decided I wanted something that was more satisfying for myself," she says.

There are several massage programs in the Seattle area. Small attended the Brian Utting School of Massage. Debbie attended the Brenneke School of Massage, where she first met Nate, who still works as an instructor there. Washington state massage certification requires a year-long course of study (650 hours of classroom time) and the completion of a written examination.

Most practitioners work in a variety of styles, although with some of their own style thrown in, says Debbie. "It's all something we create out of our own experience. Everyone does it different."

Swedish massage involves working on soft tissues to decrease muscle tension, while enhancing circulation and promoting relaxation. Myofascial is a slow-moving massage technique, designed to release and separate layers of muscle fibers which are stuck together. Treatment massage addresses an injury or other condition which is causing the body to not function properly, using techniques to decrease pain and inflammation and restore proper movement.

Craniosacral massage is aimed at balancing the fluid in the spinal cord. "It's a very light touch treatment," explains Ekströmer. "Most people say 'No pain no gain.' I don't accept that. You can get gain without pain."

"It's really subtle work," agrees Debbie, "but the effects can be profound."

Foot reflexology involves applying soft pressure to points on the feet which have a direct relationship with organs or glands, explains Cameron. "It also provides a sense of well being as with most massage work," she says. "I think people go out of here more centered."

All five massage practitioners say they enjoy their ability to help people with hands-on techniques and to engage clients through participation in their own treatment. After a session, says Debbie. "I'm happier and clients are happier."

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Two Hands One Heart Massage (Ekströmer and Cameron ) can be reached at 362-7138; Debbie/Nate Cuddihy-Garner Massage can be reached at 729-7008; Coleen Small can be reached at 609-7282.