I moved to the “big city” of Saint Louis in 2008 to go to massage school. There’s quite a story to how I got to that point but I’ll share that another day.
Growing up in a town of around 12k and the best place to hang out was the local Walmart, I always had my eyes on the sky.
The sky being the internet that was introduced to me at a friends house when I was around 6th grade. That was my first experience with knowledge and art at my finger tips.
I grew up in the country where girls became nurses and teachers and boys became farmers and mechanics. I was around 9 when I passed out watching my cousin get stitches out of her knee after falling down a mountain side. The nurse calling was out. I like little kids but mostly my own and I grew up without siblings so I didn’t think I had enough experience with kids to be a teacher.
I did love art. And books. And dancing. I remember a field trip to the Chicago art museum (I still have the souvenir keychain!) and learning people existed who loved color and standing back to marvel as much as I did!
Books became portals out of what was in my near surroundings. The Secret Garden and similar stories showed me that other people value and live differently than the land I knew. And dancing was my first taste of somatic healing—in my living room with bands like Alanis Morissette and No Doubt.
I was always trying to get out of that small town. Foreign exchange students became my best friends and far away family members were always my favorite.
Making the decision to move to Saint Louis to finish massage school was not my first choice. I thought the city, whilst visiting, was dirty and antiquated. I had a friend in school who traveled w the peace corp and would rave about the people he knew and felt they were some of the best he met despite his travels. That seemed promising and he introduced me to several. (Side note: that friend has moved back to STL 4x and still feels the same about his people here. I’m still friends with those people!)
Relocating, I jumped all the way into becoming a Saint Louisian. I learned about the culture, the quirks, and the landscape. I was also saddened by the segregation, the state of politics, and slow progress.
Saint Louis reminded me a lot of the small town I was raised in. All of those comforts without the pressure and seemingly to be more variety of culture to pick and choose from.
One of my absolute favorite pieces of St. Louis is its architecture.
Knowing that, you may be able to see why I jumped at the opportunity that found me, to relocate my office into one of these massive Saint Louis original buildings. I am thrilled to consider spending my days hearing the bells of the Basilica Cathedral and meeting the neighbors that also choose to dwell in such history.
Walking around neighborhoods, you can almost feel history is breathing through the (brick) walls. In some places, you can almost envision women walking with large dresses with petticoats and men in top hats and pocket watches.
While the pandemic shook and changed our world, as we slowly opened back up, I went to a home of one my clients to provide mat-based massage. And this home was in the CWE overlooking much of the condensed city scape. I’ve traveled quite a bit to teach and learn this barefoot massage technique and the Central West End is the neighborhood that most reminds me of other cities. I made a mental note that I wanted to eventually reopen in this part of town.
At the end of December, one of my closest friends and a local midwife shared the space in her building was becoming available. The next day, I went to visit taking along my little family and within a week, our agreement was made. There were too many things that were just perfect.
I realize this neighborhood Is not where I have been and it may take a little more planning to get where I am. And, I appreciate that little planning so we can be together.
We always knew the space in Brentwood was temporary as we waited to see what would come of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re still keeping our eye on that and other contagions to ensure we are all making safe choices. Adhering to our safe protocols and rescheduling when any illness is present is still a top priority.
I very much look forward to what I will create in this new space. There is a parking lot on site and it’s a small set of offices so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding me.
There is a huge sign out front that says, “LAW OFFICES.” And soon there will be a sign for us, but all in due time.
What about Vanessa? And Couples massages? She will come over to the location on Lindell for couples sessions and any other working together options. She will be moving to another location and you can keep up with here here.
I will be planning more community events as we will have more room to spread about and that is one of my favorite ways to connect with you outside of your session on the table. And an open house party will also happen to ring in our new healing space. And there will be collaboration with the midwives on site as well. If you know of course or a workshop you’d like to see—massage or other health related, I’m happy to entertain the idea! (Yoga, herbs, book clubs, etc…) I’m super excited and looking forward to this next expression of my 15 year practice.
