What to expect in a session with me.
Hi, I’m Sara Newberry. I’ve been a massage therapist since 2008. You can read my entire bio by clicking my name in the first sentence. There’s more information about me here.
I’ve been interested in health and the body since I was a little kid. I’m passionate about living my best healthy life (despite having a chronic auto immune condition) and I love working with clients who look for that too.
I consider myself a creative with a side of science and logic.
Receiving a massage by me is not your average spa experience. (Not that spa experiences are bad, no way!) But your massage with me will include me asking a bunch of questions. My intention is to get to know the whole you and not just the parts. I will often ask you to demonstrate your range of motion or show me how you move. If you’re coming for pain relief, I will ask you about timelines and when something started hurting. And when does it feel better. I will ask about injuries and surgeries. And other parts of your body that feel good and functioning.
Creating Safety.
The concept of getting undressed and under a sheet with never go unnoticed by me. I understand that is not a typical experience for most people. Add in our puritanical culture and discomfort about bodies, and I have all the reverence for the experience. You’re in charge of what you’re comfortable with at all times. I will walk you through what to expect in the session. I will ask you to look around the space to feel yourself in space and time. And I will always invite you to slow down if you’re rushing or running late. I will invite you to tell me anything on your mind but I will also be quiet to allow you to move through what you need to. I will always ask that you prioritize your comfort and to never hold on to discomfort because “she’ll move soon enough” because I may not. And because the real magic of massage happens when you are completely comfortable.
It’s not only about your body.
Your emotional health is just as important as the functioning of your body. Stress effects your body in various ways and emotional stress and mental stress could be expressing differently in your body. I ask thorough question to get to know what is typical for you and what is not. Sometimes my clients cry as they share their life story with me. And I always cherish the value they place in me to hold that space for them. I don’t always have solutions (and that would be out of my scope of practice anyway) but understanding where someone is coming from can go along way in their healing journey. And sometimes, massage just works and I don’t have to explain or understand it.
Understanding pain & stress.
Getting close and intimate with your pain or stress is what I strive for. I want you to get close to it in a safe and contained way to understand it so we can transform it. Sometimes my questions are for me and sometimes they are for you so you can understand yourself a little better.
I’m a deep and contemplative person in my own life and I try to bring aspects of that to my session. Our session is investigative but also productive. I will always ask questions to ensure your goals for the session are also being addressed. Normally, I work with people over time. And together we check in with every appointment to see what can be altered and improved. Massage therapy is an addition to your health regimen and one session will not provide the same lasting results as a renewed internal education with yourself that you will learn through receiving bodywork.
Table Based Massage & Mat Based Massage.
I recently shared about the different offerings that I provide. You can read it here.
Pregnancy massage, Labor Massage, and Post Partum Doula services are also available.
