Born and brought up in St. Louis, Leah began her career in the world of body work after graduating from the Healing Arts Center in 2010 and has since been working in the community as a licensed massage therapist.
Leah’s personal experiences with extensive neuromuscular pain, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia led her to find her own way of controlling pain in conjunction with medical care. It was in 2007 when she began receiving myofascia treatment on the off-chance that it might help her symptoms. The results were immense and amazing. She fell in love with massage and the modalities of trigger point and myofascial release in particular.
In 2009, while still working at her full time position in advertising at a daily publication – having earned her degree in Media Communications from Webster University in 2008, she enrolled in The Healing Arts Center. Massage school only deepened and strengthened the healing connection Leah had observed in her earlier treatments. She eventually left her media position to work in a local natural health food and supplement store while finishing up her massage credentials. Her experiences and knowledge gained there, such as aromatherapy, nutrition, and herbal remedies, are used to further enhance the therapeutic process for her clients.
In 2015, Leah was approached by Sara and the Sole Shine family about taking the next step forward in her abilities to provide the the most therapeutic experience for her clients by learning DeepFeet Ashiatsu barefoot massage. Because barefoot massage uses a therapist’s body weight in such a way that it lessens the impact on the practitioners’ body, but increases the pressure on the receiving end, Ashiatsu was a solution and a blessing for Leah to expand her practice. Her background in dance, and ballet in particular, bring many additional aspects of rhythm and flow to her Ashiatsu practice.
During many lengthy discussions, Leah found that Sara and Sole Shine have the same mission: to help others care for themselves. We believe that if we can spread that caring and wellness to you, then you in turn will continue to spread that care and make the world a better place. We believe in being grateful, in spreading kindness and in being happy.
Leah practices yoga, Thai chi, and meditation on a daily basis. Being physically and spiritually active and aware are extremely important to her. In this way she continuously furthers her understanding of the mind-body-spirit balance. This allows her not only control her own body’s pain, but to connect with her clients on a much deeper empathetic level. She understands what it is to be in pain, but also to be able to control that pain with an understanding of its origin, the paths it follows in our bodies, and finally the release of that pain.
In addition to practicing massage, Leah works as an encaustic painter out of her home studio. The process involves melting and fusing layers of colored beeswax-based paints in a manner which is in fact very similar to her massage style! She strives for attention to detail, patience, and tuning into a fluid, natural flow in both studios — art and massage.
She currently lives in Richmond Heights with her husband, 3-year-old daughter, three cats and a crazy bird where they are rehabbing their 110-year-old home.
