Reclaim your life

Shannon Hardy, LMT’s specialty is helping people reduce pain and stress through a set treatment plan that includes focused work for a specific goal. She enjoys working with clients who have chronic pain due to occupational stress—either from using their muscles too much or not enough. Shannon is a graduate of the Heritage Institute. She is also our general manager, in charge of the behind-the-scenes activities that keep an independent massage center like ours running smoothly (and she is as good at that as she is at the massage therapy).

Kara Doles, LMT has been practicing massage for more than ten years. Kara loves doing trigger point and cross-fiber friction work to get the knots out. Her style is to use a lot of long, sympathetic strokes to access the relaxation part so that the client can better receive the deeper work. Her favorite clients are “those poor souls who work the desk all week, the people who are crouched in front of a computer who really need stuff worked out of their neck.” Kara got into massage because she dealt with some stress and anxiety early in life and discovered that massage and reflexology really helped with it. Now she helps other people realize those benefits.

Since 2014, Jeanie Bridwell, LMT, has combined her compassion and therapeutic massage skills to provide a mindful and engaged massage experience that leaves her clients feeling amazing. Her warm personality and charming light southern accent  instantly put her clients at ease. Jeanie is a problem solver. So, whether doing deep tissue work or helping her client relax, she listens to the client and focuses on what they ask her to work on.

In addition to massage therapy, Jeanie is certified in CPR. She has been a Hospice volunteer for many years, providing emotional support and being a caring presence in the patient’s life. She has also taught English to refugees, helping their transition to their new life.

In Jeanie’s  own words:

Massage is my calling. I am interested in, and continue to learn about, not only the superficial physical healing that takes place, but also the deeper somatic experiences, the whole mind/body/spirit healing possible when releasing physical tension.

It is my intention to be fully present with each and every client, being mindful as I move through the massage and responding in the moment and  making adjustments as I go. Massage is a dynamic and live experience, you cannot provide quality massage using a canned/ cookie cutter method. Even the same client changes from session to session, how much more client to client. Each massage must be uniquely tailored for that individual’s specific needs.  

I believe it is our responsibility as therapists to help educate our clients so that not only may they experience more physical ease but also so that they may make more informed choices for themselves, enhancing their overall lifestyle. 

I have been told many times that I have the ability to put clients at ease whether they are new to massage, have concerns about pain, or have reservations for any reason. I have also been told I am very professional, and this is something I strive for. I am an effective listener/communicator and am genuinely interested in the well being of my clients. 

I think probably what I do best is what I describe as firm, slow, gentle deep tissue, easing into the layers, allowing the tissue time to release. It is very effective. I move very slow and intentionally, LISTENING and communicating as I go. Don’t let the word gentle be misleading, that is a key component for effective release. I have a loving, compassionate touch and am authentically present for each client. 

Lisa Russell, LMT has been practicing massage therapy for more than 15 years. Her focused is medical rehab and injury recovery. She loves helping her clients develop a recovery plan that will help them get back to full range of motion as quickly as possible. She practices the full suite of therapeutic modalities, including deep tissue work.

Jenny Fu, LMT, graduated from the East-West Institute of Hand Therapy in Los Angeles, CA—a rigorous and extensive massage program—in 2007. Before immigrating to the United States, she completed six months of medical school.

Jenny is passionate about her work, and in helping people relieve chronic pain and chronic stress. She intuitively knows how to work out each individual client’s problems, and is a skilled deep tissue therapist.

People are at the heart of everything Ashley Estes, LMT does as a massage therapist. Educating her clients about how the massage can help them, as well as the stretches and things to do outside of the massage room are part of the client experience she loves to create. She practices a range of modalities such as Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, and manual therapy.

She has built a reputation for a strong customer focus and stellar customer service.

Olivia has been an LMT since 2018. She comes from a family of healers—her mother and sister are both registered nurses and her grandmother has been practicing massage therapy for about 40 years! From them, she inherited great hands and a knack for finding the knots and trigger points. She loves doing deep concentrated work that really allows her to work away the tension in the muscles. On the flip side, she also loves lighter work that focuses on circulation and helping remove fluid build up.

Working for a podiatrist made her realize how important it is to take care of your body. It’s her goal to help everyone, especially those seeking an alternative for pain relief.

Kareema Sakari has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2010. She specializes in Deep Tissue, Sports, Lymphatic, Pregnancy, and Neuromuscular Therapy techniques. She studied Thai massage at the prestigious Chiang Mai in Thailand. While we don’t have the space to do Thai massage at our spa, she incorporates Thai massage concepts into her methodology.

She is a natural teacher, often mentoring her team mates. She used that love of teaching as a massage instructor at the National Massage Therapy Institute in Falls Church. A hallmark of her style is actively listening to her client’s needs and tailoring the massage using one of her many massage techniques.

Angela Jacobs, Licensed Massage Therapist, has been helping her clients feel great since 2005. With specialized training in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and practical application of massage, she knows exactly what will help you feel better… and move better. She had advance training in pregnancy and postpartum massage as well.