Hi there!
My name is Kie and I’m the first certified Esalen® bodyworker in the State of South Carolina, in practice since 2017 (SC#10686).
I graduated from a 600-hour program of Professional Training for Massage and Bodywork Therapy at the Center for Massage & Natural Health in Asheville, NC, my hometown at the time. There I was introduced to the modality of Esalen® Massage by Robin Fann-Costanzo, co-owner, bodywork director, Esalen massage® instructor at Still Point Wellness during my studies there. Soon after in 2018 I acquired my 100-hour Esalen® Massage Practitioner certification at the Ohm Institute in Asheville, NC and bookended that with a course in An Esalen® Approach to Trauma in 2019.
Since then I have practiced alongside Dr. Elizabeth Williams, DACM, Lac, at Dragonfly Acupuncture in Greenville, SC. There I honed my Esalen® skills and gained a wealth of knowledge around natural health, and the human body in general, working around such a profoundly talented Doctor of Chinese Medicine.
What is Esalen® Massage?
It’s ✨mindful touch✨ and I’ve heard countless times from clients, “That’s the best massage I’ve ever had!” That just warms my heart. ❤️
Esalen® Massage (pronounced Eh-Suh-Len) was born out of the Human Potential Movement in the 1960’s at the Esalen Institute and it continues to expand and grow as present-day practitioners add to the whole.
The originators were dancers, yogis and people interested in expanding their consciousness and connectivity.
This was the 1960’s after all!
They were curious about the relationship between mind, body and awareness.
Esalen® Massage techniques include long, slow integrative strokes using quality oils to glide over the body, mimicking the movement of the ocean waves, pauses, passive joint movement, rocking, compression and stretching and holding space for emotional releases that can arise when we feel nurtured and safe.
It has its roots in Swedish massage and was greatly influenced by many great bodyworkers including Ida Rolf, Milton Trager, Moshe Feldenkrais and Charlotte Selver.
The teachings of Fritz Perls and Gestalt Therapy also influenced Esalen® Massage.
Esalen® practitioners approach massage as a moving meditation. It’s a mindfulness exercise; both giver and receiver are called into symbiosis.
While there are specific styles and techniques attributed to Esalen® Massage as mentioned above, no two Esalen® massages will ever be the same.
That’s because each practitioner, each client and each moment has a special uniqueness.
To practice Esalen® Massage is to be open to subtle changes, to listen wholeheartedly to my clients and to be truly present with every touch.
Being an Esalen® Massage therapist has taught me that touching and entering another’s energy field with presence, care and respect is powerfully healing.
Esalen® Massage proves particularly beneficial in managing anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Please note:
At this time I do not offer any prenatal treatments
