LMT

Joanna has always moved through the world kinesthetically and loved puzzles. The road to
becoming a LMT took the scenic route and is filled with decades in the hospitality industry,
severe car accidents, head injuries, falls and recovering from all of them. These experiences
fuel Johanna’s desire to constantly become a better therapist. Each session aims to meet the
body where it is, facilitate a resolution of tension and pain while increasing range of motion. The
techniques used are usually non-invasive and effective for a variety of physical ailments
including: autoimmune issues, nerve issues, stress and other medical complications.
Johanna spends her time cooking, growing food and medicinal plants, sewing, tango dancing,
hiking and throwing the perfect dinner gathering. More about Johanna and their 8 month road
trip around the country in 2021 can be found at machenamano.com
SOMATIC PAIN AND TRAUMA RESPONSE RESOLUTION
How is massage related to trauma resolution? And who has trauma?
Most people have experienced trauma in their life. Regardless if it was physical, emotional,
mental etc, sometimes the brain has difficulty distinguishing between physical danger and
mental/emotional stress. The effects of trauma can manifest as pain or inability to move past a
state of flight, flight, freeze response, regardless if the experience was physically disabling (car
accidents, falls or surgery) or incidents we play off as not being a big deal or ancient history.
Repetitive movement (constantly reaching high on a shelf, or stagnant unsupportive posture at a
desk for years) is another method which causes a pain and trauma response “out of nowhere”.
Your session will address the disconnect between body, brain and nervous system that can
develop from trauma. The result is an increased range and ease of motion, decrease in muscle
tension and long term pain resolution.
What does that MEAN and what will it feel like?
Your session will not feel like a “regular massage”. But by moving your body out of a state of
distress, you will feel better long term. The techniques used by Joanna are:
Strain/Counterstrain, Craniosacral, Lymphatic Drainage Technique, Myofascial, Active and
Passive release, reciprocal inhibition.
If those words are unfamiliar, don’t worry, explanations and why each method is used will be
explained.
Another commonality is increasing communication between your brain, muscle tissue, and
nervous system. The experience is not aggressive or invasive and makes no demands which
forces the tissue to comply. There can be a lot of sensation, but it is always productive. Oil is
rarely used, and little to no swedish massage is utilized. Most sessions can be performed in
workout or yoga clothes.
While relaxation isn’t the main goal, clients feel a deep release of tension, decrease in pain and
pure delight at their increased movement at the end of the session.