Holistic Bodywork
Yvonne Vasquez, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer and Registered Yoga Teacher
treatment Massage & movement therapy for functional alignment & ease
About my practice
Hello and welcome, I look forward to working together soon.
My bodywork practice is a blend of structural and alignment based massage with an emphasis on movement assessments and education.
My approach is informed by my more than 16 years of private practice bodywork, 250-hour yoga teacher training and personal trainer certifications.
I use a blend of myofascial release, visceral manipulation, whole-body function & structural discernment, trigger point therapy, and cupping.
With movement guidance, I help you regain and maintain postural alignment which leads to ease of movement, free from restrictive patterns.
Off the table, I enjoy using movement to teach clients practical and functional anatomy.
My method of bodywork is different than traditional massage.
My massage approach is treatment and movement oriented. Our work together helps address your hidden patterns to help you walk, sit and workout with ease and better alignment.
And while you are an active participant in our sessions, my massage approach brings about nervous system grounding and restoration to your whole being.
I move with precision and purpose, targeting my work where it is needed.
Throughout your session I will constantly assess, noticing subtle changes in your tissue and your breath, as well as directing you to assist in these changes by moving your own body. Some examples of this movement:
While working on your chest muscles, I often integrate active movements, where I’ll ask you to navigate your shoulder through different angles.
In addressing adhesion in your diaphragm, I will teach you basic breath work techniques to ease my fingers in reaching under your ribcage.
It is through this engagement that you gain somatic awareness of your movement patterns and can make the changes needed for more ease of movement.
My massage approach
Through my many years of practice, I have found that massage alone is not enough. Massage, coupled with movement, expedites changes while also providing more longterm positive results.
It is with my thorough movement assessment at our initial session and coaching of your most functional movements, i.e. how you sit, how you walk/run, even how you reach yours arm overhead that helps you restore your postural balance and gain longterm ease of activity.
Our movement work is lead by your goals for coming in to see me. I will have you show me the limitations in mobility you are experiencing, while on the mat, so I can see your body in motion.
In front of the mirror, I will help you make adjustments to your movements, so you can see the changes, as well, as feel my guided cues.
I’ll also look at your functional movements, such as how you sit, how you reach overhead, how you squat, the alignment of your feet while standing.
I will also show you various stretches you can practice at home to help you along your path to well being.
My Movement approach
Who are my clients?
Symptoms:
You are curious about and interested in addressing long held patterns that have inhibited movement.
You are willing to learn about how areas of discomfort in your body may be the symptomatic clues, not necessarily the cause.
You want to work through chronic pain that other modalities have not addressed.
Activities:
You want structural alignment to help create a sustainable exercise and movement practice that can be enjoyed for many years to come.
You want to assess movements in your chosen exercise routine, i.e. your golf swing, your deadlift & overhead press, your yoga practice, or your swim stroke.
Functional Movement:
You are motivated to learn how to move more freely with efficiency and ease, in say, a squat..to pick up your child, to plant a bulb in your garden, to pick up a kettle bell or to observe a plant on a hike.
You want to restore resilience so you can enjoy moving your body anywhere, in the workout studio, outdoors and everywhere else.