Massage therapy can be an amazing tool for transforming the body, mind and spirit. I've been practicing massage therapy for 13 years now. The reason I became a massage therapist was because of my massage therapy experience. I had been working in the record industry and I had a very stressful job. It was a somewhat exciting job - lots of parties and famous people, but also the job was all consuming. I had two mobile phones that would ring at all hours of the day and night. I had to deal with a lot of deception and I wasn't happy about it. The only time I felt good was when I would go for a massage. I found a massage therapist that really helped me. What originally was a way to work out the kinks in my neck and back soon became a precious and priceless experience for me. Without saying anything to anyone for an hour and having the ability to be in a peaceful, safe environment my life started to become a bit more clear to me. I would get a massage once and sometimes even twice a week. My body started to change. I started to lose weight because I ate healthier - UNCONSCIOUSLY! I realized that the marriage that I was in was a mistake. I realized that I mattered and then all of a sudden, I realized that I was living the wrong life. I ended my marriage, left the job and went away for a vacation. I was on a long chairlift ride up the mountain in Telluride, CO and I was thinking to myself about what I wanted out of life - this was probably the first time I even asked myself this question. I thought about what was important to me and then I thought about what I could do in this world - what I wanted from it and what I wanted to give back to it. The thoughts that came to me that day were so crystal clear. I knew that I wanted to be happy and it was important for me to be able to deal with people in an honest, loving and happy way. I knew that I wanted to be able to work anywhere, I didn't want to have to report to anyone except to myself. I thought about people that I knew who were happy in their lives. Most of them worked for themselves, actually - all of them worked for themselves. The next question was - which of these people had the best life - the answer - my massage therapist - I decided at that moment - I was going to become a massage therapist. I had no idea what was involved and when I returned to New York, I called my massage therapist and I asked her what I needed to do. I went to the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York City and I enrolled in their massage therapy school. It took one full year and then I took the New York State Massage Licensing Exam - passed - and started working. It was a tough road and my life was drastically changed. Through all of the turmoil, there was a little voice inside of me that knew I was doing the right thing. I honored that voice through a lot of ups and downs. I couldn't be happier that I did. Massage therapy has brought me around the world - practicing massage and learning new techniques. Now I have a private practice in New York City. I treat people from all walks of life with all kinds of maladies. I offer them what was given to me - an hour of peace and a chance to be touched with nonjudgemental compassion and unconditional love with the intention of creating a safe place where they can have a chance to transform - whatever that may mean to them.