Kylie is a lover of human anatomy and helping others and she is thrilled to be practicing massage therapy at Invivo where she is able to combine these two passions into a career.

Kylie graduated at the top of her class from Aveda IBW’s 750-hour massage therapy program, where she learned techniques for Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, and Prenatal massage. She is licensed in the state of Wisconsin, and professionally insured by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

An advocate of self-care, Kylie believes that monthly massages are a must and prides herself on making her clients feel at ease during their session. She works hard to create a relationship of trust and communication with her clients, and is so thankful to get to practice in this profession that allows her to not only care for others but also nourish her own soul in the process.

Q&A with Kylie Dolphin

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. Since 2018.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. While I don’t have a specific specialization, I am trained in Swedish/relaxation massage to give patients a dreamy relaxing experience and deep tissue/ sports massage for those more persistent muscle pains and troubles.  I am also trained in a Chakra balancing massage, and Reiki 1.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I am no stranger to the positive effects a massage can have on a person’s entire wellbeing and I knew from the beginning of my massage therapy journey that helping others feel well not only physically but also emotionally and mentally would be my number one goal. My practice is just as focused on the body as it is on the mind.

Q. What can a new patient expect?
A. The team of massage therapists at INVIVO is amazing and you are in good hands! I hope you come in with an open mind and feel comfortable to communicate any concerns or questions you may have. We are here to make you feel as at ease as possible!

Q. What recent trends have you found most noteworthy?
One of my instructors at school was a big fan of cupping and I have definitely enjoyed using cups in my services. They allow the therapist to get a good hold on “trouble spots” in the muscles and are super effective!

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. I’m an introvert by nature, so I’m trying to get better at carving out some personal time each weekend to care for myself. Sometimes that’s by going on a walk, meditating, or journaling, and sometimes it’s sitting down and watching Netflix. Empath-exhaustion is a real thing, so it’s important to care for yourself just as much as you care for others!

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. Anywhere in Milwaukee when it’s snowing. I’m in love with falling snow and no one can tell me any different! And the land out behind Invivo. It’s brought me many zen moments and is one of my favorite places to go for a little walk.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. Oh there’s so many…Comet Café, Chicken Palace, La Masa, anywhere at the Public Market….I could go on.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. 1. I love dogs more than most things. So petting dogs, playing with dogs, looking at dogs on Youtube…that definitely counts as a hobby.
2. Crafting! Also the one I do the least, but when I can sit down and dedicate some time to making something beautiful, I’m happy.
3. Music. I have music playing pretty much all the time and would drop everything to see a favorite band in concert.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. I love to nap when I’m stressed out. If I can’t nap, I try to listen to some favorite music, or pet a dog…it’s been proven to help!

LMT
Massage Therapist

Jamie L. Emmons has been passionately practicing Massage Therapy with the goal to continuously evolve her knowledge and experience in the Healing Arts.

Jamie received her certification from Milwaukee School of Massage and has recently returned to her hometown of Milwaukee after traveling and practicing at a Medical Massage Clinic in Washington State.

Jamie has a lighthearted, positive and professional personality. She is fully committed to offering high quality massage that’s customized to meet or exceed each client’s expectations.

After years of receiving a high percentage of return clientele, Jamie is confident with meeting people’s desires for both deep tissue and light rhythmic relaxation and everything in between.

Q&A with Jamie L. Emmons

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist since the beginning of 2015. I studied at the Milwaukee School of Massage.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. Currenlty, my massage work is intuitively-detailed Deep Tissue and peacefully-paced Swedish Relaxation.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. As a visual-spatial learner, I experience bodywork in a 3D sculptural sense. This heightens my ability to detect subtleties in my client’s physiology that contributes to their physical and emotional imbalances.

My unique perspective also helps me see the interconnection of the entire system to address my clients concerns with a 360-degree approach that has longer lasting results.

Q. What can a new patient expect?
A. All future clients can expect me to provide high-quality, customized attention to their unique needs and desires for each and every session.

I value active listening and conscious communication and will give you safe space and time for the option to share how you are feeling physically or emotionally to receive your ideal massage for the day.

All new clientele can expect me to approach the massage with professional awareness of limitations due to past injuries, experiences and personal contraindications.

I take extensive notes so that all my return clients feel heard and respected. This also ensures that the majority of your session time will be hands-on time.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. Not sure if this counts as a “trend” but I’ve been very excited about all the new discoveries being made in the subject of New Science. Especially in relation to the science behind people’s spontaneous remissions.

Being able to share the information behind Self Awareness, Epigenetics and Psycho-Neuro-Immunology and apply it to myself, is a big passion of mine. Our relationship to our environment and how our perceptions affect our biology is fascinating.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. I have a strong desire to incorporate more free flow movement into my life to help me maintain flexibility and circulation. I believe that it’s integral for us to take time to move our bodies in different ways so that we are not poorly conditioning ours bodies and minds with stagnant and repetitive lifestyles.

I want to attempt to either jog, speed walk, or dance every day with my regular stretching routines to meet that expectation. I also hope to attend classes at INVIVO to promote my personal wellness and be more aware of our wellness center’s full operation.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. Tricky Question… Doctors Park? The Art Museum? Views of downtown all lit up at night =)

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. Paint with Acrylic on Canvas. Research and write about things that could help evolve the human species. Travel to Transformational Festivals and visit National Parks.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. I try my best to have almost everything I do be de-stressing.

I’ve noticed that when I paint, meditate, see friends and family and have my clients walk away happy regularly is when I feel most balanced.

Heather has a compassionate and friendly enthusiasm toward helping others. The field of Massage Therapy encourages Heather in her pursuit of her own self-growth and life path.

Heather is a graduate of Lakeside School of Massage Therapy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The 750-hour certificate program promotes knowledge of how the body works, what impairs its performance and which treatment plans and strategies can be used to shift the body back into balance. She is certified by the National Certification of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork board (NCTMB), licensed in the state of Wisconsin, and professionally insured by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Heather is also Prenatal Massage certified through Integrative Touch.

Heather finds joy while she improves and creates a noticeable difference in her client’s body physically, as well as their quality of life. She aims to develop meaningful therapist-client relationships so that, together, they can focus on improving the well-being of the client.

Becoming certified and practicing Prenatal Massage Therapy has brought Heather unexpected joy and pride in the work she does. The advanced knowledge has given her the wonderful opportunity to safely help encourage overall relaxation, healthier diaphragmatic breathing, and a stronger bond between mother to be and baby. Heather is dedicated to continuing her education throughout her life, to better herself as a therapist, and deepen her soul during this lifetime.

Q&A with Heather Kaster

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. Since October 2006.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. Swedish to increase circulation throughout the body, relaxation while being affectively therapeutic, deep tissue and sports massage to open up acute or chronically tight muscles. I am also certified in Prenatal massage.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I am extremely interested in the mind-body emotional-physical connections. In my opinion our bodies reflect not only our common postures but also how we react to life events big and small. I want to help people change for the better and how I massage is a reflection of that.

Q. What can a new patient expect?
A. I enjoy being purposeful during every massage with my movements and depth of pressure. I feel what sensations the muscles or limbs respond to and change my massage accordingly. I am a person who likes to puzzle solve and notice things that might not jump out as a direct factor in how someone feels. I look at the whole client then concentrate on their needs. Clients should expect to feel comfortable, respected, and have their needs addressed. I am quiet during the session if you are but I will talk the whole time if you want, too!

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. The balance between wanting to give great discounts to make massage more accessable and not giving too much of yourself away as a healer. It has always been a personal issue to recognize for myself but it’s all over now which is interesting to see what others say about their experiences.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. I have never been very active or driven so I need to work towards being more. I know if I don’t move it I’ll lose it and I am way too young for that! I want to bike to Invivo and back more often starting in spring. My dog loves to run on trails so I want to make that a more regular event too!

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. Blu at the 23rd floor of the Pfister at night when it’s snowing… And, actually, the westward view from Invivo is pretty amazing on many days – and especially when the sun is setting.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. Too many to choose from!!! I really miss Nanakusa for sushi but I’ll say that Cafe Corazón has an amazing vegetarian ensalada that I always top with extra avacado.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. I could walk for hours (in the summertime). I’m starting to get more and more into cooking. I should really get back to painting now that I have more space to spread out…

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. I eat! Hahaha, but also I try really hard to recognize the little things in the moments of each day- like my pets doing something silly, or the sunshine on my cheeks. I breathe into that and exhale the stress I was holding on to…. Mmmm… Let go…

CMT
Massage Therapist

Tori has developed her own style that is as unique as it is effective. She likes to combine deeper techniques that get the blood flowing with subtle, gentle techniques that allow the body to relax. Each of Tori’s sessions is individually tailored to meet the client’s needs to restore a calm sense of well-being; whether that means relieving chronic pain and stiffness, relaxing a stressed nervous system, or invigorating the spirit. She feels providing and receiving consistent massage creates a more balanced life, and appreciates being apart of the process.

Her mom was also a Massage Therapist, giving her a great understanding of body work at a young age. But the most important thing she learned is the idea of that we are always in the process of being the best version of ourselves. After completing a degree in Journalism and Art from the University of Minnesota she attended the AVEDA School of Massage in Minneapolis to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and now resides in Bay View with her family. She enjoys all that Milwaukee offers including walking her dog along the trails, visiting the beer gardens, exploring the great food, going to festivals, biking with her husband and running the fun races. She is now learning all the great child-friendly activities to do with her baby, Wyatt./p>

Tori is excited to now offer Thai Massage and Bodywork at Invivo. She feels refreshed having learned new ways to approach and open the body in a more 3-dimensional way. Clients come out feeling invigorated and taller. The practice itself and its beliefs have changed her life.

Q&A with Tori Seiter

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. When people ask me how long have I been a massage therapist, I always say, “my whole life.” My mother was also a massage therapist so it has always been part of my life. Only, when I was little I was so ticklish that she could only work on my arms, back and head! But, legitimately about 6 years.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I tend to specialize in deeper work with a focus on chronic issues/pain. I recently became certified in Thai bodywork, a completely new way to approach the body that enables the client to remain clothed. Thai is done on the floor and incorporates holds and stretches that work ‘sen’ lines to release stagnant energy while moving the clients body into different stretches.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. After years of being able to work on people I have found that I like being the person they come to for help. I enjoy a relaxing massage as much as the next person but I get a real sense of accomplishment when a client has great results from a specific problem.

Q. What can a new patient expect?
A. I would like a new client to come in with an open mind and confidence knowing that wether you have an issue or just want to let it all go you are in good hands. We have such a great team of people that work towards a common goal in our own unique way.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. The massage industry has been growing in popularity and acceptance across the board. People are looking for niche areas such as myofascial release, ayurvedic and Thai bodywork. If you haven’t heard of these yet, you will!

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. My own personal wellness goals encompass everything from improving my own practice, to where I buy my food, to daily reflections, to my ‘sweat a day’ goal. I like to consider myself a local-vor and a farmers market junkie. If I don’t grow it in my own garden you can find me at the South Shore farmers market in the summer and St Annes Center in the winter. And massage! I make it a point to get on someone’s table at least once a month. Every time I am reminded how much I love that this is what I do.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. Milwaukee offers so many special spots! My favorite is in the morning with my dog along the lake’s south shore. Oh, and my own backyard.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. As for eateries, wow. I could not name just one. If you would ask me to go to an Applebees type place I would stare blankly at you. I love to support the local restaurants. Between family and friends I feel I am constantly discovering new exciting places. Tenutas, Pastiche, Honeypie, LuLus, Centraal, Guatajatos, Demarinis (the brothers) in Bay View never disapoint. I love Roots. And the Milwaukee Public market has something for everyone!

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. In my free time I love getting books from the library, painting, and working on my home.

After a successful career in medical sales, John decided to follow his true passion for patient care with a new life career in massage therapy. It came time to ‘‘leave the ‘burbs, move downtown, and restart living.” John’s mission is to educate and empower clients to greater self-awareness and mindful living through effective, precise bodywork.

John views bodywork and massage therapy as a facilitation of the body’s innate natural healing ability. Our bodies are wired to be healthy, vibrant, engaged, and alive. Sometimes we need an assist…a jump start…to help send us on our way toward healthier living. Your personal wellness goals may include relaxation, pain relief, stress or anxiety reduction, and healthier living.

Using a client-centered, client-specific approach, John incorporates elements of Precision Neuromuscular Therapy(PNMT) – using clinical reasoning in soft tissue therapy. It’s understanding WHAT tissue you are on, understanding WHY you are on it, and knowing WHAT may happen as an expected outcome. For more information on PNMT please listen to the explanation from my friend and mentor, Douglas Nelson.

Your personalized session may also include myofascial release – reducing fascial tensions and adhesions in your connective tissue, craniosacral therapy – light touch to facilitate releasing tensions in the body as well as traditional swedish, aromatherapy, reiki, and lomi lomi techniques. All this is woven into a relaxation experience designed to down-regulate your nervous system.

As a life long learner, John helps teach Precision Neuromuscular Therapy and craniosacral therapy coursework and participates in study groups for these therapies. An avid cyclist, yoga practitioner, reader, and mindfulness practitioner, John brings his life passion for a positive, vibrant, and spiritual practice to his clients.

Q&A with John Schaefer

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I am fortunate to be embracing my second career now as a massage therapist. After spending over twenty years in healthcare sales and service including setting up many of the Midwest’s sports medicine, rehabilitation, and professional sports training rooms, I am now focusing on a new passion, patient care.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. Using a client-centered integrated approach combining precision neuromuscular therapy (PNMT), myofascial release, craniosacral therapy into the traditional massage modalities of swedish, reiki, and lomi lomi.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. Understanding there is an unmet need to provide a balance of evidence-based practice (PNMT) techniques with intuitive principles to reduce pain, stress, and anxiety while allowing for deep relaxation.

Q. What can a new client expect?
A. Look forward to a unique bodywork experience to treat your areas of discomfort as well as to provide a deep and often profound relaxation experience.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. Recent focus and research on the role of fascia, the body’s connective network, may have a significant impact on our understanding and treatment of the body as a connected system.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. Mind, body, and spirit are intertwined with my meditation practice, on the road while cycling, and while enjoying walking, running, and yoga.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. So many…Lakeshore Park, trails along the Milwaukee River, Milwaukee Art Museum.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. Anything locally grown, small plate, and unique…La Merenda, C-Viche, Crazy Water, Odd Duck, the charming Riverwest neighborhood restaurants including Centro Cafe and Cafe Corazon.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. Sharing dinner and wine with my wife, cycling on our many great bike trails, meditating, reading, and music…ok, so that’s five!

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. The best de-stressors are to do what we love to do…for me that means to laugh, meditate, read, hop on my road bike, listen to and play music, enjoy a glass of wine and conversation with my wife, and anytime spent with my fabulous children.

LMT
Massage Therapist

Stephanie believes that if everyone got massages on a regular basis the world would be a better place. She believes in the healing power of touch and that we have the ability to heal and better our bodies through massage therapy. She believes massage should not be seen as a luxury but a necessity and it should be accessible to all.

Stephanie is a graduate of the 750 hour Massage Therapy program at the Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She’s worked in a number of environments including, hospice and medical settings, spas and even offering chair massage in a busy casino.

She’s studied many modalities and techniques including, deep tissue, swedish, prenatal, oncology, geriatric, hot stone, hot bamboo, lymphatic drainage, cupping, and reiki. And, Stephanie continues to learn and study different ways to grow as an LMT.

She tailors every massage to each individual’s needs, no two massages are ever exactly the same. She will work closely with you in every session to make sure your goals are understood and met.

She truly loves massage therapy and working with people. She finds joy in helping clients improve their lives through massage and energy work and can not wait to work with you.

Q&A with Stephanie Spivak

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist since February 2014. I graduated from the Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I have experience and have studied many areas of massage, including deep tissue, swedish, prenatal, geriatiric and oncology. I also am level 3 in Reiki, practice cupping therapy, have studied aroma therapy and am always learning and studying new modalities and techniques.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. I have spent my years as a LMT working in a number of areas and studying different modalities and techniques. I have gathered all that I have learned and experienced and used it to create my own style, which I consider a relaxing massage with elements deep tissue infused with Reiki. Yet, I am always changing and growing in my skills and knowledge. I customize every session to each individual client’s wants and needs.

Q. What can a new patient expect?
A. A new client can first and foremost expect to feel welcome and comfortable. I want every client to come in and leave their everyday lives and troubles at the door and have this time just for them.

I will talk through what our session will look like and we will discuss their goals for the session and then begin.

I want to make sure every client leaves their massage feeling better than when they came in and feel like they were heard and received the service they wanted. We will then work together to create a treatment plan to continue the healing and goals.

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. I love seeing energy work becoming more accepted and used in everyday massage as well as medical massage and practices. We are energetic beings, why wouldn’t we want to take care of our energy as well as our bodies?

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. I am always growing and creating new wellness goals. Lately, I’ve been focused on nutrition and incorporating juicing and more plant based meals into my diet. I have recently found a new interest in yoga and meditation and want  to continue to explore that.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. Oh gosh, I see so much beauty in our city. I love being anywhere near Lake Michigan, Sheridan Park, Seven Bridges, Lions Den (technically not Milwaukee, but close). I also love Milwaukee streets when the trees are full and everyone’s gardens are blooming; it is my favorite.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. We have so many amazing restaurants here! I love Cafe India, Sabrosa, Buckleys, Uncle Wolfies… those are just a few of my favorites.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. 1.  Hiking and exploring outside with my dog. 

2. Music! I love live music, music festivals, making music, experiencing new music. Music is an essential part of my life. I love finding unexpected and relaxing music to incorporate into my massage experiences.

3. Going out…I’m not sure if that’s a hobby, but I love going out to restaurants, checking out new bars, enjoying summer festivals, exploring local shops, museums and going to our incredible music venues. Milwaukee has a lot to offer and is overflowing with talent and culture and I love experiencing all of it.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. I just bought a new bike (an adorable yellow 7 speed cruiser) and love riding it. I enjoy using float tanks to help my mind and body relax. And most importantly taking time to just be with my loved ones without distractions.

LMT, Prenatal Certified
Massage Therapist

Charisma Townsend is a psychology student who fell in love with living a holistic way of life. I’m human and this isn’t the easiest for me because it wasn’t how I was raised. But everyday I get up and I strive to be better and to be healthier then I was yesterday.

Massage Therapy is art. It is essential to life. Something so simple – massage aides your body in its own self-healing process. The power of touch can be healing or destructive. I aim to remind people that it was meant for healing. Everyday, massage teaches me something new. Through my hands, I push that knowledge.

Q&A with Charisma Townsend

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2012. I studied at the Anthem College in Brookfield, WI.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in a variety of massage techniques including Swedish/Relaxation, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Hot Stone, Himalayan Salt Stone, CBD, and Myofacial Release. I also have experience providing Decompression (a version of cupping), Sugar Foot Scrubs, Cold Stone Facials (Migraines, HeadAches, Sinus issues), Trigger Point Therapy, and Reiki.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. The Art of Healing

Q. What can a new patient expect?
A. Challenges exist at every corner. Every body is different so what works for one person may or may not work for another. It’s well worth it and amazing to see the transformation of the body by giving it a little push!

Q. What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. The holistic approach to life!

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. I am currently getting my hips aligned and readressing an old injury that has resurfaced. I have gotten more Massages using Hot Stones, Himalayan stones, and CBD. Time to heal has done wonders. My next step is to see a chiropractor.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. I enjoy the view coming across the bridge from South Milwaukee into downtown it is the most beautiful view of the city. And I love the beach in the morning. It is always peaceful and beautiful.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. It depends on my food cravings for the day. My favorite place can range from Soul Food at GDaddys to seafood and the Fresh Market.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. Reading, yoga, and dancing.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. Meditate and listen to music.