INVIVO Massage Therapy Treatments and Pricing

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.

LMT
Massage Therapist

Chelsea Gleason is a dedicated Massage Therapy practitioner who works with patients suffering from an injury or chronic pain.

She received her diploma in Therapeutic Massage from Herzing University in 2013. Her focus is Deep Tissue / Sports Massage. She also provides relaxation and prenatal massage.

She has practiced spa settings and found that her passion for Massage comes from helping others feel better especially how to help others deal with chronic pain or everyday aches and pains.

She is a member of AMTA – American Massage Therapy Association, Wisconsin Chapter.

Book your next massage with Chelsea on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. Call us at 414-265-5606 for appointment availability.

Q&A with Chelsea Gleason

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I graduated from Herzing University, Brookfield, WI from their Massage Therapy program at the end of 2013.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in Swedish Relaxation, Deep Tissue / Sports Massage, and Prenatal.

I’m pretty good at customizing a massage for a wide range of needs, yet my passions lie with sports massage and deep tissue work. If you have a very localized or specific area that is bothering you, I’m your massage therapist. I also enjoy doing prenatal and relaxation massages.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
Honestly, my initial expectation of what my life as a massage therapist would be like was pretty different from where I am today. I didn’t think I could handle doing deep tissue, so I was set on marketing myself as strictly a relaxation massage therapist. I would tell people that I aspired to become a real-life Phoebe Buffay – the fictional character from the TV show Friends (and in my mind that meant only relaxation, I guess).

As I worked on more clients and found techniques and modalities that taught me how to massage smarter and not harder, I recognized that I really enjoyed taking more of a therapeutic approach to massages. I found ways to perform deep tissue and sports massages without injuring myself or causing undue stress for my clients. I realized how much I like bringing relief to athletes and other people with chronic pain.

Q. What can a new client expect?
A. I am here to help. I’m very interested in figuring out why a muscle is bothering my client. Is it from an injury? Is it overcompensating for a completely different muscle because of postural reasons? Are you recovering from surgery? Do you sleep on your side? Let’s figure that out and make you feel better.

Q.What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. Emphasizing “therapy” in massage therapy. That also means taking care of our mind and body outside of the massage room. All therapies are here to help us manage a healthy and balanced lifestyle, but we cannot “fix” ourselves if we don’t make changes to our own bad day-to-day habits. Therapy is a team effort and I am now on your team.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. My main focus lately has been taking care of my mental health and understanding my own personal boundaries. I have both ADHD and generalized anxiety, so I get overwhelmed easily. I am learning to take breaks without feeling guilty is both helpful and necessary.

Another thing is making sure to choose a physical exercise I enjoy doing. I believe mental health and physical health go hand-in-hand. So, if I’m doing a workout that I hate, then I’m really only catering to what I think is helping me physically and completely ignoring my mind screaming at me to stop because IT HURTS. I’d prefer walking a mile with my dog rather than jogging it alone. Allowing myself to listen to what my mind and body can handle has been a huge game-changer. 

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. Atwater Beach. It’s actually in Shorewood, but that’s just a technicality. It’s still in Milwaukee County so I think it counts. It’s been my family’s go-to beach spot since I was a child, and while it has changed a lot over the last two decades, it’s all been for the better. I also occasionally enjoy a nice quiet evening visiting the Bronze Fonz on the Milwaukee Riverwalk.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. My absolute favorite restaurant in the city is Mekong Cafe (on the corner of 60th and North). I am known to order from there at least three times a month.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. 1.) I love being an aunt, so I think my very favorite thing to do right now is hanging out with either of my nieces whenever I get the chance. 2.) One of the things I miss the most since COVID-19 took over our lives is karaoke. I can’t wait to sing, Man! I Feel Like a Woman to a crowd of strangers again. 3.) I’ve recently gotten into cross-stitching. I’m not that good at it but I’m having fun. 

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. Besides trying to get myself a massage, I like to walk my dog, take baths and binge-watch foreign dramas (which I also count as reading because of the subtitles). 

LMT
Massage Therapist

Kim Johnson has always had a passion and curiosity for the body and how it moves, connects to the mind, expresses, and heals.

Originally, she planned to attend college for nursing because of her desire to help others and be involved in the healthcare field. She chose to study dance after her health occupations teacher encouraged her to try “the dance thing” first, since one could always go back for nursing. Kim graduated with high honors with a BFA in dance from UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts in 2000.

Since graduating from college, she has been a dance performer, choreographer, instructor, and administrator in the Milwaukee area at organizations including Danceworks, UW-Milwaukee Dance Department, and Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy.

She loves to teach all ages and makes sure to look at each student’s anatomy and capabilities to provide instruction, imagery, and corrections individual to the person. She understands the power of movement, touch, and community and uses it to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for her students to thrive. She is also Pilates Mat Certified.

Kim’s love of anatomy, movement, and helping people along their wellness journey led her to massage therapy in 2019. Her desire to work in the healthcare field had found its path back into her career life. The way that massage has connected to her years of dance experience has been a beautiful marriage that she truly can’t wait to share with her clients.

Kim specializes in Swedish Relaxation Massage and loves to combine the different styles she’s been trained in to customize a unique session for each client striving to meet their therapeutic goals.

Q&A with Kim Johnson

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I graduated from the Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork’s 850-hour Medical Intensive Track Program in 2020.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. Although I was trained in various massage therapy modalities, currently, I specialize in Swedish Relaxation massage.

If there is a specific pain or area that needs to be addressed, I like to add Neuromuscular Therapy into the session.

I enjoy borrowing from different styles and combining them together to best serve the client. I look forward to continuing my education to increase my repertoire.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
A. After 20 years on stage and living out the moto, “The show must go on!,” I know all too well the toll that physical exertion has on a person’s body and mind. I decided to attend school for massage therapy not only to satisfy my curiosity and passion about anatomy and kinesiology, but also to be an advocate for self care in the dance community, and community at large.

In my first month of school, I realized that a rhythmic and soothing modality, such as Swedish Relaxation Massage, uses the same concepts of flow, intention, weight share, listening, and intuition as dance does.

My massage style uses soothing and flowing relaxation strokes to increase circulation, physical vitality, and initiate the parasympathetic system so that even if specific areas are needing held compression to address pain, the nervous system is in a state to relax and repair both body and mind.

Massage has truly allowed me to find a new way to move, in addition to serving another in hopes of helping them live a better life. These two aspects have always been what I’m most passionate about and called to do in my career. It’s my true hope that one will be able to feel this during their session.

Q. What can a new client expect?
A. A new client can expect an environment that is welcoming, professional, tranquil, caring, and client based.

Our bodies feel different every day and what we need does as well. The goals for the massage session will be established by truly listening to the client, making every massage customized to suit where they are that day. Detailed notes and follow up will be recorded after each session, allowing for consistent restricted muscular patterns to be learned in order to treat efficiently and effectively.

Q.What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. Anxiety is said to be the health epidemic of the 21st century. Studies show that it is up 1200% in the last 3 decades. Unfortunately, this number is only rising. People are in pain, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Mayo Clinic studies show that a single massage session can lower the stress hormone, cortisol, by 30%. After 12 weeks of regular massage sessions, anxiety symptoms can be reduced by 50%.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. I currently have two wellness goals. The first goal is to be more mindful throughout the day in order to be present for others and myself. Secondly, I’m committed to addressing physical needs as they present themselves instead of waiting until they become problematic and restrictive. I’ve started to balance physical activities, such as dance and cross-training with regular massages and meditation. 

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. There are so many, but if I had to choose one, I’d say Seminary Woods. Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a walk in the forest was a weekly thing I didn’t think was very unique. Although I now live in the city, I love that I can drive just a few miles from my house and be surrounded by trees and nature.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. My brain hurts a little right now trying to narrow it down to one….I’m going with Beans and Barley. I’ve been a vegetarian since 1995 and it was one of the first restaurants I ever went to when I first moved to Milwaukee. I couldn’t believe there was a place where I had more than a house salad or grilled cheese to pick from!

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. 1.)Spending time with my best friend and husband, Jon. It doesn’t matter if we are grocery shopping, or out for a fancy date, it’s always a good time. 2) I love to move, so dance or somatics practices are my go to.
3) Being outside. It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 degrees, or below 0, I enjoy moving through whatever outdoor environment I’m in. I guess this comes from having dogs that need to be walked every day. It’s become just as much a part of my daily ritual as it is theirs.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. It depends on what kind of stress it is, but my go-to practices are – take a dance or Pilates class, guided breathing meditations, cleaning and organizing my house, or walking outside, especially in a forested area.

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…

LMT
Massage Therapist

MacKenzie Mitsche is a dedicated Massage Therapy practitioner who works with patients suffering from an injury or chronic pain.

She graduated from Lakeside School of Massage Therapy in 2017. She has a strong interest in Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, and Connective Tissue Release. Her focus is Deep Tissue / Sports Massage and also offers an amazing relaxation massage.

She has practiced in both medical and spa settings and found that her passion for Massage comes from helping others feel better. She loves how beneficial therapeutic massage can be for every person. She wants to continue learning more about how to help others deal with chronic pain or everyday aches and pains.

It’s her professional goal to customize each session based on their personal needs. She feels it’s important that every person leaves their massage feeling better and knowing how beneficial massage can be.

She is started the Acupuncture Program at Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in September of 2020.

Q&A with MacKenzie Mitsche

Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I graduated from Lakeside School of Massage Therapy in 2017.

Q. What areas do you specialize in?
A. Although I was trained in various massage therapy modalities, currently, I specialize in Swedish Relaxation and Deep Tissue / Sports massage. I feel most confident working with neck, shoulder pain, and low back pain.

Q. What brought you to your current style of practice?
I want to help others feel better. I appreciate bringing modalities together to customize each session based on their needs. I have worked with so many clients over the years who have helped me realize how beneficial therapeutic massage can be.

Q. What can a new client expect?
A. I am here to listen. I want to understand how and why. There are so many things that can contribute to our everyday aches and pains and I am here to help you feel better.

Q.What recent industry trends have you found most noteworthy?
A. Nutrition is so popular. So many people are talking about what diet or foods they’re trying. Since the Pandemic hit, so many had to start cooking from home and started paying more attention to their ingredients. It’s amazing to see how so many people are simply feeling better just from switching up their foods to more healthy and organic options.

Q. What are your current personal wellness goals and how are you addressing them?
A. Studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, they really highlight the significance of eating healthy, exercising, and taking time for yourself such as meditating or relaxing. This has made me take more time for myself to understand how important wellness is, especially being a student.

Q. What is your favorite beautiful spot in Milwaukee?
A. My favorite spot in Milwaukee is Grant Park, Seven Bridges.

Q. What is your favorite place to eat in Milwaukee?
A. My favorite place to eat right now in Milwaukee is Pedro’s South American Food. Everything on the menu is amazing.

Q. What are your top three favorite things to do/hobbies?
A. I love being in nature, going to live concerts and shows, and spending time with my friends and family.

Q. What do you do to de-stress?
A. I love to get Acupuncture, Massage, and go for long walks or hikes.

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.

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.

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.