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Linda Caravia, LMT 6600 Ethics & Self-Care Instructor, Oregon Online Courses: The Ethics & Business of Barefoot Massage / Sarga Self-Care Website: Vitalitytmy.com Email: linda.caravia@vitalitytmy.com |
While I am from the Willamette Valley here in Oregon, I have moved around quite a bit. I know what it’s like to be the new person in town or at school and can be extremely adventurous and independent. From living in Maui, Denver, near NYC, racing horses on my small farm as a kid to riding motorcycles, skydiving/scuba diving as an adult I’ve followed my curiosity to seek new experiences and have as much fun as I can while doing so. With that said, so much of my energy shifted with the birth of my daughter in 2011. My little girl has become my greatest teacher and solidified the important role of mother and loving guide as I expand my capacity to care for another human being in the best way I know how to. I suddenly felt a deep connection to the teacher and mentor within me that seems to have awakened.
Q & A:
What motivated/inspired/led you to become a professional massage therapist, and where did you go to massage therapy school? The path I took to becoming a massage therapist was not a clear one but became more clear with every class and each experience while in school. I had the most simplistic motivation: I enjoyed making people feel better and creating safety while doing so. In 1997, I went to The Salem School of Massage in Oregon. In massage school, most of my teachers were medical doctors, chiropractors, and nurses. Looking back, I realize now just how fortunate I was to receive my education from these talented and caring individuals. It is with great respect for their support and ability to clearly teach that motivates me to offer anything I can to further support the massage industry.
If you had another job/career prior to becoming a massage therapist, how does that life experience contribute to the work you do now? Over the years I have waited tables, worked in retail management and human resources. Those experiences taught me about smart, legal, and ethical practices that are important to safeguard a business. I learned about clearly communicating about and explaining services well so I can serve people that are a match for my skill set. Creating a clear, self-led, intentional therapeutic container has shaped my practice and populated it with clients who are a wonderful therapeutic match for me.
How long have you been licensed and practicing as an LMT? I became a licensed bodyworker in 1998, and I began working with my feet in 2017.
What kind of approach do you bring to your bodywork, and what massage techniques do you specialize in? Empowering clients to confidently communicate preferences and see them honored and attended to is a top priority to me. As a long-time bodyworker, I use the felt sense of the energetic field, the nervous system, and tissues of the body to allow for and follow subtle responses and listen to what the body is asking for. I specialize in Sarga Bodywork, Ashiatsu, Gua Sha, Cupping, Holy Fire Reiki, Pediatric Massage, Restorative Yoga, and Children’s Yoga.
What kind of marketing do you use to find new clients, as well as keep current clients coming back to you? Word of mouth has always invited the best therapeutic matches for my practice. Occasionally, I will use social media however I find it more of a fun pastime than actual marketing for my practice. Rarely do I have anyone find me through social media and primarily use those outlets as educational tools for anyone that comes across my materials.
When you are not working or in the office... I’m homeschooling my daughter (during the pandemic), teaching her class kids yoga online, playing with my 3 chihuahuas, dancing with my husband, practicing yoga and meditation, or obsessing about the next self-improvement, meditation, or massage modality class I am about to take.
What motivated/inspired/led you to become a professional massage therapist, and where did you go to massage therapy school? The path I took to becoming a massage therapist was not a clear one but became more clear with every class and each experience while in school. I had the most simplistic motivation: I enjoyed making people feel better and creating safety while doing so. In 1997, I went to The Salem School of Massage in Oregon. In massage school, most of my teachers were medical doctors, chiropractors, and nurses. Looking back, I realize now just how fortunate I was to receive my education from these talented and caring individuals. It is with great respect for their support and ability to clearly teach that motivates me to offer anything I can to further support the massage industry.
If you had another job/career prior to becoming a massage therapist, how does that life experience contribute to the work you do now? Over the years I have waited tables, worked in retail management and human resources. Those experiences taught me about smart, legal, and ethical practices that are important to safeguard a business. I learned about clearly communicating about and explaining services well so I can serve people that are a match for my skill set. Creating a clear, self-led, intentional therapeutic container has shaped my practice and populated it with clients who are a wonderful therapeutic match for me.
How long have you been licensed and practicing as an LMT? I became a licensed bodyworker in 1998, and I began working with my feet in 2017.
What kind of approach do you bring to your bodywork, and what massage techniques do you specialize in? Empowering clients to confidently communicate preferences and see them honored and attended to is a top priority to me. As a long-time bodyworker, I use the felt sense of the energetic field, the nervous system, and tissues of the body to allow for and follow subtle responses and listen to what the body is asking for. I specialize in Sarga Bodywork, Ashiatsu, Gua Sha, Cupping, Holy Fire Reiki, Pediatric Massage, Restorative Yoga, and Children’s Yoga.
What kind of marketing do you use to find new clients, as well as keep current clients coming back to you? Word of mouth has always invited the best therapeutic matches for my practice. Occasionally, I will use social media however I find it more of a fun pastime than actual marketing for my practice. Rarely do I have anyone find me through social media and primarily use those outlets as educational tools for anyone that comes across my materials.
When you are not working or in the office... I’m homeschooling my daughter (during the pandemic), teaching her class kids yoga online, playing with my 3 chihuahuas, dancing with my husband, practicing yoga and meditation, or obsessing about the next self-improvement, meditation, or massage modality class I am about to take.
