About us
We are a group of Healers and Bodyworkers that offer Shiatsu as well as a variety of Massage, Yoga Classes, Kirtan, Aerial Silks, Wellness Events & Workshops & Sound Healing. We are also available to host private events and wellness, meditation & educational classes. Here is a little bit about each of our core staff at Sacred Roots Healing.
Introducing Steve:
Steve has been practicing massage since 2005. His focus on deep tissue massage benefits all clients who work in a demanding profession, especially athletes. He is an avid cyclist, swimmer, and horticulturalist (holding a degree from Umass Stockbridge). Since 2014, with the birth of his son, he has deepened his ability to tune into the body and understand the underlying issues that reside there. His diverse experiences as a LMT include work at Tanglewood, pamper the band documentary series, corporate events, volunteer work at local community events, as well as many individual clients. He allows each individual the time they need to discuss what is happening in their body and tailors his massage accordingly. His gentle nature helps him intuitively listen to each client’s body. Currently, he has joined with his partner Jen, a Yoga teacher and Shiatsu Practitioner, to teach a restorative yoga with massage class series offered twice weekly.
Introducing Jen:
Jen has been teaching Yoga since 2005. She received her 200-hour training in Iyengar-inspired yoga from Karuna in Northampton, MA. She jumped right in and started teaching for a local non-profit mental health center for clients with both mental health and substance abuse histories as part of their progressive recovery program. This was her “Ah-ha” moment and she knew, despite the challenges, that this was what she wanted to do as her life’s work. Some of the students in this class were severely traumatized, most had very limited physical ability. Jen received extremely positive feedback, from both the program directors and clients, which made it clear that this was the way she wanted to contribute to the world and help people heal. This experience largely informed the rest of Jen’s teaching. Feeling passionately about working with those who have suffered trauma, Jen further educated herself by becoming certified as a r**e crisis counselor and educator/advocate through the Department of Public Health. Desiring to further understand the effects of substance abuse she also completed an addiction counselor program through Westfield State College. She helped co-create a yoga program called Finding Safety in Your Body and taught this 6 week course through the former Everywoman’s Center in Amherst. Jen also taught yoga, as part of a program for self –discovery called “Flip your script”, a course co-created with two college professors to help girls from The Care Center in Holyoke rewrite their stories about themselves. Jen has engaged in many other advanced yoga trainings. She has taught at the YMCA, and other local studios. Jen is a member of the Yoga Service Council; service work is at the heart of her practice. Most recently, she has been exploring 5 Element shiatsu and has completed a 500-hour 5 Element Shiastu training. Jen enjoys incorporating Chinese medicine and the elements into her bodywork session. A treatment with Jen will leave you feeling relaxed, nourished, rejuvenated and armed with many tools for self-care from suggestions of herbs to incorporate into your life as well as breathwork (pranayama) and yoga, all to support your best well-being. Jen enjoys making massage accessible to everyone and has joined her partner Steve, an LMT, to offer weekly restorative yoga with massage classes and is also available for private sessions.
Introducing Michelle:
Michelle Eastman has been practicing yoga for over 15 years. She became a 200-hour certified yoga teacher in 2014. Currently, Michelle completed Level 1 Shiatsu training as it relates to the 5-elements Chinese medicine theory of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. She is an avid hiker who loves being in nature. As an educator and healer, she is eager to facilitate an amazing journey into yoga as it relates to the 5-elements. Her intention is to create and hold a safe space for each student/client to dive deeper into themselves, feel better in their body, and to love their imperfect self unconditionally. Come share the journey to a better you.
