Nationally Certified, New York State Licensed and Registered, she subsequently received her teaching certification from the FLSM in September '95. In 1994, The Finger Lakes School of Massage was a sister school of the world-renowned Florida Institute of Health in Gainsville, Florida. Matty was fortunate to study under several of the Florida instructors whom were part of FLSM's initial staff. Further training included advanced workshops in Janet Travell's Trigger Point Therapy: Myofascial Pain/Dysfunction. In addition to her formal training, Matty has been doing bodywork since 1980 as an avocation. Since 1982, she has traveled to 38 countries living for more than 2 years in West Africa, 2 years in Japan, and for several months in Southeast Asia and Australia. While teaching High School in Tokyo, Matty witnessed her students giving each other massages before sitting for exams. That experience served to open her to the idea of working in the field of massage therapy. As she traveled throughout Asia, Matty always seized the opportunity to receive massage in the various cultures where she lived and worked. The experience greatly enriched and diversified her technique. Her private practice was opened in November 1994 while working part time as a massage therapist in a Chiropractor's office. In the Spring of '95 she started A Balanced Body Therapy specializing in Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy (Neuromuscular Therapy) and Sports Massage. Her association with people in the athletic community at Cornell University helped her to cultivate her skills in treating athletes. She now serves the needs of many athletes in a variety of sports including running, biking, basketball, rowing, football & racket sports. In the Spring of 1997, Matty was invited to take over the Massage Clinic for the Wellness Program at Cornell University. This is a part time clinic available to the Cornell Community in the Wellness Lab at Helen Newman Hall on North Campus--operating Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 pm by appointment. The success of this clinic has grown to include Outreach Clinics and Massage Workshops throughout the Campus. Departments and Living Centers invite Matty to come to their place and conduct on-site chair massage clinics. When demand is high, as it often is, Matty contracts with several licensed therapists in the Ithaca community to participate in serving the Cornell needs.
