Our Team
Hi, I am the owner, Melissa Larsen! I am a MAT/Orthopedic Massage Therapist. People always ask us “what is Medical Massage?”. It’s still massage but not what you probably know and have become accustomed to receiving at a spa or a massage chain. We have given massage therapy a HUGE upgrade with our training and that equals better results and long-term changes. Clients see me for my clinical approach with Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy (MAT). Focused on human structure, function, and motion issues, I work regularly with the “text-neck” population. Text neck is a modern age term used to describe pain from all the time we spend on our devices. Laptops, telephones, and iPads! Then driving, sleeping patterns, and sitting all day. Pain is exhausting, mentally and physically. Like many of you, I have bought gadgets and massage guns, foam rollers in every size, trying to get relief. While all have been useful, consistently I have found MAT to be most beneficial for pain and decreased mobility.
I grew up suffering from back pain due to scoliosis and I was told that I needed back surgery to straighten it out with metal rods. My roto-scoliosis diagnosis was upsetting; surgery was too expensive, and I was afraid of the recovery. Instead, I found relief with a combination of MAT and corrective exercises. Which is why I specialize in postural alignment. I can relate to people with issues like mine, whether it was specifically scoliosis or other issues of the spine, I know where it hurts. I have first-hand experience!
Muscles overwork while weakening others, effecting our posture and spinal curves. Generally, bones move because of muscles. If your structural alignment is off, there could be a functional reason. Observing your posture helps narrow down the source of pain; and it’s almost never where it hurts. Something is overworking to keep it that way, causing pain in the body and imbalance. I treat the whole body, finding your pattern and help unwind it. My goal is always pain free movement!
Howdy! I'm Rachael Klemm, therapist here at Moonshadow Medical Massage! I just moved to North Carolina from Texas. So far, I love it and it looks like I made it just in time for pollen season! For those of you that also suffer from allergies you know how I feel. What do we do?... "Gig 'em, Aggies!" Yes, I graduated from Texas A&M, and approached massage therapy with Aggies' optimism, determination, spirit. After college, the combination of sitting at my desk job with terrible posture and allergies, my upper body ached constantly, even my face hurt. I would have sinus pressure headaches that would trickle down, making my neck and shoulders painful. My scalp was so tight that I couldn’t tie my hair back into a ponytail. I started getting regular monthly massages and it changed my life! Not only can you benefit from getting fluid and circulation moving, but correcting posture helps with those neck and shoulder aches and pains.
I focus on getting movement back into tight muscles and areas without pushing the tissue too far. Taking my personal experience with allergies and headaches, releasing the tension in the shoulders and neck while addressing specific trigger points on the sinuses, scalp and face to release tension and get everything flowing as it should be.
I have a passion for helping people and continue learning how to help my clients improve and feel better. Great to meet you and hope to see you soon!
Hey! My name is Tatum and I’m a Medical Massage Therapist with a fascination with fascia! Chronic pain is something I’m very familiar with, I have an autoimmune condition called Ehlers Danlos. Which is why I fully understand the importance to work with the body’s nervous system instead of forcing change with massage. The community with a genetic connective tissue and autoimmune conditions understand this best but may not know it. Have you ever had a deep tissue massage and ended up feeling a little worse for wear? More tired than usual or even a little ill? That is because sometimes your system needs to feel safe with the changes from bodywork rather than being manually forced into it. Working with clients with an autoimmune diagnosis, or even those with very stressful lives are always surprised how effective a massage can be that focuses on working with their body and not against it. The key is not overwhelming the nervous system.
When I was younger, I played tennis, cello, and performed dance. With an underly condition, this caused a lot of discomfort and pain. For me, massage therapy has become a part of my healthy maintenance plan. My first massage introduced me to just how much tension I was unknowingly holding on to and an introduction of how it felt to relax and be able to be calm in my environment. Allowing me to connect with my body and get out of the constant fight or flight response. This led me to a career in massage therapy as a solution to manage my discomfort and a need to share this with others.
Our muscles hold tension that we don't even know we have from our physically demanding jobs, our stress levels or even training for a big event. Fascia is connective tissue, found everywhere in our bodies. Through my training and own personal experience, I have learned to unwind postural patterns layer by layer. Not just focusing on where it hurts but following it throughout the body. I look forward to working with you and helping your hardworking system rest and digest!
Hey! Call me Janae, your Myoskeletal Alignment Therapist with expertise in Orthopedic Massage, Deep Tissue, and Trigger Point Therapy. Massage is an art, considering our body's unique and intriguing structures, and your bodywork should reflect those intricate details.
Before Massage, I worked a desk job, so I'm familiar with corporate life's physical and mental stress. You're likely to feel the frustration of a stiff neck and rounded shoulders. My anxiety was high, and so were my shoulders, becoming the culprit of my annoying stress headaches. After a few medical procedures, my flexibility and hip mobility changed drastically. My body was "off"- not sitting correctly, and no amount of stretching did the trick. With Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy (MAT), I found out my pelvis was twisted, caused by specific muscles working too hard, while other muscles were just downright lazy! Ha! - Maybe this is you too, the part about feeling misaligned and maybe a bit crooked. MAT corrects those nuances your body creates due to conscious and subconscious habits; sitting, standing, facing a screen for long hours, athletic injuries, or in my case, physical trauma.
Feel relief through an intuitively driven session. You will experience a massage specifically focused on your needs to reduce stress, break up those knots, and improve mobility using a flexible treatment plan. I listen and allow your body to show me what it needs, meeting you at your pain levels and moving on pace with your muscle's response. I know the phrase: "I love to help people" sounds cliche, but I'm saying it anyway! It's called self-care beyond pampering. I can't wait to meet you!
