Amy Angaiak, LMT

Fairbanks, Alaska is my hometown. I appreciate the kind people & the natural beauty of the land here. I graduated West Valley High School in 1993 & then headed south for the winters to attend college in California. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Santa Clara University in 1997. Next, I took time off to travel & snowboard the mountains of the Pacific Northwest! Then I discovered bodywork & the healing arts.

Professional Bodywork Training

After my first massage, I was amazed at how good I felt! I was left feeling inspired to provide this service to others too. I attended The Heartwood Institute, in northern California for one year and graduated from the Holistic Health Practitioner Program in 2000. I received an excellent education. The best part of my experience, overall, was that I gained tools to be happy, heathy, & fully in the present moment. I learned that coming back to the True Self is the ultimate medicine & if we bring balance to the body, it has the power to heal itself.

The Heartwood Institute's mission is to teach and model holistic healing, sustainability, right livelihood & compassionate service. This school is unlike any other, a small & close-knit community 45 minutes from the closest town. It has excellent teachers, an organic garden & vegetarian cuisine, and guides its students on a healing journey of the Self, exploring the mind-body-spirit connection. This personal experience & understanding is integral to helping others to heal themselves through bodywork.

I graduated with 1,065 hours of instruction and earned certification in several modalities (descriptions below): Zen Shiatsu Acupressure, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, & Polarity Therapy. In addition to these techniques, I studied a variety of other subjects in the healing arts ranging from anatomy to energy work. My education was very well-rounded and I gained an understanding of the body's biology & energy from various perspectives & feel I have a solid foundation to draw from. I have since acquired over 140 Continuing Education Units & certification in Cranial Sacral Therapy, Advanced Polarity Therapy, MyoFascial Release, and Somatic Emotional Release.

Experience

Since 2000, I have practiced massage mostly in chiropractic offices in Fairbanks, Alaska, as well as San Francisco, California & Traverse City, Michigan. With 20 years of experience, I still find this work inspiring, gratifying & challenging. I have a variety  of methods to draw from & try to find the ones that are most effective and comfortable for each individual clients' needs and tailor each session to best address them. 

Credentials

State of Alaska Business Practitioner License

State of Alaska Business License

City of Fairbanks Business License

Member Of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (Liability Insurance)

Zen Shiatsu Acupressure: 

Based in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shiatsu utilizes the thumb, fingertips, and palm to press key points on the energetic meridians of the body to stimulate low energy or unblock excess energy. When points are pressed, muscles release tension which promotes blood and energy circulation. When the energy is free-flowing, the body is balanced and health can be maintained. Acupressure can strengthen resistance to disease and promote wellness. It is believed that points on the surface of the body reflex to the internal organs and thus improve the efficiency of function of the organs. Shiatsu can be accomplished through clothing and also incorporated into massage therapy.

Swedish Massage:

Swedish is one of the most commonly known & used techniques. It uses light, superficial pressure to increase
circulation, relieve muscle tension, and encourage deep relaxation. The Swedish Massage technique
has five main strokes: kneading, rolling, vibrational, percussive, and tapping movements, with the assistance of oil
or cream to reduce friction on bare skin. Sheet draping techniques are used so that only the area of the body that
is worked on is exposed for comfort & warmth. Generally, the full body can be addressed in 60-90 minutes.

Deep Tissue Massage:
If there are chronic problems due to injury, constant tension and pain in the musculature, Deep tissue is a
technique used after the soft superficial layers have been properly warmed and relaxed. The deeper, underlying
tissues then become the focus. Slower strokes are used to zone in on specific adhesions and scar tissue that
compromise the effectiveness of the whole muscle. Breaking up the adhesions reduces pain due to
restored circulation which in turn can help with problems such as inflammation from arthritis and tendonitis. After
adhesions are unbound, then swedish strokes are used going with the muscle fibers to encourage proper
alignment and blood flow. Pressure is deep but not painful, the client determines the comfort level which should
be on 'the edge', meaning: more pressure would be too much, but less would not be as effective. The slower
pace also helps with pressure threshold. Communication is key! Stretches are commonly used after work is done to
re-educate the body where the muscle's proper resting length is. Muscles may be sore for a day or two post-
treatment because of toxins and lactic acid being released into the body, but should feel better prior to the
treatment in a few days. The client should drink plenty of water, and moving and stretching the area worked on
encourages even better results. One or two main areas of the body (for example, the neck and shoulders) can be
addressed in 60-90 minutes.

Polarity Therapy:

Polarity is an energetic bodywork based on the universal principles of energy flow: attraction, propulsion and
neutrality. Developed by Dr. Randolph Stone, this understanding leads to addressing the body holistically: mind,
body & spirit. The basic belief is that each cell of the body has a polarity, a positive, neutral & negative aspects.
The body is gently manipulated with non-invasive physical manipulation to balance the positive & negative energies
in loving service & pure intention to achieve a state balance and harmony. Blockages & toxins are further eliminated
through a cleansing diet, simple exercises, and toning (using sound to heal the body). Polarity can be accomplished
through clothing or incorporated into other techniques.

Cranial Sacral Therapy:
Cranial Sacral is another subtle energetic work which affects the Cranial Sacral System including the brain, spinal
cord and cerebro-spinal fluid via the bones of the cranium, face, and mouth as well as the spine & sacrum. It is
little known that the bones of the cranium are actually joints and should not be fixed. When there is a blockage it
results in dysfunction in the system: a mulititude of problems in the sensory, motor and/or neurological realms arise.
Cranial Sacral Therapy helps to mobilize joints and releases stagnant energy resulting in a balance in the system. An
'unwinding' of constriction. This leads to an enhancement in the body's natural healiing mechanisms and improves
the function of the entire Central Nervous System, dissipating the negative effects of stress, enhances health and
resistance to disease. Often, clients reach a profound state of relaxation. Light tough is used and it can be done
through clothing and/or incorporated into other modalities.

My Goals

*To remain dedicated to my health & healing

*To provide service to those who are on the journey towards health & healing

*To provide the best quality of service I can

*To provide a safe & comfortable environment

*To gain trust & open communication with my clients

*To constantly be learning & improving my skills

*To be open & sensitive to individual needs