Introducing Kelly Huegel, LMT, CPT - Massage Therapist as of April 1, 2011

Hi folks,

As many of you know I have been seeking a qualified therapist to join the practice as I am leaving for Seattle at the end of March.  Throughout this process I have been striving to find a therapist that would fit many hats. Traits I've sought include experience, confidence, intuition, business savvy, competence, trustworthiness and drive. 

It has not been easy and so I apologize for the many changes you've heard from me on which therapist will be working at the Studio but at the 11th hour I can confidently say, you will all be in extremely capable hands. 

Allow me to introduce Kelly Huegel...

Kelly Huegel, LMT, CPTKelly specializes in massage for the active person, whether a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, or someone who just likes to move. Her approach to massage marries scientific knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, and pathology with a practiced touch and keen intuition. She views massage not as something a client has done to them, but as a partnership between client and therapist facilitated by trust and open communication, with the common goal of wellness.

 "Whether it is fighting everyday insults like toxins and germs or struggling to recover from an injury or physical exertion, the body is constantly striving to heal itself," Kelly says. "Massage supports the body's own natural repair mechanisms as it works to achieve, regain, or maintain homeostasis--a balanced, fluid state in which all body systems are performing optimally, all the way down to the cellular level. My goal is to work as a partner with your body in this healing process."

 Kelly offers both deep tissue and relaxation (Swedish) massage, incorporating other modalities as appropriate including myofascial release, stretching, neuromuscular therapy techniques, and hydrotherapy. Kelly's approach to deep tissue massage recognizes that this name can be misleading. Deep tissue is not necessarily "deep in the tissue." Instead, deep tissue massage denotes certain massage techniques developed to provide specific focus on problem areas. While it can at times be be uncomfortable depending on the nature of the issue and techniques required to provide maximum assistance, deep tissue is not, by definition, either deep or painful.

Kelly's approach is to provide detailed work in a specific, but fluid manner so that clients have an overall experience of having had their concerns addressed in a meaningful and effective way. With relaxation (Swedish) massage, Kelly works to encourage the nervous system to transition from the sympathetic state (hyper-aroused, fight-or-flight state), which in the long term is detrimental to physical and mental health, to the parasympathetic (relaxation) state, where healing, digestion, and other important processes take place. The nervous system must achieve a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic states (much like the concept of yin and yang) to maintain or achieve good health.

Kelly is a graduate of the Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI) in Washington, DC and is licensed in both Maryland and Washington, DC. She is on the faculty at PMTI, teaching in both practical and academic classes focused on deep tissue massage and detailed anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Kelly also is a certified personal trainer, which allows her to expand the scope of her massage practice.

An avid athlete, Kelly enjoys just about every form of activity and, sometimes to her detriment, will try nearly anything. She strives to achieve functional fitness through a diverse training regimen, and fully recognizes that her affinity for french fries is entirely counterproductive to this goal. Kelly also is a devoted martial artist who is currently having her mind (and body) blown by Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do. She holds a black belt in Taekwondo, but respects and enjoys learning from all arts and styles.