Meet Jacqueline
Hi there! My name is Jacqueline, and I am grateful and honored you’ve found your way here.
As a Somatic-Healing Arts Practitioner, my greatest intention in hands-on sessions, one-one and group facilitation is to provide a nourishing, explorative and safe space for individuals to relax their nervous systems, heal their bodies & grow their somatic awareness.
With a decade of combined experience and education, I find my edge within integrating both evidence-based practices and ancient healing traditions to honor the physical body while acknowledging the deeper patterns which influence how we move, how we feel and how we live.
My background in fitness and wellness coaching at a certified medical gym greatly informs my work, and I am happy to provide stretches, exercises, and holistic health tips.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of clients from all walks of life, including people of all ages, varying physical abilities, neurodivergent individuals, those navigating chronic illness and pain, and athletes seeking to optimize their well-being and performance. I’ve especially found my sweet spot with middle-aged folks and seniors.
My absolute fascination within bodywork and somatic healing: Our bodies tell a story. I’ve come to develop a deep interest in these unspoken stories, and the patterns I’ve witnessed in clients over the years. These stories show up in the way the body holds itself together, stands tall, slumps down, holds on, and let’s go. Part of the way I view my role is to support individuals to become curious about their bodies’ story, to develop a compassionate relationship to that story and potentially, grow in their capacity to rewrite it.
My values inform my approach which are:
Integrative: The understanding that we are dynamic manifestations of our biochemistry, social-conditioning, cultural background, environment, mind, and self-perception. The incorporation of both modern science and ancient wisdom.
Trauma-informed: The commitment and promise to hold your humanness (and my own) with compassion and empathy. The attunement and adaptability to your nervous system responses.
Collaborative: The body is not something to conquer or fix, but something to listen and attune to. Curiosity, joy and play will be our essential companions to create the conditions of safety in which the bodies intelligence can emerge.
Evidence-based: The utilization of science-backed methods. The dedication to ongoing learning, personal growth, mentorship and refinement of my skills.
My why: My passion for this chosen line of work is deeply personal, as I spent the majority of my early life feeling painfully disembodied and as a result, disconnected from even the closest people to me. Devoting myself to an exercise and movement practice, integrative study, and healing practices has supported me to reconnect with my body, cultivate strength and resilience, and develop a capacity to access genuine joy and presence in my relationships. Over the years, I have had pleasure of supporting clients as they learn to develop a more attuned relationship to their own bodies.
Some of my proudest moments with clients are the “Aha’s.” The ones they sense something in their body they’ve never felt before. The moments I get to hear them tell me, “I feel my feet on the ground,” or “I feel less pain,” all the way to “I can feel my breath for the first time” or “I can finally feel good in my body again.”
Beyond the obvious moments of discovery, what really keeps me unequivocally committed to my work as a service provider is what reveals itself through consistency and patience. When working with clients over time and trust has been established, they slowly and steadily start to build a deeper connection, sense of space and trust within their own system. It is the sustainable gains I’ve come to honor both within my own journey and that of clients.
I have witnessed the very real impact that simple, intentional movement and consistent bodywork have not only on people’s personal lives, but how they interact with the world around them. It is why I do what I do, and why I am a dedicated life-long student for myself and the folks I have the opportunity to support.
I find play, joy and pleasure, especially through movement & performance art. Strength training, functional & primal movement, fusion belly dance & simple improvisation are my chosen arts. I’ve integrated movement and integrative health practices as part of my daily life. It’s always evolving as I do, as my body chooses to express itself in new ways, and as I learn new things.
Global travel is part of my life-long blueprint. I am here to learn, to grow and to understand more about life through an inter-cultural and inter-racial lens.
Returning to the rhythms of nature is a continuous re-learning. I love outdoor adventures, and I find peace especially in forests and by bodies of water. I am devoted to understanding more about nature’s medicine.
My blood and chosen family are especially dear to my heart and offer support, inspiration and happiness in my life! My niece and nephew are my special nuggets who bring me so much joy, remind me to laugh more and savor the simple moments.
Credentials:
Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology Michigan State University
Minors: Health Promotion & Spanish
Licensed Massage Therapist Irene’s Myomassology Institute
Certified Lymphatic Drainage Specialist Massage & Bodywork Academy
Certified Myofascial Movement Teacher (in training) FAMO
Tao Tantric Arts Facilitator (in training) Tao Tantric Arts
Certified Thai Bodyworker Levels 1 & 2 International Thai Massage School
Certified Exercise Physiologist American College of Sports Medicine
Inclusive Exercise Specialist American College of Sports Medicine
Certified Health Coach Institute of Integrative Nutrition
Ayurveda Wellness Coach The ShaktiSchool
250hr RYT YogaState
Applied Polyvagal Theory in Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery Certificate Embodylab
Datura Phase 3 Cultivate
Dance Craft Spades Cultivate
A note on trauma-informed care:
My work is informed by training and ongoing study in the nervous system and bioenergetics, as well as years of hands-on experience in bodywork and 1-1 coaching. I am not a licensed psychotherapist or trauma therapist, and I may recommend additional support from a mental health professional if you are actively working through complex trauma. This helps ensure you have a safe and supported space for integration alongside massage therapy. I view bodywork as one part of a broader, collaborative healing process. I would be honored to be part of your multidisciplinary team.
Are you an integral-minded practitioner and interested to collaborate? Check out my Collaboration & Referral page.