I started on my path of body therapy in 2000 as a massage therapist, and as a yoga instructor. Meeting many clients who live with various physical challenges made me want to deepen my knowledge and skills to better help them. I decided to pursue a profession in therapy. I completed a Master’s program in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University and became licensed by National Board of Occupational Therapy in 2006. 

​

My experience as an occupational therapist had me witness many people being affected by pain. In extreme cases, they could not perform exercise or even simple stretches due to pain. The only tool I had was to suggest some adaptive / compensatory ways for them in performing daily tasks. While such patient education and training were useful to facilitate functions for some, I thought that effective pain management was what many others needed. 

 

Not only pain stops us from doing many things, it also compromises safety during movement. If shooting pain suddenly comes on, one may lose balance, or makes it difficult to move. It was frustrating for me to not being able to find truly effective techniques to address pain management.

 

Then it was my turn to experience debilitating pain first-hand: lower back pain!  Though I was always careful with my body mechanics when I assist patients in transfers and in position change, my body ended up having what I had always tried to avoid having. I tried stretches and core strengthening exercise, and used the back support girdle while at work. But it became chronic.  In my search for non-invasive treatment, I found Craniosacral Therapy. My body responded well to it, and after several sessions, the pain decreased greatly to where I was able to manage it with self-care routine.  

​

I found Fascial Counterstain as a patient also. After a few years of being pain-free, I had another episode. This time, I woke up with acute pain radiating from my lower back to back of my left thigh... the world famous SCIATICA. The pain was so severe that I could not even roll in the bed in a normal way. To get out of bed, I slowly crawled onto my hands and knees. It was a very scary experience. After the first session of Fascial Counterstrain, my pain subsided gradually over the next few days. After a few session, I was almost back to normal. In my case, the sciatica symptom was caused by inflammation of small intestine. I had to cut back food I enjoyed (cheese, wine, carb) to avoid recurring inflammation. 

​

The effectiveness of both modalities in addressing my pain was impressive that I went on to study them in order to offer them to my patients/clients. I studied Craniosacral Therapy with Upledger Institute (Technique certified in 2018), and Fascial Counterstrain with Jones Institute (Academy 1 completed in 2021).  

 

I am excited that you found this site as a gateway to experience wonderfulness of these modalities. You must have been looking for non-invasive treatment to address pain for a while. It is my humble hope to bring you closer to pain-free days. 

​

​

 

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​