RecoverWell Therapeutic Massage & Wellbeing

Summer should be about enjoying the sunshine - not feeling weighed down by swelling.

If you've noticed that swelling seems worse during hot weather, there's a reason. As temperatures rise, your body naturally moves more fluid into your tissues to help regulate temperature. When your lymphatic system has been affected by surgery, injury, illness, or another condition, that extra fluid can be more difficult to move, leading to increased swelling and discomfort.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle, specialized technique that helps encourage the natural movement of lymph fluid and may help you feel more comfortable during the warmer months.

If you're wondering whether MLD is right for you, I'd be happy to answer your questions and discuss whether it's an appropriate option for your individual needs.

*Manual Lymphatic Drainage is not appropriate for everyone. A qualified MLD therapist should assess your health history, and some medical conditions require clearance from your healthcare provider before treatment.*

RecoverWell Therapeutic Massage & Wellbeing

Some people inspire you because of what they create. Others inspire you because of how they care for people.

I've admired Chef José Andrés since I first dined at Jaleo in Washington, D.C. back in the 1990s. Since then, I've been fortunate to enjoy his restaurants in cities across the country, and they never disappoint.

Recently, David and I had the opportunity to attend a special event for his new cookbook and even have it signed. It was such a memorable experience!

Beyond his incredible food, I've always appreciated his commitment to helping others through World Central Kitchen, providing meals to communities affected by disasters around the world. I believe in supporting good people who do good things, and José Andrés is a wonderful example of that.

Do you have a chef, author, or public figure who has inspired you over the years? I'd love to hear who it is! ❤️

Today, I lost a longtime client who losf her battle with metastatic breast cancer. Over the past several years, she became so much more than someone I worked with: I will really miss our conversations, our laughter, and the trust we shared. She was nothing short of amazing, she continued to work in a very physical job often with a tough travel schedule until very recently.
Not going to sugar coat it, it hurts and I am sad. It's moments like these that put everything into perspective. We spend so much time planning for tomorrow that we sometimes forget how precious today really is.
Right now is full of lots of change, for me, my family, and lots of people I know. As life continues to change and we move through its many stages, I'm reminded to cherish the people who cross our paths, appreciate the time we have together, and never take a single moment for granted.
Rest peacefully, my friend. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your journey. You will be remembered with love and gratitude always. 💗

One of the things I've noticed throughout my career is that I'm rarely someone's first call.

By the time clients walk through my door, they've often spent months, or even years, trying to figure out why they hurt, why their mobility has changed, and what might finally help.

Sometimes they've found a little relief through other treatments or approaches. Sometimes they haven't.

Swipe through to learn why that's so common and why finding the right approach to recovery can change more than just how your body feels - it can change how you care for yourself moving forward. 💙

The hands remember.

Long before I was helping clients recover from injuries, surgery, chronic pain, or stress, my hands were doing different work.

They held paintbrushes.
They shaped clay.
They demonstrated techniques to students.
They comforted children who were frustrated, discouraged, or needed encouragement to keep going.

Over the years, those same hands have also supported family members, navigated my own health challenges, and learned firsthand what it feels like to be on a healing journey.

Funny how life works.

The same hands that spent years covered in clay now spend their days helping people move better, feel better, and reconnect with their bodies.

While the work looks different today, some things haven't changed.

I still believe in patience.
I still believe in listening.
I still believe that meaningful change takes time.
And I still feel honored every time someone trusts me to be part of their journey.

Life doesn't always take us where we expect to go.

Sometimes it takes everything we've learned along the way and puts it to work in ways we never imagined.

Sometimes the place you feel pain isn't where the problem begins.

One small injury can change the way your entire body moves. Over time, those compensation patterns can place extra stress on other joints and muscles, creating discomfort in places that seem completely unrelated.

That's why I take the time to look at the whole picture - not just the area that hurts. Understanding how your body moves as a system often leads us to the missing piece of the puzzle.

Swipe through to read about a recent case involving an old turf toe injury and why treating the whole body made all the difference.

Why Diagnosis Isn't the Goal

One of the first things I ask clients is what they've been told about their condition and what they're experiencing in their own body. That information matters. It helps me understand where they're starting from and provides valuable context.

But as a massage and wellness practitioner, my role and goal isn't to diagnose.

The human body is incredibly complex. Pain, stiffness, limited mobility, swelling, compensation patterns, old injuries, stress, and lifestyle factors can all interact in ways that don't always fit neatly into a single label.

What matters most to me is this:

Can we help you move better?
Can we help you feel better?
Can we help you function better in your daily life?

A diagnosis can be helpful information, but it isn't the destination. The destination is helping you get back to doing the things you love with less pain, more freedom of movement, and a better quality of life.

That's the goal.