Hello, my name is Lisa Howe. It’s good to meet you.
As a Licensed Massage Therapist, my guiding philosophy is:
Massage should never hurt. Pain does not heal pain.
Why is this a core value of my work? The weekend before I started massage school, I treated myself to a massage with a massage therapist that came highly recommended by a dear friend. Little did I realize, this massage therapist was a Deep Tissue Guy in the classical sense: on a scale of 1-10, he insisted the pressure should be at least an 8. This high level of intense pressure caused an injury to my shoulder, and was an important lesson for me in the kind of practitioner I didn’t want to become.
If there was such a thing as a rating for massage therapists with a range of hyper-relaxation to hyper-treatment-focused, clients describe my style as landing somewhere in the middle. My technique is both highly effective and deeply soothing. My work is anatomically informed and I listen deeply to what my clients tell me with their voice and communicate through body language, with attention and intention.
I enjoy working collaboratively to support your unique journey: meeting you where you are to deepen your presence of mind and awareness of body. I do this by holding space for each unique session and listening with presence. I blend a mix of techniques into every treatment, always aiming for a level of pressure that’s perfect for you and your body — never forcing, always working within the tolerance of your nervous system. I find this balance through my own practiced intuitive sense, sensitive listening to the physical tissues under my hands, and verbally checking in with you. I always encourage you to find and use your voice. I feel a lot of satisfaction and joy to be trusted with your desire to manage pain and increase function: to help you feel and move your best. Sessions often include education, empowerment, and encouragement to listen to your body’s inner wisdom.
I became a Licensed Massage Therapist in October 2018, following a career in IT. I have taken a wide range of continuing education and enjoy focusing on myofascial release techniques for an effect that lasts beyond our sessions together.
I hold an endorsement for Intra-oral Massage as approved by the Washington State Board of Health. This allows me to provide massage to the muscles inside your mouth. This can be especially helpful with TMJ-related complaints and relief of headaches.
I am a Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist (CMLDT) through Klose Training, for attention specific to your lymph system. This is helpful for encouraging the healing of injuries, post-op prep & pre-op recovery, and support of sluggish or impaired lymphatic and vascular systems where more traditional massage techniques may be contraindicated.
Additionally, I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drew University, NJ, where I majored in Religious Studies and minored in Linguistics.
When not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two sons, baking gluten-free treats, finding that perfect tension in fiber art projects, wandering our beautiful PNW forests, and traveling the world.
Washington State License # MA 60898758