My name is Garrett Engberg. I am a Massage Therapist and Health Educator and have been certified by the National Holistic Institute with a 720 hour program. I graduated with Honors and received a Letter of Excellence for the Eastern Segment. I have been practicing professional massage since October of 2008 and am a member of the American Massage Therapist Association (AMTA).
My objective with every client is to create an excellent tailored experience that promotes their health and relaxation. I try to look at the body as a whole system and see that everything is connected together. Muscles touch and overlap, some of which may be in a state of constant tension. Joints are pulled in different directions by these tense muscles. That pain may be in one area but actually originate from somewhere else. This view is why I choose to work with places where we take this "whole body view" to the next level.
When I became a massage therapist, I was surprised at how much my view of the human body changed. I can see where the tension is held, even in everyday situations like standing behind someone in line at the supermarket. I see that tension and envision how I can affect those muscles to relax, what I can do to break up adhesions and knots, and help move away toxins in those muscles that have become stagnant. Massage therapy is a wonderful thing; it triggers the body's relaxation responses, interrupting the cycle of stress and muscle tension that can build into knots and/or pain. When someone feels relaxed and rejuvenated after a massage, they are less likely to slip into patterns of tension that can contribute to soft tissue problems. Massage relaxes the contracted muscles and reduces the adhesions in the tissue, which in turn benefits every system in the body.
Before coming to massage, I worked in a wide variety of fields; from customer service, to designing video games, to working operations in a warehouse, to being an Audio/Video technician for Simultaneous Interpretation. Throughout my career I realized that I find the most fulfillment from jobs that I am able to help people, to help them learn, grow, express themselves, or facilitate communication. I have always loved being a kinesthetic person, so working with my hands and performing massage just made sense.
I feel that as a massage therapist it is important to be open, compassionate, understanding, and strive to live with integrity every day. This is why I believe that wonderful days don’t happen, they are created. So next time, wish someone to “Create their wonderful day.”
