The backstory
I thought I was going to save sea turtles.
Instead, I fell into a fast-paced field of environmental consulting. A typical day saw me furiously typing in my cube while shoveling in my lunch... staring at three monitors... trying to get a report out to a client (that was due yesterday)... wondering why my shoulders were always achy.
Sound familiar?
Have you tried working out to reduce your pain and stress? Yep. Me, too.
I tried seeking salvation in the gym, where I'd sweat out my stress for two hours every day after work. Or, if it was nice out, I'd escape on my bike for a few hours. But I was still achy, tired, stressed, and in pain.
Cue in: massage therapy.
I began receiving monthly massage sessions where I could literally disconnect for an hour. No demands. No calls. No texts. I started to understand how my body was holding onto stress and pain.
During those routine massages I realized my “do more” approach was not working. What my body truly needed was space to rest and recalibrate... a moment of nurturing and intention so that it could heal.
As you can guess, I was so inspired by the change massage therapy had on my life, I enrolled in school and started East River Massage. Now I can help you reduce pain and stress, too. Let me pay it forward. Let's hold space for YOU to disconnect from the world so your body can work on feeling better.
About my practice
You’re active, generally healthy, and yet still feel overwhelmed... oh, and you have this kink in your neck that flares up and drives you crazy.
Hello! I'm Jan, the owner of East River Massage, and I might be able to help!
I work best with busy professionals and weekend warriors (middle and back-of-the pack athletes) who are looking to commit to routine massage as part of their wellness/self-care plan and staying at peak performance.
My massage style tends to be gentle and effective. I use slow, broad strokes with moderate pressure to ease tension and reduce pain. You'll feel as if you're being ironed out. My focus is getting to the root cause of your discomfort and helping you manage those spots that flare up. Bonus: Because the simple act of dedicating time to disconnect helps combat everyday anxiety and stress, we’ll be simultaneously addressing mental health.
A little more about me:
- I enjoy being on my bikes (road and mountain).
- I maintain my health through weight lifting and hiking.
- I love traveling! Have you visited Arizona? In 2023, I went on an epic backpacking trip to Havasupai, deep in the western Grand Canyon, and had a blast! In 2024, I was deep in the Swiss Alps hiking alongside cows wearing giant bells.
- I volunteer regularly at CT Foodshare.
- I enjoy cooking vegan meals. Check out this recipe for Moroccan Lentil "Mealballs" with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.
The nerdy stuff
Education
B.S. in Marine Biology, minor in Geology -- College of Charleston (2004)
M.S. in Environmental Science -- University of New Haven (2015)
Diploma in Massage Therapy -- Cortiva Institute (2020)
Licenses & Certifications
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager #16804 (2015 - present)
CT Licensed Massage Therapist #10802 (2020 - present)
MA Licensed Massage Therapist #16853 (2021 - present)
Massage Therapy Continuing Education
First Aid, CPR, and AED -- American Red Cross (Exp. 5/11/2026)
Sports Massage -- AMTA, 30 hrs (2/2/2022 - 8/24/2022)
Approaching the Body from All Angles -- David Lobenstine, 8 hrs (8/25/2022)
Myofascial Swedish -- Ian Harvey, 16 hrs (3/25-26/2023)
TMJD Intensive -- PNMT, 16 hrs (Upcoming 11/2024)
Volunteering
CT Foodshare, weekly sorter (2019 - present)
Special Olympics, Healthy Athletes massage therapist (6/4/2022, 6/3/2023, and 6/1/2024)