Q: What do you do at Element and how long have you been there?
A: I am a licensed massage therapist at Element and have been practicing there since October 2011.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your background… and how you came to do what you do at Element.
A: Prior to becoming a massage therapist, I was working as a writer for a global financial services company. I took a lot of time systematically considering a career change, as I knew what I was doing wasn’t fulfilling and didn’t reflect my personal values and interests. I also have a Master’s degree in Special Education, with a concentration in mental retardation and severe disabilities, and a B.S. in Psychology. I’ve had some interesting jobs over the course of the last 20 years, from welding to teaching middle school math for students with learning disabilities, to the aforementioned “buttoned down” management position in financial services.
You’ll find that many massage therapists have a background in dance. I grew up eating, breathing and sleeping dance, training very seriously six days a week while in school. A hip injury sidelined me my senior year in high school, and I ended up going to college rather than pursuing a career in dance. I still love to dance and take classes when I can find the time, which is hard with a toddler.
Q: What makes your practice satisfying/fulfilling for you?
A: There are so many things I find fulfilling about being a massage therapist. I love being in a work environment where I can interact with people who care about their health and wellbeing and want to guide others in their health and wellness journey. I love having a career where I get to move, rather than sitting at a desk all day. I also appreciate being in a quiet, meditative setting.
In addition, with massage, you are constantly learning and striving to perfect your technique. As cliché as it sounds, great massage really is the intersection of art and science. If you find yourself becoming bored or complacent as a practitioner, you can always seek out new challenges. There is always further to go in your practice.
Few people realize the extent of education required to become a massage therapist in the state of New York. I know I didn’t before changing careers. Here, massage therapists are required to have 1,000 hours of education, and my program was actually 1,200 hours. We study myology, anatomy and physiology, neurology, pathology and many other related topics, all in great detail. On the whole, I had to work much harder in massage school than I did to complete my Master’s degree.
Q: If you could tell a prospective or new client one or two things that are crucial to know about your practice, what would you say?
A: While I work with depth, I don’t “force” my way into the muscle tissue before it is ready. Deep tissue work isn’t about creating a sensation of pain or extreme discomfort. The best way to access deeper layers of tissue is to sink in gradually once the tissue is relaxed and warm. I am happy to work deeply when that is what the client is seeking and when it is appropriate, but if someone is looking for table-gripping intensity and pain, there is a probably another practitioner who is a better fit for you.
I also take the time to think very seriously about the client’s lifestyle and any factors that may be contributing to discomfort during sessions. Good massage therapy can be a bit like detective work and you must always have a plan. I consider factors from many aspects of the client’s life, such as leisure activities, postural habits and life stressors, to name a few. I don’t do “one size fits all” massage sessions.
Q: What do you like do when you’re not at Element?
A: Outside of Element, my husband and I are raising our 15-month old son. We love to travel and have been to Japan, Ireland, Iceland, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Mexico, Alaska and Oregon together. Our son went to Estonia and Finland in utero, and we took him to Germany when he was six months old. We hope to pass our love of travel on to him.
I enjoy reading. I’m currently reading A. Lincoln by Ronald C. White, Jr., and my favorite author is Paul Bowles. I try not to buy plastic products or things packaged in plastic, so I spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and making my own bread, yogurt, etc. I also love to exercise. I recently took an adult swim class at the YMCA and I’m a big fan of lifting free weights with the Olympic bar. I’m always going for a new personal record. When the weather is nice, I’m also an avid rooftop gardener.
About Kirstie
Kirstie Pendergrass is a New York State licensed massage therapist and a graduate of Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences, where she was the recipient of the Richard G. Gilbert Scholarship. Her modalities include Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, intraoral massage for TMJ, and she is certified in pre- and perinatal massage. She is a member of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals.
Kirstie has been committed to holistic health and wellness from a young age. As a dancer and an athlete, she enjoys helping clients increase their comfort and their awareness of their bodies. She also holds a B.S. in Psychology from Guilford College and a M.A. Special Education from the University of New Mexico. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and her son.