Q: What do you do at Element and how long have you been there?
A: It all started in the summer in 2012. I moved back to NYC from Seoul, South Korea, where I had lived since 2009, and I picked up a destined phone call from Alyssa to come in for an interview. I met Christina, who was pregnant with her wee one at the time and absolutely glowing. As a massage therapist at Element, I feel blessed to work alongside incredible people and clients who come in for the healing properties of massage. The best part about Element is providing the client centered work and keeping detailed SOAP (Subjective findings, Objective findings, Assessment, and Plan) notes on each person so there is a continuity to our work there. The next therapist is not starting from scratch.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your background… and how you came to do what you do at Element.
A: As I was graduating from Parsons School of Design way back when (before email addresses, in the beeper era), my friends were worried that I was going to disappear into the sunset in a Volkswagen van. A dear nurse friend suggested that I explore the healing arts because it could complement my art career and my gypsy spirit. When I attended the Polarity Institute in Portland, Maine, it was the beginning of a lifelong journey as a healer. As I embraced this career, it took me to Santa Fe, San Francisco, London, New York City, Seoul, and back to my home base of Brooklyn. In NYC it is very easy to network. A fellow therapist and long-time Element employee Hal Lubash introduced me to this healing center. It’s been fascinating to become part of the healing community in Brooklyn because it feels more approachable and welcoming than Manhattan’s vibe. Element is one of the first to open its doors, so it is wonderful to join a team that is well established and cherished by its community.
Q: What makes your practice satisfying/fulfilling for you? What is the most misunderstood aspect of what you do?
A: The modalities I practice are Swedish Massage, Shiatsu, Pre-nantal, Reflexology, Thai Massage, MyoFascial Technique, Trigger Point, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. After an intake of the client’s needs, I will combine a few of the listed modalities to achieve satisfying work created specifically for each session. What is satisfying is observing people achieving relief and relaxation as they connect more to their corporeal self. It is an honor to do this work, which may feel like a miracle, but it is not. Our bodies are kinetic links working together. Where there is weakness, tiredness, or strain, that is where pain can begin. As a LMT I feel part of my job is to understand the anatomical rationale behind the breakdown and then resolve it. Sometimes I feel like a detective!
Q: If you could tell a prospective/new client one or two things that are crucial to know about your practice, what would they be?
A: Each person is safe and respected. There will be communication and quiet. If you need more or less pressure, or an inch lower, I am there. If you need to talk, I will listen. For the duration of the massage, it is all about YOU and making you feel WHOLE again.
Q: What do you like do when you’re not at Element?
A: Summertime is my favorite season. Most New Yorkers depart, but I love riding my bike around to city beaches or sitting on a stoop and taking in the scene. Also as an artist, I am in the studio painting, creating, and dreaming (www.jeanrim.com). Recently I did a performance at Union Square about the Lovings, a quiet couple who fought the State of Virginia for interracial marriage, which is comparable to today’s fight for same sex marriage. I believe the time I have here to be ALIVE is precious and I hope to one day work with YOU.