1. What do you do at Element and how long have you been there?
I’ve been at Element almost 7 months as a massage therapist, but really I’ve been here as long as I have been with my wife, the founder and co-owner, for over 4 years! Not only do I get to do what I love–massage–but I do lots of “honey do’s.”
“Honey, can you go to Costco?” “Honey, can you go to Lowes?” “Honey, can you go to Ikea?” I was also designated the “Master Chef” of Element. Many people don’t know that we have a terrace with a grill on the second floor. We host wonderful staff gatherings and I enjoy BBQ-ing, similar to the parties I would have in Brazil. I certainly feel like a well-rounded practitioner and essential part of Element.
2. Tell us a little bit about your background… and how you came to do what you do at Element.
I am Brazilian, I moved to the US in 2011. My previous schooling included business administration with a specialization in economics, a MBA in Innovation, and 2 years of law school in Brazil. When I came to the US, I worked on the financial side of a real estate company, and I just didn’t enjoy the work. I have always relished the opportunity to help people and make a difference. I realized that massage would be a great place for me to start and I plan to build on that education in the years to come, with further study in neuromuscular technique, Myofascial release, orthopedic massage, and perhaps even rolfing and acupuncture. I am very ambitious! Becoming a massage therapist also enables me to spend more time with my family thanks to the flexibility in scheduling appointments.
3. What makes your practice satisfying/fulfilling for you? What is the most misunderstood aspect of what you do?
First of all, in Brazil you don’t need a license to be a massage therapist. You just call yourself that and you will just be that. Nobody checks if you have a license. So when I started school here, I assumed I would learn the bare essentials of massage, but I really had no idea the extent and thoroughness of the training. I was amazed by all the information that I was learning and the serious study and determination it took to be a massage therapist. After absorbing the immensity of bone and muscle structure, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and the history of massage, it is really satisfying for me to apply all that hard-won knowledge to helping people feel better.
4. If you could tell a prospective/ new client one or two thing that is crucial to know about your practice, what would they be?
I do therapeutic massage, using a mixture of techniques when I am working on a client. I use myofascial release, which is a gentle and sustained pressure. It works in the fascia bringing warmth to the affected area and, therefore, eliminates pain and restores motion. Another technique I use is neuromuscular massage therapy, a specialized form of deep tissue massage working both the muscular level and the nerve level. With that technique, I work deep in the muscles beyond the specific area of discomfort. I focus on the entire length of the muscle, including all the attachments and the belly of the muscles. For each individual client that I see, I work with purpose and deliberation,to customize the treatment according to the person’s needs.
5. What do you like do when you’re not at Element?
I love to be with my wife and kids. I also enjoy listening to music, watching movies and TV, and cooking. One thing that I miss from the Amazon Forest is fly-fishing! I would love to find a way to fish here, too.