Rachel Medley

I am a Washington-licensed massage therapist, MA60647586 with a practice in Bellingham, WA, specializing in pain relief and improving functional movement through bodywork. I graduated from an 800-hr program at East West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, OR, where I studied Deep Tissue and Myofascial techniques, including Swedish, Craniosacral, and Thai massage. I have since taken continuing education courses in Neurokinetic Therapy, Advanced Myofascial Techniques, Structural Joint Balancing, Applied Movement Neurology, Z-Health, Zen Shiatsu, Tui Na, Reiki, and Polarity Therapy. I have a bachelor's degree in Biology, Environmental Science, and International Agriculture and am a certified Master (level 3) Neurokinetic Therapy practitioner. I am a NASM-certified Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) and am working toward certification in a Pilates training program through Balanced Body.

The child of adventurous teachers, I lived the first 11 years of my childhood in Pakistan. Since moving to the USA I have resided in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Virginia, North Dakota, Oregon, and Washington. I have traveled extensively across the US exploring our public lands and spent time internationally in Central America, the Middle East, Europe, and West Africa.

I love to listen, explore, observe, and experience. Throughout my childhood I spent hours climbing trees, bicycling around the neighborhood, playing in streams, building forts, and roller skating. As I aged, I started swimming competitively and running cross country. In high school and college I discovered outdoor sports, and I was in love. Activities I enjoy include hiking, backpacking, canoeing, caving, rock climbing, adventure bicycling, and swimming in rivers and lakes. I have always been fascinated by the natural world and how it works, including the human body. Before becoming a massage therapist I have been a botanist, beekeeper, farmer, social worker, and retail associate.

Like many people in this profession, I came to bodywork through recovering from a personal injury and learning to care for my own body. When you learn how to heal yourself, you gain tools to help others. I believe that everyone's body has an intrinsic intelligence of organization. My role is to listen, palpate, observe, and assist your body in regaining its ease of movement and finding its innate organization and balance. I combine an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology with compassion and intuition to help you gain the best results from each session.

I am excited to be in a people-focused profession where I can assist you in cultivating wellness and healing. I approach bodywork sessions as a team activity. We work together to find where you are stuck, out of alignment, or lacking connection and then devise a treatment strategy that tips you back into balance. Whether you are suffering from chronic pain, recovering from an injury, feeling overwhelmed by stress, or looking for increased comfort and function in your body, I can create a bodywork session to help your body regain its balance and organization. Through massage and bodywork I believe you can overcome pain, gain awareness and live life more fully.