How Balanced Bodyworks Started
Balanced Bodyworks came to life in the fall of 2003 after Amanda graduated from Massage Therapy school in Spokane, WA where she practiced for 4years in a variety of clinics and spas until she found her niche in private practice as a Medical Massage Therapist.
In the fall of 2007 after several visits to Alaska Amanda finally made the leap to become a full time Alaskan. She found work at a chiropractic clinic and stayed there for 10 years where she also pursued her certificate as a Rolfer. Disappointed that she was unable to bill insurance like she had in WA as a private practitioner she set out to establish licensing of Massage Therapy in the State of Alaska. After a 6yr process of drafting legislation and lobbying the bill passed and licensing was established in 2015. Shortly after Amanda made the leap back into private practice. With an overwhelm of patients it was time to start hiring other like minded and talented therapists who specialize in restorative and preventative Manual Therapy.
Our clinic has an amazingly talented staff of 8. We are not just another run of the mill massage spot. Our therapist have a combined experience of over 100 years in practice. We work together to treat patients, specializing in medical manual therapy and can treat a variety of conditions ranging from tendonitis, sprains and strains to postural distortions and prevention or recovery from surgical procedures. We treat the whole person recognizing that there’s a human element to the healing process that goes beyond just the physical aspect. Our goal is to help you function more efficiently with greater ease. When you’re a patient here you matter.
Our Team
Amanda
L.M.T., Rolfer®
Amanda started her career in 2002 when she became licensed in Washington State. With 20 years experience Amanda uses an array of modalities to customize treatment depending on the patients individual needs which may include Trigger Point Therapy, Deep Tissue, Proprioceptive NeuroMuscular Re-education, Sports Massage, Stretching and Rolfing but sometimes we all just need a good relaxation session.
Amanda most enjoys working with chronic pain patients as well as prevention and rehabilitation for surgery candidates and helping educate patients what’s happening in their body and how and why the treatment they are receiving can benefit them.
Grant
L.M.T, Certified ART® Provider
Besides providing a deeply relaxing experience on the massage table, I am always interested in helping you move better, move easier and move more so you can do what you want and need to do in your life whether it’s to climb more mountains, ski longer or quilt without discomfort. I enjoy working with you to find out what isn’t hurting but is contributing to a problem, improve that.
I do tend to get on people’s nerves. Turns out helping the nerves have more circulation and improved movement is surprisingly mild, quick and effective. This is true whether the nerve is buried deep or close to the surface. I like to help you discover a few simple exercises or new practices that feel good when you do them. Improving a movement pattern can make all the difference.
I am grateful to share my 33 years of experience working with people and their bodies with you.
My sessions can feel more like a physiotherapy session at times rather than a massage treatment due to the effective modalities I use to achieve results.
Rachel
L.M.T., Deep Tissue Specialist
Rachel is a whirlwind of energy and is one of the most caring people you will ever meet! She truly cares about her patients and is extremely passionate about helping people in pain.
Rachel is a deep tissue expert, and she excels at treating back, neck pain, and she is extremely skilled at head, neck, shoulder and arm pain, positional release, cupping, hot stones and trigger point therapy. Her years of experience and training, coupled with an intuitive nature and exceptional skills result in very positive outcomes for her patients.
Niki
L.M.T., Manual Lyphatic Drainage
As of January 2022 Niki has 9 years of experience in Massage Therapy. She had training at San Francisco School Of Massage in Swedish Massage, with an emphasis and speciality in Body Mechanics, Massage Theory, Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Anatomy and Physiology, Neuromuscular Techniques, Lymphatic Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, and one of her favorites Pregnancy Massage. In 2018 she began teaching Massage Therapy at SFSM and has continues to do so via Zoom while in Alaska.
Prior to attending SFSM she graduated with a degree in Kinesiology the study of movement at San Francisco State University.
While Niki can deliver a relaxing firm Swedish massage it’s not what she is best known for. Niki’s years of experience sets her apart than other massage therapists. She prides herself in getting you back in touch with your own body through structural integration with deep tissue, sports massage, neuromuscular techniques and honestly whatever her ‘magic’ hands intuitively tell her.
She’s an accomplished athlete as well, traveling around the U.S., so she understands what the young and older athlete needs to keep up with competition and maintain high level of performance.
Mike
L.M.T., Myofascial Release Therapist
With 9 years experience you will not be disappointed in Michaels work. Combining several modalities of deep tissue, myofascial release and structural integration his sessions are truly unique and cater to the patients individual needs. Wether it’s headaches, injuries or seeking to improve posture and quality of life, Michael will not disappoint in his approach and professionalism. He is very skilled at minimizing pain and increasing freedom of movement throughout the body.
Cindy
Rolfer®
Cindy graduated from the Rolf Institute in 2003 and it has been her life's work ever since. She loves working with people who are ready for change in their bodies!
The results of Rolfing are a more relaxed yet energized body able to stand, walk and perform physical tasks with more ease and grace. Cindy use both gentle and firm pressure to restore normal length and elasticity to your body and have become very adept at listening to you and to your body.
Wendy
Provider
Dr. Wendy Willmon graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in Pre-medicine and Biology and a minor in Chemistry and Psychology. She continued her education at University of Western States where she received honors with a Doctorate of Chiropractic.
While acquiring her doctoral degree she spent additional hours learning massage and soft tissue techniques to further expand her skill set. That motivation to learn has continued into her working career with a desire to develop new skills and advance her knowledge with a variety of complimentary education.
Dr. Wendy provides diversified Chiropractic manipulation with a multitude of therapies including massage, myofascial release and trigger point therapy, therapeutic stretching, lumbar and cervical traction, flexion-distraction, ultrasound and electric muscle stimulation and many other supplementary modalities. In addition to the spine and extremities, she has a desire to optimize the overall health of her patients. She will spend the time necessary to evaluate various health concerns including such things as chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders and hormonal imbalances and offers ways to supplement the body's own natural drive for homeostasis. She also enjoys working with expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy and offers techniques to ensure the most comfortable experience possible.
She appreciates communicating and cooperating with other health care professionals as part of an integrative team approach. She strives to provide thorough, high-quality care, tailored to each patient’s needs while providing the tools her patients require to maintain optimal health and well being. She understands that each person is unique and entitled to individualized consideration and that quality care usually involves the understanding and correlating of many factors into a comprehensive plan of well-being.
Her spare time is spent with her family including her husband, two children and a couple rambunctious dogs exploring Alaska and enjoying the occasional trips visiting family in Washington and Oregon. You’ll also find her at the gym where her interest in anatomy and kinesiology are combined with a love of weightlifting.