By Cara Bertozzi
I signed up for a Thai massage when I was traveling in Cambodia. It was part of my exploration of the local culture and traditions. I enjoyed the smoothness of the muscle manipulation and the flow of the postures. Unfortunately, the language barrier and my unfamiliarity with the technique made it hard for me to properly relax while the tiny practitioner hopped onto the table with me and pressed me into various poses.
I was thrilled to meet Meghan Milliron, owner of DuPont- and Lakewood-based Restoration Wellness: Mental Health Counseling and Massage Therapy and a fellow military spouse, and learn that Thai massage is one of the body work services she offers.
Meghan initially trained in massage and body work after finishing her undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology and marrying into the Army. Not only did massage give her the opportunity to help clients feel good and improve their health but it was also a flexible career that she could continue to pursue throughout moves to multiple states for her husband’s job.
She particularly favors Thai massage because it is energizing and relaxing at the same time. Further, because clients are fully clothed for this type of massage, the technique caters to a wider clientele.
Meghan has adapted the modality for prenatal massage using altered positions and techniques. Her personal experience with pregnancy convinced her of the need for services of this type for women whose bodies are undergoing drastic change that is often accompanied by intense emotion.
Remarkably, as Meghan was expanding her skills to include therapeutic massage, sports massage, and postnatal massage, she found that her clients’ primary feedback following treatment was mental health improvement. The physical benefits were almost secondary to their improved outlook and resultant decreased stress. Inspired to learn more about the mind-body connection, Meghan went back to school and completed a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Equipped with training and experience in both counseling and massage, Meghan was able to begin crafting a parallel approach to the physical and emotional needs of her clients. When she moved to Washington this past summer, she pursued double licensing and opened her own business, where she could practice combined therapy techniques. Most medical counselors and therapists alleviate anxiety through talking, provide insight, and cultivate tools for communication, but they generally do not have a license to touch. Meghan finds that her broad expertise uniquely positions her to offer clients holistic treatment.
Meghan works with many different types of patients. She teaches children to stretch and receive healthy touch. Couples can learn massage techniques to engage in positive intentional touch that strengthens healthy relationships and can provide a connection for couples who are struggling. Meghan also works with a range of clients who feel uncomfortable in their own skin for various reasons, including accidents, abuse, and neglect. She is quickly developing a local professional network so she can refer clients to specialists as necessary and partner with other practitioners.
Massage therapy is so relaxing, largely because nothing is expected of the receiver. Both the mind and body can relax and even zone out, and massage can help you feel cared for, replenished, and ready to conquer the world. Meghan especially resonates with other military moms and children and finds that the gift of massage is a unique way to receive healthy touch while your spouse is away. These acting single moms may often find themselves the recipient of needy, clingy touch as they seek to support and love their children through deployments and separations, and touch for which nothing is expected in return can be life-giving and restorative. Meghan proposes that massage can play an important role in health and wellness maintenance.
Thai massage is often described as lazy yoga. While lying on a thick mat in comfortable clothing, the practitioner positions the client in various postures and has the client exhale deeper into the stretch. The postures link multiple movements together, mimicking yoga stretches such as cobra. Other postures cannot be accomplished without a partner. Meghan takes a non-reductionist approach, targeting the whole body with a complete routine. She focuses on energy centers in the central nervous system with nurturing, intentional touch. Notably, Meghan uses her feet to manipulate the soft tissues; the heel provides a smooth surface that fits well on the shin and arms. Gravity is used to apply pressure with less strain and force, as the transfer of energy tends to feel better when the practitioner is more relaxed.
A college athlete and avid adventurer, Meghan has always enjoyed pushing her limits, whether by mountain biking or navigating solo on multi-sport adventure races. Communing with nature can be healing, and playing outside and exercising represent important ways to care for your body. Along with advocating for a nutritious diet and adequate sleep, Meghan finds it extremely fulfilling to coach clients in ways to foster healthy interpersonal relationships and communicate through touch, improving their relationship with their own body.
To learn more about Restoration Wellness’ services, click here.
