About Susan

Susan is a graduate of North Eastern Institute of Whole Health and has been a licensed massage therapist since 2001. She combines her extensive understanding of the musculoskeletal system with a holistic spiritual practice to provide a unique experience that is supportive, respectful and specific to the needs of each client.

Her personal style of bodywork draws from Swedish, deep tissue, neuromuscular, sports, hot stone therapy, acupressure, reflexology, aromatherapy and Reiki. Susan is also trained and experienced in prenatal massage, is a Reiki Master and a Certified Yoga Teacher.

Susan is New Hampshire State licensed and is a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association. 

Susan’s practice is based in Southern New Hampshire but she will also travel to conferences, festivals, etc. to provide workshops and ceremonies. If you’re interested in hosting an event and you’re willing to cover resonable travel expenses please contact Susan to discuss your needs. Staying with a host family during travel is always preferred over a hotel.

Yoga Training

Susan received her Yoga Teacher Certification from nationally recognized yoga expert and author Sierra Bender, through her Wholistic Yoga Therapy Training Program. It’s an in-depth, hands-on program of the Sierra Bender Empowerment Method® (SBEM), which is a concept of holistic fitness, health & healing. The SBEM is a proven approach that synthesizes the disciplines of modern medicine, science, indigenous wisdom, holistic health, exercise physiology, quantum physics, nutrition, yoga therapy and the psychology of trauma/addiction/sexual abuse. It infuses real-world clinical studies with holistic intelligence.

Sierra Bender is an internationally acclaimed women’s advocate, author of the book, Goddess to the Core®, creator of the Sierra Bender Empowerment Method® (SBEM), and founder of the Core Institute and Boot Camp for Goddesses®, which is a life-altering self-empowerment retreat which Susan also attended.

The Sierra Bender Wholistic Yoga Therapy Program empowers women to break through to new levels. It goes beyond physical postures and enters into the full realm of women’s traditional healing, incorporating physical, spiritual, mental and emotional elements. It introduces wisdom about women’s anatomy, the body’s intelligence, and energetic systems that are not taught in a typical yoga class or training.

In addition to receiving her certification with Sierra, Susan also studied at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health under the direct guidance of Joseph Le Page, founder of Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT). The design of the IYT program was developed through his studies of traditional healing arts in over one hundred countries, as well as studies in India, where he lived for two years, together with his master’s degree work in experiential education.

Herbalist Training

Susan was blessed with the opportunity to study with world-renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar at her home and herbal teaching farm, Sage Mountain, in Vermont. Her year-long, hands on training in The Science and Art of Herbalism was an extensive course and apprenticeship program that was an intensive immersion in using herbs with the knowledge and advice of one of the top herbalists in the world.

Susan now takes that knowledge and skill and makes many of her own massage oils, tinctures, creams, and also cordials and wines. She grows her own herbs in her organic garden and some are ethically wild crafted. She recently received the “Best Wine” award at the 2013 New England Women’s Conference for her elderberry wine titled “Elderberry Heaven”.

Rosemary, a pioneer in the herbal movement, is referred to as the ‘Godmother of American Herbalism’. She began developing herbal formulas over 35 years ago and is the founder of the California School of Herbal Studies, the oldest running herb school in the United States. Rosemary is also the director of the International Herb Symposium and The New England Women’s Herbal Conference held annually in the Northeast. She is the author of numerous books on herbs, including the best seller Herbal Healing for Women. More importantly, she remains a friend, advisor and mentor to Susan.

Personal Training & Bodybuilding

One of the most important aspects of Susan’s practice is her intense knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and her unwavering curiosity to understand what affects her clients. She’s been known to do intensive research to understand how to best treat those who come into her care with conditions that others have been unable to treat.

Her strong knowledge of the interaction of the musculoskeletal system and her understanding that where pain is felt is not always where it comes from enables her to be effective at a level that eludes many in her field. This knowledge comes from her extensive training as well as her personal experience in healing herself.

During the early 1990’s Susan suffered a knee injury while skiing. It was during her recovery that she was introduced to strength training and where she was soon encouraged to try bodybuilding. Within just a few months Susan found herself entering her first bodybuilding competition, which she won, also qualifying for the National competition which was only two weeks away. She participated in the national competition and placed fourth.

The gym that she trained at noticed that many of their members were asking her for advice so they offered her a job as a personal fitness and free-weight trainer and put her through a personal trainer certification course.
Over the next two years, Susan trained many clients and herself. She competed in over a dozen competitions where she received multiple awards, including overall and best poser, again qualifying her for the nationals in both the open and master divisions, and her second national competition brought her third place.

Susan spent over five years as a personal trainer and also spent three years competing in nationally sanctioned bodybuilding competitions. A year after her second national competition she was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, not from weight-lifting, but from a genetic predisposition. And after being turned away by four doctors, she found a wonderful Doctor in Boston who gave her the gift of a two-level spinal fusion.

Given only an estimated 30% chance of success and a year-long recovery, she vowed to do everything the surgeon told her to do (and not do) and with some hard work and rest, along with lots of study and research, she had a miraculous recovery. Never give up!

What Clients Are Saying

“We visit fine spas all over the country and world and have had many fine massage treatments.
Susan continues to be our gold standard to which we compare all other treatments.”
Mel and Judy B.

“From the days when I simply hurt, ignored my own needs and lost my spirit, to the time I was critically ill, you have nurtured and healed me with your hands, your heart and your spirit. Not only is your presence a space in which to heal, but also to relax, to laugh, to cry and to learn. Your skill with body work is profound and intuitive; being with you always makes me feel rejuvenated, and a better version of myself. I am privileged to call you healer, but most of all, friend.”
Nancie S.

“There are many wonderful and gifted massage therapists in New Hampshire but one practitioner stands out for me. Susan offers a holistic, body, mind and spirit experience that is therapeutic, healing and intuitive. She is a gift I am most grateful for.”
Paul B.

“As someone who has suffered with chronic pain for over a decade, I was desperate to find some relief and instantly realized I had found someone special when I started seeing Susan over three years ago. She found my trouble spots without having to point them out and for the first time I actually found some relief from my pain. Not only is she a great technician, she creates a soothing, peaceful atmosphere connecting mind and body.”
Pat P.