My introduction to bodywork was as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica in 1976. I thought I would miss my first training excursion cross country due to a sudden bout of diarrhea. My host father, the head of the family I lived with, sat me down and called to his wife to bring the lard. "Oh, I am NOT eating lard!" I said emphatically. Before I could escape, he had taken my arm and had begun rubbing my elbow using the lard for glide. He did the same to my thumb. And in a matter of minutes, my stomach calmed down and I joined the others in touring the country I wound up calling home for the next ten years.

During my time in Costa Rica, I never hesitated to ease the stomach discomforts of anyone in need, by imitating what I had experienced. It always worked! Fast forward a decade or so and along comes another illness that awakened in me a more seeking mind. A chronic and very painful condition moved me to explore possible relief beyond what traditional medicine had to offer. This time I happened upon reflexology. And again...it worked!

Now I am a licensed massage therapist and certified reflexologist. And I have maintained a private practice in Ithaca, New York since 1998. I received my massage training from the Finger Lakes School of Massage and my reflexology certification from the International Institute of Reflexology.

Currently, I work for Cornell University in the Physical Therapy Department in Ithaca and Beautiful You Spa in Elmira. I also provide house calls in the vicinities of Ithaca and Elmira.

I am a member of the American Massage Therapy Association and served as vice president of the Reflexology Association of America from 2000-2004. I earned a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and am fluent in Spanish.