Therapists Therapies FAQ
We offer a broad range of healing massage treatments with trained therapists:
Karie Tieszen: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Myofascial Release, Prenatal
Karie is a 2001 graduate of the Touch of Life School of Massage in Minnesota. She has experience in both spa and medical facilities and can tailor each session to your needs. Whether you like full body relaxation or have specific therapeutic needs for an injury or area of tension, she can accommodate you. To allow Karie more time to get to know your body and really focus on those troubled spots, 90 and 120 minute massages are also available!
Availability: Tuesdays & Thursdays: on call 6 - 8:30 PM, Fridays: 9 AM - 2 PM, Saturdays: 1 - 5 PM
Pragyana Buzollo: Cranial Sacral
'Prag' has been working in the Anchorage basin for many years. She comes to Laughing Lotus with a diverse background and the gift of Cranial Sacral healing.
Availability: Monday 1 - 3 PM
Beth Alta Fletcher: Rolfing
Born and raised in Alaska, Beth comes to Laughing Lotus with a fresh attitude and a zeal for the Rolfing philosophy. She believes wholeheartedly in the healing work established by founder Ida Rolf more than 70 years ago: that the dynamic effects on posture and attitude are unique to the progress realized in Rolfing therapy.
Availability: On call.
Helen Meacham: Swedish, Polarity, Reflexology, Deep Tissue & Prenatal
Helen graduated from the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics and owned her own practice for 18 years before moving to Alaska. With over 25 years experience and 16,000 massages to her name, Helen is truly a gift to our clientele!
Availablity: Thursdays: 4 - 7 PM, Fridays: 3 - 7 PM, Sundays: on call
Alanna Selover: Deep Tissue, Shiatsu/Jin Shindo, Reiki, Reflexology, Trager/Thai
Alanna has been devoted to training in and sharing body and energy work for more than 30 years. She brings a diversity of therapeutic modalities to each and every massage, giving 200% of herself and customizing the experience to suit client needs. Her approach is very unique and intuitive, offering a one-of-a-kind experience of whole body relaxation and an overwhelming sense of well-being. Included in her full resume of techniques and trainings are:
• Deep Tissue Massage: Focused on releasing chronic muscle tensions and congestion • Shiatsu/Jin Shindo: Aimed at gentle drainage of lymph and increase of circulation through sensitive touch
• Reiki: The movement of subtle energies to evoke healing
• Reflexology: Distinct touch of pressure points in the feet to stimulate and release specific systems throughout the the body
• Trager/Thai: Rocking, stretching and unique movement of body parts to effect deep-seated physical, mental and emotional patterns
Availability: Tuesdays 1 - 8 PM
Joe Shelton
Joe Shelton revisits the familiar and well-fitting role in the seat of the yoga teacher and massage therapist. He arrives at the Lotus sanctuary with years of yoga, healing touch and meditation practice. His studies have taken him to India, throughout Asia and Europe and back again to his birthplace here in Alaska. Longtime interest in the realm of healing arts makes Joe a unique and invaluable addition to the Laughing Lotus Family.
Joe’s journey into yoga and meditation began with a variety of books, and in 1971 he started practicing Transcendental Meditation. Throughout the 70’s he attended numerous meditation retreats and soon began to explore other modalities. In the early 80’s, Joe moved to San Francisco to pursue yoga training, first in the Bikram lineage and later at the Iyengar Yoga Institute with senior teachers Judith Hanson Lasater and Ramanand Patel. Joe was attracted to the deep understanding of alignment principles and the healing properties of the Iyengar approach. It is Joe’s belief that a firm understanding of alignment sets the foundation for safely exploring all other yoga styles.
Joe’s favorite people to work with are “those who are actively involved in their own healing.” As a therapist, his preference is to practice deep body work on clients that are seeking a variety of complimentary approaches to their health. His extensive yogic knowledge coupled with profound touch techniques makes a session with Joe an unmatched and most effective experience.
Availability: Joe is on call throughout the week for massage, private yoga or
combined sessions.
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are knots in the soft tissue that refer pain in other areas of the body. They are caused by tension, overuse and injuries and often intensify over time.
Trigger points in the neck and shoulders are a usual cause of headaches, carpel
tunnel syndrome and low back pain.
What is Cranial Sacral Massage?
By gently working with the spine, the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia (connective tissue), the restrictions of nerve passages are eased, movement of cerebral spinal fluid through the spinal cord is optimized, and misaligned bones are often restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapy alleviates mental stress, neck and back pain and the symptoms related to migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and fibromyalgia.
What is Rolfing?
As we accumulate injuries, illnesses, limiting beliefs, repetitive movements and habitual postures, we compromise our ability to stay vertically balanced and more energy is required for daily life. Pain and dysfunction often soon follow as this extra energy expenditure takes away from the more vital functions of circulation, digestion, tissue repair, etc. Rolfing works to bring higher levels of function, efficiency, balance, and strength to the body’s posture and movement patterns by improving joint alignment, increasing range of motion, evoking inner body awareness, and establishing coordination and continuity of movement.
Who benefits from Rolfing?
Athletes, dancers, children, business professionals, people from all walks of life have benefited from Rolfing. Rolfing has the potential to ease pain and chronic stress and thus improving performance in professional and daily activities. It is proven that Rolfing continues to help people working with the following issues: motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, poor posture, chronic pain, stress, chronic fatigue, work injuries, neck tension, lower back pain, carpel tunnel syndrome, and limitations in yoga postures.
How often should I get Rolfed?
Traditionally, Rolfing is done in a 10 series, addressing different parts of the body to achieve a particular goal per visit. Each session is catered to the needs of the individual and therefore some may achieve healing in less than 10 sessions.