Eiko Elise Mizushima

Practice Update

**Eiko is not seeing new or previous clients at this time, minus a handful of folks who know who they are.

Practice update: Thank you to everyone who has supported me while I have been working and in school. I am currently in full time fieldwork for my occupational therapy program, hence my bodywork practice is in a incubation period. If you have unused gift certificates or sessions from memberships I will honor all of these, reach out to schedule  via email (eiko.elise.mizushima@gmail.com). I occasionally will negotiate trades if there is a mutual need/want and I will occasionally sell gift certificates, so it’s worth inquiring. I also do my best to give at collective bodywork days and special events that align with my values so you can receive from me in these ways too.

About

I am of Japanese and Irish descent. I’ve always been interested in healing. As an undergraduate at Macalester I majored in ecology because I am interested in complex inderdependent relationships. The outdoors make me feel more alive. I’ve studied black bears, endangered mussels in the St. Croix, and climate change with an emphasis on addressing my privilege as a U.S. citizen. Learning about climate change and environmental justice led me to the worlds of social justice and identity politics.  

The more I worked within social movements the more frustration I felt with how historical and present trauma/pain got in the way of visionary organizing. This inspired me to learn more about decolonization and healing. Bodywork for me was a way to heal and connect, to practice the way I want to be in relationship with myself and others. I believe that healing and justice need each other, that they are inseparable and interdependent. In 2013 I went to bodywork school  at the New School for Massage, Bodywork and Healing in Chicago. There I completed 600 classroom hours and 80 clinic hours and am a certified therapist through The Federation of State Massage Therapy Board.
 
I learned Thai bodywork, Swedish massage, craniosacral therapy and sports massage. I was drawn to Thai bodywork because it was an Asian form of bodywork and it was offered at my school. I am currently in graduate school full time at St. Kates for occupational therapy and I continue to work part time at the People’s Movement Center. I organize monthly QTIPOC potlucks to build community. You can find me cooking, biking, and resting at all other times.
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Offerings & Rates

I mostly practice Thai bodywork and Swedish massage. Thai bodywork is said to have been created about 2,500 years ago by the buddha’s physician; I believe it is more likely a blend of knowledges from east asian and south asian modalities such as yoga, shiatsu, and acupressure. Thai bodywork traditionally involves spiritual practices; I do not practice the spiritual aspects in my bodywork although I do identify as buddhist. Thai bodywork works along the sen lines in the body. There are over 7,000 sen lines, I work along the 10 major ones. The benefits of the pressure I apply are to clear the energy pathways, relax the nervous system, relax tense muscles and improve blood circulation. Throughout our session I repeatedly press up and down your sen lines and major muscles groups throughout four positions– sitting upright, lying face up, lying facedown, and on the sides while stretching your different muscles as we go. Wear comfortable and stretchy clothing during our sessions. I use my arms, feet, thumbs, palms and elbows to enable movement. You are fully clothed and lie on a padded mat on the floor. I position and stretch you gently, then slowly rock more deeply to open your joints and give wider range of motion. This is great for athletes, people who want greater flexibility, and those who want to clear their energy pathways and relax. I also practice Swedish massage which involves effleurage (long gliding strokes), petrissage (kneading), compression, vibration, and tapotement. Generally you are partially clothed or fully undressed and lie on a comfortable heated table throughout. Swedish massage works mainly on the muscles, ligaments, tendons, increases your blood and lymphatic circulation in addition to feeling very relaxing.

I recommend scheduling 90 minute sessions so we can move slowly through all 4 positions. 60 minute sessions are wonderful, but due to time constrictions I am not able to practice the full routine. 10% off your first time. I accept cash, check, or credit card.


Monthly membership:
Monthly membership:  Buy a monthly membership and you will receive one massage a month. You will be automatically billed every month. Your monthly massages roll over to the next month if you do not use them. You can transfer them to a friend for free if you want to give one as a gift. Buying a membership is a great way to create sustainable support for me and a more accountability to yourself and your self-care.
Sessions are based on sliding scale rates based on annual individual income:


Single Session Sliding Scale Rates Based on Annual Individual Income: