Since 2012, we have been helping you feel better; from our hearts and with our hands.
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Ani is the proud owner of Birch Body Care as well as a Licensed Massage Therapist with over 10 years of experience. Before opening Birch in 2012, she graduated from the Swedish Institute and has worked in spas in NYC, wellness centers and under shady trees with ocean views on Block Island, RI. She has a B.A. in Art from Simon's Rock College of Bard. Ani's massage is intuitive, yet rooted in a deep knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. Her sessions are unique and tailored to her client's needs to facilitate the body's innate ability to heal itself. Many different techniques find their way into her sessions including Swedish, Trigger Point, Reflexology, myo-fascial release, and deep tissue. She is not currently taking new clients
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Jacki has been in the bodywork field since 2002. After her Yoga teacher training in India at the Shivananda ashram, she wanted to teach and help people feel their best, and knew she had a calling for more. She studied La Stone therapy, Thai Yoga Massage and Reiki one and two. In 2009 she became a Licensed Massage Therapist after graduating from massage school in Highland, NY. She feels blessed to have opportunities to work with chiropractors and other body workers to enhance her practice skills continuously and give a very individual therapeutic treatment. Jackie's sessions are incredibly intuitive and release muscular tension, pain and stagnation, trigger points. Her sessions also address injury rehabilitation, joint stiffness and flexibility issues, as well as providing a relaxing and restorative massage.
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A Graduate of the highly regarded Boulder College of Massage Therapy, Dylan has been practicing massage for the past seven years, the bulk of which in Steamboat Springs, CO in the heart of the rocky mountains. Dylan’s passion is massage therapy and it comes through in his work. He specializes in deep tissue, orthopedic, structural therapy, active release therapy (ART), and deep relaxation using abhyanga (Ayurvedic) style massage. A native of the area, Dylan is excited to be home to share his knowledge and experience with the Hudson Valley. Come and see Dylan for a truly unique massage experience.
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Audrey has been a body worker for over 20 years. After taking an introductory class in shiatsu with the renowned sensei, Waturo Ohashi, Audrey fell in love with energy work and the transformative effect it had on people. She continued to study under Mr. Ohashi and then went on to graduate from the Swedish Institute in NYC. Audrey has worked in spas throughout the Hudson Valley and sunny San Diego and holds a BFA in film from NYU. Audrey's massages are deeply relaxing and grounding and always focus on the unique needs of each client. Combining energy work with the practical needs of the body is her specialty. Depending on the need of the client, multiple modalities of massage may be included in a session including swedish, deep tissue, shiatsu and even meditation. Her many years of Zen meditation brings a calming, quieting presence to each session.
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Originally from Argentina, Marcela graduated from The Swedish Institute in 2006. She has been working as a licensed massage therapist since 2006. Her specialties include: deep tissue, trigger point, medical, sports, and myofascial work. As a certified prenatal massage therapist, you can rest assured that the mom-to-be and baby are in great hands! Marcela is committed to her continuing education. With her 11 years of experience working alongside physicians, chiropractors, physical therapist, and person trainers, she can treat a wide variety of acute and/or chronic conditions. Her focus is to help clients’ mobility and range of motion. By incorporating stretching and range of motion, Marcela is able to evaluate tissue and create a client centered massage. Each massage session is based on the individual client and their person needs.
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Geena Rose is a Reiki Master who has been practicing traditional Usui Reiki since 2015. She studied under Reiki Master Teacher Stacey Schaffer of Red Lotus Reiki in New Paltz. Geena is a passionate vegan and found reiki when she was searching for a way to bring comfort to suffering animals. When she discovered how much it transformed her own life she decided to complete Reiki I, II, & III to bring balanced energies to others. Geena strives to help people transition to a more heart-centered place where they can grow and heal. She loves to incorporate essential oil aromatherapy and crystal healing into her sessions. Geena is happy to hold a space of compassion and kindness where each client can feel safe and cared for.
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Ali is a NYS licensed Esthetician with a passion for clean, plant-based, and ethical skincare. As a student of Esthetics, she learned the importance of maintaining a balanced and consistent skincare routine for all skin types. Her detailed analysis during each session provides clients with a deeper understanding of their skin. Ali is committed to helping you alleviate stress and to ensure you feel comfortable and confident in your natural skin. When she's not at Birch giving amazing facials, Ali can be found exploring the beauty in details through the photographic process or making jewelry.
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Merle believes the key to personal happiness and fulfillment is in caring for and helping others. That idea led her to pursue massage as a career. Merle began her training in her native Estonia studying Medical Massage at the University of Tartu School of Medicine. After graduating, she specialized in helping post-surgical and trauma patients on their path to recovery. That experience gave her much insight into pain management through massage. Moving to the States, she worked for a number of years as a farmer before deciding to return to her passion: massage therapy. She graduated from The Finger Lakes School of Massage and is a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist. Merle focuses on each person’s uniqueness and uses her years of experience, knowledge of anatomy and body kinetics and intuition to create a session tailored to a client’s needs.
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Bernadette Canale has been a holistic skincare professional and NYS licensed esthetician in the Hudson Valley for 18 years. Her sessions include an individualized analysis and treatment that takes into consideration how environmental factors, age, and lifestyle choices affect our ‘outer glow.’ Bernadette also feels passionately about helping her clients find their ‘inner glow’ by facilitating a deep level of inner balance and harmony in her holistic sessions. Look forward to feeling nurtured, relaxed and glowing on the outside and inside after a facial with Bernadette.
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Caitlin graduated from the Swedish Institute in Manhattan in 2004 and has been a practicing massage therapist ever since, with only a brief hiatus spent farming full time. She has extensive dance training from Sarah Lawrence College and London Contemporary Dance School and continues to work artistically in the realms of dance and theater. Her delight is to re-ignite a sense of embodiment in our rapidly fragmenting technology-driven culture. Her guiding principle is to again acknowledge that we are physical creatures who need to move at an organic pace. Whether you arrive to a session with specific therapeutic goals in mind or simply the need for deep relaxation, Caitlin’s massage work promises a thorough commitment to your organic self.
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Sylvia received her Associates Degree in Massage Therapy from the Swedish Institute in NYC in 2008. She has worked in therapeutic environments since 2010 treating a range of clients from athletes, those suffering from chronic pain, women throughout their pregnancy, people with a variety of specific health concerns such as sciatica, repetitive strain injuries, chronic neck, shoulder and/or back pain. Sylvia is certified in neuromuscular therapy, a comprehensive system for the treatment of structural imbalances. She incorporates myofascial release, PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) stretching, and deep tissue work to provide unique therapeutic sessions for her clients to reduce stress and discomfort and increase pain-free movement. Sylvia is also certified in prenatal massage. Sylvia continues to gain knowledge through continuing education courses and research. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University.
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Shortly after Brittany's first, amazing massage that left her standing taller and more relaxed, she started looking into a career as a Massage Therapist. Brittany attended Finger Lakes School of Massage Therapy in Ithaca, NY and graduated in 2014. She's been practicing since then in a variety of spas settings in upstate NY. Holding space for each one of her clients is of the utmost importance to Brittany, as well as tailoring each session her client's unique needs.
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Karen graduated from the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy in Albany, N.Y. in 2018. Her desire to have a hands on and holistic approach to pain management drew her to the field of Massage Therapy after 9 years in the medical field. Karen often integrates NMT (Neuromuscular Therapy) and MFR (Myofascial Release) techniques into her relaxation focused Swedish massage. She loves holding space for her clients to be truly free of their daily stressors and looks forward to adding new skills and techniques to add to her divine massage sessions.
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Rachel started her skin care journey in 2008 when she attended Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics in Manhattan. Throughout the years she has honed her skin care skills at local spas including River Rock Health Spa in Woodstock and at Bodhi Holistic Spa and Yoga in Hudson. She understands the importance of healthy skin and it's profound effect on our self-esteem and how we feel about ourselves. Not only do her sessions provide a unique skin care regimen for each client, they promote a deep sense of well being and tranquility. Rachel loves helping clients feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and relaxed and deeply believes that we all deserve self-care time.
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Rooted in a holistic approach, Daniell offers an integrative and effective healing massage. Her love of anatomy started early in life and she earned her 200 hour yoga teacher certification at the age of 15. Her desire for hands on work led her to study at the Finger Lake school of Massage in Ithaca NY, where she graduated from in 2017. Today, Daniell's practice has evolved to incorporate her love of deep, connective tissue work, Swedish, movement based modalities, shiatsu, reflexology, reiki, and other energetic based healing practices. A session with Daniell is sure to be deeply healing on all levels.
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Jen has been a Massage Therapist for over 13 years and for over 20 years has been working in the bodywork field. She graduated from the highly regarded Finger Lakes School of Massage in Ithaca NY and has since been delivering sessions with mindfulness, compassion, and precision. Jen has spent years working as a member of physical therapy rehabilitation teams and has an exceptional knack for helping clients manage their chronic pain. She has advanced training in Medical Massage, Anatomy & Physiology, Muscle Energy Technique, Positional Release (strain/counter-strain), Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and Pre and Post Natal Massage. Jen is also a Certified Yoga Instructor and has completed coursework in Qigong for Medical Practitioners from the Omega Institute. She specializes in focused Deep Tissue work with an emphasis on relaxation, and a session with her will leave you feeling loose and serene.
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Michelle graduated from the Hudson Valley school of massage therapy in 2001 and has been practicing as a massage therapist since then. Michelle spent 16 years at Northern Dutchess Hospital in the Birth Center and at their Health Annex. She had the unique experience of massaging moms as they were in labor and within the early post-partum stage. Besides specializing in prenatal and postpartum massage, Michelle is a master of Deep Tissue massage and is a Reiki Master. She especially loves working on issues of the neck and shoulders, but happily applies her expertise to any musculo-skelatal issue you have. Michelle also holds a Sloane-Kettering certifiction in medical massage for cancer patients.
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In 2021, Ben graduated from the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy in Albany, NY. Previously, he earned a B.A. in Studio Art from Hampshire College; his first love being sculpture. Having spent many years working in hospitality, Ben has always enjoyed taking good care of people. Ben realized that months of COVID-19 lockdown would take a heavy toll on our minds and bodies, and as a result, he saw the opportunity to marry his interests with a new skill of massage therapy. He loves using massage to help help people feel their best. Ben works intuitively and with a deep commitment to caring for his clients. For pleasure, he enjoys spending time in nature hiking, running and paddle boarding.
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Naomi is a certified Reiki Master who has been practicing body work since 2018. She studied Reiki with teacher Nana Deleplanque through the NYC Reiki Institute under the direct lineage of Hawayo Takata. Naomi began her body work practice through a Craniosacral Balancing intensive in 2018. She was interested in learning more about energy work and decided to try Reiki I in 2019. She was intrigued by how subtle yet powerful Reiki was and continued through to Reiki II and earned her Reiki master in 2021. Naomi is determined to provide a safe space for healing to happen with warm hands and an open heart. She often uses crystals in her practice and might suggest a crystal to help you along in your healing journey outside of the Reiki room. Naomi also works part-time in customer service at our reception desk.
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