Four Winds Therapeutic Massage Review (Anchorage)

 I wrote this review a while ago and I am going to put it out there. I think it's the perfect first post for my endeavor into blogging.

This is a review of therapeutic massage that I see Debra for and she is a blessing for the service she provides and the person that she is. 

Before I continue, I will be mentioning some experiences with possible triggering topics: being a survivor in the #metoo movement - which should give you an idea of what the triggering topic is though I only mention the experience in passing.

I have never had massages from a professional masseuse but I have heard about them, seen them in movies and have always wanted one and just never been able to get one until this past year. Someone in a Facebook group shared a special for massages and I went ahead and purchased one of the packages.

My experience with massages with Debra has been nothing but positive. I don’t have anything to compare it to but I don’t think that matters in the grand scheme of things, not for me and not when it comes to sharing my experience. Massages, for me, is a lot different than going to a bunch of different nail places or hair stylists, which I have done a lot over the years and have gotten to see the best and the worst in the area. With massage I wouldn’t have gone to the second appointment if I hadn’t been comfortable with Debra. I have been a victim of sexual assault (SA) and people touching my body, being allowed access to my body is not the same thing as being allowed to touch my hands or my feet so if I hadn’t been comfortable with Debra I would have just gifted the rest of my package to someone else and not returned but as that didn’t happen I would like to share a little bit why. This is not just to let others know about her  excellent service but also as another representation of my personal growth and healing.

When I first met with Debra, not only did we have an in depth conversation about how I ended up there but also what I wanted to get from the service and what she was going to do. She was open and compassionate and has continued to be each time I have been blessed with the opportunity to see her.

Currently so much of my self care journey is about learning when to accept what we refer to as ‘western medicine’ and when to search for methods that certain circles may or may not see the value in. Obviously massage isn’t just seen as a fun luxury, there is a lot of mind-body connectivity and support of healing that can happen in a session and I have been able to utilize the combination of pain relief and massage to deal with a badly pulled muscle, for migraines and even just the comfort of being touched in a consented and platonic manner.

As someone who has struggled in a world where I was assaulted multiple times in my life, harassed from a very young age all the way into my twenties, understanding the beauty of human contact that is professionally platonic as well as compassionate is a gift that I really appreciate in my life. It reminded me of when I had a homeopathic doctor and she used massage and affirmations to help me work through a dangerously intense anxiety attack many years ago and I cried then and I remember the first session with Debra, even though I didn’t cry I have experienced great emotional vulnerability as well as physical connection that is safe because it is a service with a consummate professional who loves what she does for people.

One of the best aspects of Debra’s style is being present and connected with me as the person on her table, this comes out in a variety of ways, having or maintaining conversations or allowing silence to last throughout the entire session. These might not seem like a big part of the service as a whole but for me, turning off my brain and just meditating is very difficult for me so when I can achieve that it's not just about me, it's about the comfort and safety in silence that I am able to appreciate because of Debra’s nature. On the other hand, I have thoroughly enjoyed sessions where I get a chance to converse with Debra about passion, family, and aspirations.

She is incredibly aware of utilizing gentle contact to allow me to know where she is and eases me into the session which is definitely something that I have never seen portrayed so I am glad that I have had that experience, hypervigilance and anxiety are both constants in my life so experiencing an session where I am not scared or startled by the person in close proximity to me is genuinely a gift. 

As someone who has not only been ignored for the bulk of my life when it comes to kind and loving touches to my body outside of maybe family due to my weight all while desiring closeness meant that I was very easily startled when I first started getting massages. This was only strengthened by the standoffish nature of a Covid world.

All of this to say that Debra is an excellent masseuse and if you get the chance to have something as comforting and helpful as a massage I hope you will find someone as compassionate as I have.

Chaos in our world is a beautiful thing, it was only because I was in a group and there was a good deal that I have had this experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to experience this service with someone so professional and loving. And because of this, I am determined to keep making it a priority in my self care and plan for it as best I can.