What Are Healing Arts?

The term Healing Arts refers to a wide range of holistic practices designed to support well-being and facilitate healing. This holistic approach means the entirety of the individual is addressed rather than just focusing on curbing specific symptoms. 

The healing modalities I utilize are grounded in both time-honored wisdom and modern research into the therapeutic power of touch and sound. 

At Healing Arts with Heather, the primary healing arts practiced are massage therapy, sound therapy, and craniosacral therapy.

What Can I Expect at My First Healing Arts Session?

No two sessions are exactly the same! Each one is shaped around your unique needs and what feels most supportive in the moment. I often draw from a blend of massage therapy, sound therapy, and craniosacral therapy. The balance of each, along with the specific tools and techniques used, will naturally vary from person to person and session to session.

Some tools that might be included are lotion, essential oils, hot stones, tuning forks, body tuners, a rainstick, a weighted blanket, guided visualization, breathwork, or gentle somatic movement. All of these are offered as ways to help your system settle, unwind, and reconnect.

At your first session, we’ll begin with a conversation. This gives us a chance to talk about what you’ve been experiencing in your body—head to toe—and anything that feels important to share. We’ll also go over any relevant medical information and your preferences for touch, pressure, and overall comfort, so we can create the safest and most effective session possible.

From there, you’ll be invited to undress to your comfort level in complete privacy and get cozy under a sheet and blanket on the table. In some sessions, remaining fully clothed is totally appropriate, especially when working with certain techniques or if that’s what feels best to you.

Most of the work I will be doing will be gentle and at a pace that is designed to soothe your nervous system. If we discuss heavy pressure or deeper tissue massage therapy, then that will be performed within your comfort zone. I’ll check in with you throughout, and you’re always encouraged to speak up at any time. Please read “Advice For The Best Session Possible” to learn even more.

What Are The Benefits Of Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy offers far more than just a moment of peace: it can be a gateway to deep healing on every level: physical, emotional, and even spiritual. The benefits are vast and varied, ranging from easing muscle tension to restoring balance in the nervous system and beyond.

At its core, massage is an intentional act of care, presence, attention, and therapeutic touch. And that alone is powerful. But there’s more happening beneath the surface.

Massage encourages circulation of cell fluid, helping nourish tissues and clear waste from the body. It activates receptors in the skin and fascia, which communicate directly with the nervous system to promote relaxation and reduce pain. Patterns of chronic tension can begin to unwind, hormones shift toward balance, and the entire system moves into a more resourced and regulated state.

When the nervous system feels safe and soothed, which massage so naturally supports, everything else in the body can begin to function more harmoniously. This includes not only muscles and joints, but also digestion, sleep, immune function, and emotional well-being. Emotions stored in the body may gently rise to the surface, offering an opportunity for release and integration, without needing to be “talked through.”

In this space, massage becomes more than a technique: it becomes a conversation with your body’s innate intelligence. A return to self. A chance to rest, reset, and reconnect.

What Is Craniosacral Therapy And How Does It Work?

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on healing modality that works with the nervous system to help the body release tension, restore balance, and support deep healing. It focuses on the subtle rhythms of the craniosacral system, which includes the bones of the skull, spine, sacrum, and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Using light, non-invasive touch in the form of extended “holds”, craniosacral therapy helps the body soften patterns of restriction, both physical and emotional. These patterns may be caused by stress, injury, trauma, or the natural wear and tear of daily life. Because the nervous system is so central to our overall well-being, even small shifts can bring a profound sense of relief, calm, and clarity.

Many clients experience deep relaxation during a session, and some may notice sensations of warmth, softening, or gentle movement. Others may feel emotional release, a sense of grounding, or greater ease in their body afterward. This therapy is particularly beneficial for calming the nervous system, alleviating headaches, supporting recovery from trauma, mitigating chronic pain, and enhancing sleep quality.

Craniosacral therapy supports your body’s innate ability to heal at its own pace and in its own way.

What Is Sound Therapy And How Does It Work?

Sound isn’t just something we hear; it’s something we are.

At the most basic level, everything in the universe is vibration. Our bodies, our thoughts, even the seemingly solid structures around us, are made up of energy in motion. Sound is one form of that vibration, an organizing force that can shift the state of our cells, calm the nervous system, and bring balance to the mind and body. We don’t just listen to sound with our ears; we feel it in our bones, our breath, our skin. It moves through us, reminding the body of its natural rhythms and deep intelligence. In this way, sound becomes less of a performance and more of a return, a tuning of ourselves back into harmony.

I use tuning forks, body tuners, and my voice to generate frequencies that help gently guide your body and mind back into a natural state of balance. These frequencies can slow down brain waves, allowing the brain and body to enter the optimal state for deep healing.

Sound healing is about creating the space for your body to relax, rebalance, and realign with its natural rhythm. Your only job is to rest, receive, and let the sound guide the process.

How Do Healing Arts Help With Disease And Disorders?

Healing arts don’t aim to “cure” disease in the way medicine often tries to. Instead, they support the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—so that the natural healing processes already within you can function more freely and effectively.

Many diseases and disorders are connected not just to physical dysfunction, but also to long-term stress, nervous system dysregulation, emotional overwhelm, and stored trauma. Healing arts, such as massage therapy, sound therapy, and craniosacral therapy, help create the conditions where genuine healing, on all levels, can begin.

Here’s how:

• They calm the nervous system, which governs everything from immune response to hormone balance, digestion, and sleep. When the body feels safe, it can start to repair and regulate itself more efficiently.
  

• They improve circulation and cellular flow, supporting the delivery of nutrients and the removal of toxins, which are essential for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and overall recovery.
  

• They release patterns of tension that may contribute to chronic pain, headaches, and fatigue.
  

• They help regulate emotions stored in the body and promote a greater sense of connection and well-being.
  

• They offer stillness, presence, and touch, which science shows can boost immune health, reduce anxiety, and improve resilience.

While healing arts are not a replacement for medical care, they can be a powerful complement, especially for those living with chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, pain, anxiety, or trauma-related symptoms. They don’t just treat the symptoms… They support the system.

How Long Should My Healing Session Be?

You’re always welcome to choose the session length that feels right for you. This is just here to help guide you if you’re unsure.

1-Hour Sessions
A great option for those who already feel relatively at ease in their body and mind and are looking for maintenance and support. It’s also ideal if you tend to relax quickly or aren’t dealing with pain or tension that affects your daily life. One-hour sessions are also well-suited for children, whose systems often respond more readily to the work.

90-Minute Sessions
This is the sweet spot for most people. It gives your nervous system time to settle deeply, which is essential for getting the full benefits of the work. If you’re working with ongoing tension, emotional stress, or chronic discomfort, this length provides the space to start shifting patterns and supporting real change.

2-Hour Sessions
Perfect for those with deeper or more complex needs—whether physical, emotional, or energetic. If your system has a harder time letting go or you’re seeking immersive, restorative care, this longer session offers the time and spaciousness to fully relax and reset. It’s also a wonderful choice for anyone wanting a luxurious self-care retreat.

Finding Your Best Fit
Many clients begin with a session length that feels manageable, then adjust it as they learn what works best for them. Your needs may change over time, and that’s completely okay. I’m here to support you in choosing what feels best at every step of your healing journey.

How Often Should I Get a Healing Arts Session?

How often you come for a session depends on your goals, the type of issue you’re working with, and how severe it feels for you. We’ll talk about what’s best for your unique situation during your appointment, but here’s a general guideline:

• For issues that significantly impact your daily life, two sessions per week can provide the support necessary to begin making meaningful changes.
  

• For less intense or ongoing concerns, one session every week or two often yields steady progress.
  

• For maintenance and overall well-being, a monthly session can help keep you feeling balanced and supported.
  

Remember, this is flexible! We can adjust the frequency as needed as you move forward and your needs change. While guidelines can be helpful, your own experience is the best guide. Notice how you feel in the days and weeks after a session.

Do you feel more relaxed, energized, or clear? Or do symptoms return quickly?

If you find yourself feeling better for longer, you may want to space out your sessions more. If you notice discomfort or stress returning sooner, it could be a sign that more frequent sessions would be helpful for a while.

Healing is a personal journey, and tuning in to your body’s signals will help you find the rhythm that feels best for you.

Advice for the Best Session Possible

These tips are just here to support you if you’re interested. They’re based on what I’ve seen help others get the most out of their sessions, but nothing is mandatory. Take what feels helpful and leave the rest. This is your time, your pace, your experience.

Before Your Session:

• Drink plenty of water in the hours leading up to your session, but stop about two hours before to avoid discomfort during the work. When you arrive, feel free to use the restroom and take a sip of water if you like.
  

• Eat a nourishing meal about two hours before your session so you’re neither hungry nor too full.
  

• Wear comfortable clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Leave your hair down and try to avoid jewelry, makeup, and strong fragrances.
  

• If you have any goals, preferences, or concerns about your session, please share them with me so we can be on the same page.
  

• If you’re running late, don’t worry, it’s totally okay. Remember, this appointment is here to help you feel better, so there’s no need to add extra stress right before it.

During Your Session:

• Give yourself permission to simply be, to relax fully, let go of worries or “to-do” lists, and receive. This time is yours to rest and flow with whatever arises.
  

• Speak up about any discomfort, even small things matter. Your comfort is key to relaxation and healing. Feel free to adjust your position, scratch an itch, or cough if you need to.
  

• This work moves energy through your body, and it’s natural for emotions or physical responses to come up. Crying, laughing, shaking, or sneezing are all okay. Allow yourself to experience what your body needs.
  

• Communication is important. If anything feels significant or different, sharing helps us support you best.

After Your Session:

• Take your time getting up and slowly re-entering your day. Notice how you feel.

• Drink an extra glass of water to help your body continue the healing process.

• Celebrate the gift you’ve given yourself. You’re investing in your well-being, and that deserves appreciation.

• Sessions often become more powerful over time as your system adapts, so consider scheduling follow-ups to keep the momentum going.