Melissa Wynn, MFA, CMT

I have been practicing massage therapy since 2017. Having spent over 20 years as a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator, my exploration and understanding of the body, human movement potential and kinesiology through dance has been a natural precursor and enhancement to my massage therapy practice.

I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the Juilliard School in New York City, performed professionally in New York for 15 years with a variety of avant-garde contemporary dance companies, then received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater, Dance and Performance from the University of California, Davis. I have served as a university dance professor at several colleges and have also taught Creative Movement for Children through the Performing Arts Workshop Artists-in-Schools outreach residency program.

As a California Certified Massage Therapist, I have performed thousands of massages both privately and at my “day job” at a spa in San Jose. I continue to be amazed at the body’s intelligence and plasticity in reaction to therapeutic touch, massage and fascial re-balancing. In addition to the expected structural and muscular benefits, massage and bodywork has significant positive effects on all 11 of the body’s physiological systems - most notably the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). In all of my techniques I focus on enhancing this sensation of the stimulated PNS as I find that “relaxed nerves” tend to allow us to let go of muscular tension more easily and to feel more relaxed and grounded after getting off of the massage table. This philosophy is one that is carried over from my dance experience through the integration of Alexander, Feldenkrais and Bartenieff movement awareness techniques.