Liz Jester, Owner, Massage Therapist, Certified MLD Therapist
Thanks for visiting! I'm Liz. I'm an Atlanta native and I have been a massage therapist and manual lymphatic drainage therapist since 2015. Yoga was my first stepping stone into the world of bodywork and holistic health, but it was massage therapy that really hooked me.
When I started massage school at 22, I carried painful physical and psychological burdens caused by complex trauma. I was disconnected from myself, fearful, and exhausted. I had no idea how substantially my massage education would change my life. During my schooling, I spent nearly every day learning to offer and receive skilled, safe touch. In doing so, I discovered the body is brilliant, communicative, and wants to be healthy. Slowly, I learned to listen to and cooperate with mine, rather than trying to numb or fix it.
Following massage school, I received the opportunity to become certified in manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), and to apprentice with a well-known MLD therapist in Austin. This modality blew me away- I loved how systematic and effective it was, despite using such gentle pressure. After just one session, my clients and I would often see noticeable results in reduction of edema and inflammation. MLD quickly became my specialty, which led naturally into my study of oncology massage therapy.
My work has been described as slow, specific, and deeply relaxing. I'm not a no pain no gain therapist; though I sometimes use deep pressure, in my experience, subtle pressure can be just as (or more) effective in reaching deeper layers of tissue and helping tension patterns unwind. I use and combine the modalities that seem to be the best fit for each person and situation, including neuromuscular therapy, deep Swedish massage, MLD, and a little bit of craniosacral therapy here and there. I have also taken two trainings in trauma-informed care, and am continuously reading about trauma-informed care and ethics in massage therapy.
My favorite hobbies are poetry and contemporary dance. I also love to travel-- some of my favorite experiences have been studying at a university in Singapore, walking the French route of the Camino de Santiago, making Arabic coffee as a barista in Nazareth, herding goats on a mountain outside Jerusalem, and teaching English at an elementary school in Jordan.
I would be honored to be a part of your healing and health journey. I hope to meet you soon.
Credentials:
Massage Therapy Training and Certification: Lauterstein-Conway School, Austin, TX
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) Certification: Klose Training Institute, Davis, CA
MLD Apprenticeship with a focus on Post-Surgical Swelling: Austin Lymphatic Associates, Austin, TX
Oncology Massage Therapy Intensive Training: Tracy Walton & Associates, Atlanta, GA
Oncology Massage Therapy Advanced Mentorship: Tracy Walton & Associates
Trauma STARS (Trauma-Informed training): CHRIS 180, Atlanta, GA
Melanie Hollifield, Massage Therapist, Certified MLD Therapist
Also an Atlanta-area native, Melanie was born and raised in Stone Mountain, and has lived in Lilburn since 1997. During her sixteen years working in an outpatient wound clinic, Melanie discovered just how well lymphatic care could complement wound care. Seeing a need for lymphatic intervention in many patients led her to research and learn about Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). This sparked her interest in a career change, and she took the plunge to become a licensed massage therapist. She graduated from Atlanta School of Massage and followed her massage education with a certification in MLD from the Academy of Lymphatic Studies. Melanie has personal ties to this work as well, and is passionate about using it to improve clients' symptoms and to help them weather the side effects of treatments for health complications. Melanie has experience with post-surgical lymphatic drainage, and also enjoys offering deep tissue and therapeutic massage with cupping.
In her spare time, Melanie loves to travel, and is always on the lookout for a good, bingeable show to watch (open to suggestions!). She is also a Clemson University graduate, an avid Clemson football fan, and a mother of two. Melanie currently works here on Saturdays. She looks forward to working with you and being part of your health journey!
