Maya Edwards came to massage therapy after an introduction during a high school cosmetology class. “I was really interested in how massage can play a part in healing the body. That’s when I decided to go to massage therapy school at Virginia College.” 

 

As a licensed massage therapist since 2011, Maya enjoys catering to the needs of her clients.

“Each session is different, so being able to understand what they need versus what they want is what I’m most passionate about. I appreciate their gratitude for doing my job well.”

 

In her spare time, Maya attends cosmetology school at Lawson State Community College and is busy with her family: husband Amariah, son Amir, 4, and son Levi, 1. “I absolutely love being with my boys. Amariah is originally from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, so we hope to travel there soon.” Maya also enjoys watching movies, particularly rom com and action films and eating American and Italian food.

Massage Therapist Tyra Barganier began her career as a social worker, but the case load and impersonal nature of the work frustrated her. That led to a new calling and Tyra graduated from Birmingham School of Massage in 2021. “I’ve also been studying reiki—energy healing—for the last three years,” she explains. “During the massage, I pull positive energy and give it to my client so they will feel better and understand that I care about them.” Knowing she has made her clients feel relief, both mentally and physically, is her goal.

 

In her spare time, Tyra enjoys entertaining, crafting specialty cocktails, yoga and meditation. She also is an avid lover of nature, crystal mining and gardening, a hobby she picked up during 2020.

Ian Hull is a big fan of symmetry and paying close attention to detail. Whether it’s as a sushi chef where he creates and plates beautiful food or as a fire spinner, his favorite pastime, Ian loves to present things as perfection. “From the moment I saw someone spinning fire with poi—Kevlar balls on Kevlar rope that are dipped in kerosene and set on fire—I knew I wanted to learn how to do that,” Ian explains. “It’s artistic and exemplifies symmetry and perfection.”

 

Since graduating from the Birmingham School of Massage, Ian is thrilled to be working with his clients to help them feel better. “I have always been good with my hands and can feel how to make someone’s pain decrease,” he says. “Massage therapy is a way for me to help people—I get as mu

Brittany graduated from Virginia Collage in 2018 in massage therapy.  

 

Her favorite 2 things about being a massage therapist are connecting routinely with consistant wellness clients and helping folks with chronic pain experience relief.  "These two things brighten my day the most!

 

“With each client I am always trying to find that ballence between a clinical massage approach and a relaxation massage; so that a massage session is therapeautic and comfortable as much as possible.

 

Outside of my massage work, I enjoy spending time ourdoors with my kids.  Paintball, hiking trails, really anything outside.”

Eleanore graduated from The Southern Institute of Healing Arts in Temple, Arizona in 2006.  She loves assisting her clients by allieviating their chronic pain and stress as well as heping them recover from injury. The tools of massage empower her to help her clients go out and live more healhy productive lives.

 

Her personal aims are to spend more time doing yoga and hiking, as well as to spend fun family time anywhere near a river!

I went to Montgomery School of Bodywork & Massage. The reason I pursued a career in Massage Therapy is my passion for helping people! Whether it is pain, mobility, recovering from injury, or suffering from stress, I want to see folks feel better and move pain free.

 

I enjoy an integrated functional approach to massage helping relieve pain through the power of touch. All clients have varied needs day in and day out, so I integrate varied elements from multiple modalities such as Swedish, deep tissue, NMT, sports massage, Muscle Energy Techniques, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy.

 

I spend my free time, watching a Netflix series, strength training boxing ,cooking, spending time with family, or watchng my favorite sport, soccer.

After graduating from Furman University with a degree in Spanish and a passion for languages, Anne Lofton Kendrick found herself at a crossroads. “I love languages and being able to make connections with people,” she explains. “But teaching wasn’t for me.”

 

Her Spanish fluency came with a lot of volunteer opportunities, but nothing that was considered a career. Then Anne Lofton remembered how she enjoyed massage and looked into the program at Birmingham School of Massage. “I fell in love with the practice and am still so passionate about it,” she says. “I love the hands-on nature of massage and seeing how much better people feel after their time with me. It’s wonderful to have a job where people are happy to see you and even happier after.”

 

A Mountain Brook native, Anne Lofton is a voracious reader, loves yoga and enjoys spending time with her two cats. 

Melynda graduated from Atlanta School of Massage in 2005. She practiced massage in Georgia & Florida before establishing herself in Birmingham in 2010. 

 

Melynda describes her passion for massage…“What I enjoy most is bringing a fresh perspective to each client. Whether the client has had little or much experience with massage, if I can bring something new that they see as valuable, that’s what excited me the most!”

 

Melynda also enjoys time with her family, going to new places and trying new food! “Bring on the Greek food. That’s my favorite. Feta, lamb, fish, hummus; I love it all.”

I enjoy the beginning, middle, & end of each massage! I like actively listening to the client before the massage, checking in through out  the massage, & the results & the feedback after the massage.

 

I’m a also yoga instructor. I love one on one & group instruction. And I’m a birthing doula. So I enjoy helping with many different types of therapies. And on Sundays I host a radio show “Issa vibe show” on Smash Bros Radio.

My favorite style of massage is a blend a trigger point and deep tissue. I find so much value talking a client through their intake form and devising ahort term pain solutions and a long term pain management plan. The goal being to alleviate acute pain initially and maintain a massage plan to help keep this afire pain from returning.

 

Ultimately I’m motivated to help my clients  continue to do what they love to do. 

 

When I have free time I enjoy working out, hiking, jiujitsu traveling, & reading Anime & Manga. 

Rodricquez graduated from a School of Massage in Clarksville, Tennessee in 2016. Since then he has worked on a wide array of clientele.

"People who need to heal seem drawn to work with me. I've worked with many folks battling back, neck, and shoulder pain from traumatic events. Really anyone needing help.

My favorite type of massage is a good blend of Swedish and deep tissue. And my favorite moment during a massage is when I experience someone's attitude change. See relief happen. Pain dissipate. Stress become calm. Restfulness.

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Outside of work, I enjoy working out and practicing jujitsu. I also stream a lot of Korean and British shows."