Nina’s story.
I was 23 when I realized that I was looking for a shift, a new profession, a new walk of life. I was hiking in Mammoth and I looked up into the clouds and asked what I should do. “Go to Massage School,” is what I heard. I called my mom that day and told her I was looking into schools and that I found one in Santa Barbara (where I grew up). I signed up and was in class the day of the interview, and started with Shiatsu, as the first class in my 550 hour program at the Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute. Here I studied anatomy and physiology, and a variety of eastern and western modalities. This school was such an eye opener to the differences between Eastern and Western Medicine, with a strong emphasis on Eastern teachings, paving the way for the rest of my practices and overall interest in healthcare and alternative medicines.
I grew up in a tumultuous environment, with a lot of stress, leading to addictions and eating disorders. This past really drove me to discovering modalities, teachings, and medicines that would help me heal; and in turn be able to heal those around me. It is a true passion of mine to show up as the wounded healer, and help the people around me, through the knowledge and strength I have gained through all of the trials and errors.
From massage school, I went on to do a 200 hour yoga teacher training in Costa Rica. Which really helped to deepen my practice and my knowledge of alignment, and the importance of it while engaging in a yoga practice, or any other movement program.
I then decided to deepen my knowledge in nutrition; since I can remember I have been fascinated, even obsessed sometimes, with nutrition and understanding it better. I took a health coaching certification through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition, which helped me to expand my knowledge of nourishment on a deeper level, and how to help the general population reach goals in that world. It was interesting, but I was ready for more hands on trainings again!
I went on a trip to Bali and Thai land in 2020, just before Covid took attention of the masses. I received many thai massages while I was there. So fascinated by this modality, I just HAD to take a course and learn how to take this practice home with me. It was my favorite modality I had ever diven into. What a rejuvenating and relaxing practice, which framework was created thousands of years ago, to work on the workers. To aid in the health and vitality of the people who work endless hours in laborious positions. I took a 35 hour course at the international spa school in Bali, and barely scratched the surface! Knowing there would be more to explore in that realm when the time was right.
Shortly after the Covid business dissipated, I received an Alphabiotic alignment from a new friend at the time, Jeffrey Williams. I was looking for help with my knee injury that still flares up, and instead I discovered a new way of thinking about the body. The instant I received this new wave of balance, I knew that I needed to learn to do this. It was clear as day that this modality was meant for me. Or I was meant for it! And with all of the stress I had built up in my system for the duration of my life, this was the most instant relief I had ever experienced. I signed up shortly after for the upcoming 200 hour course, and spent the next year learning the Alphabiotic Alignment process; learning about the brain and nervous system, and understanding the impact of stress on the body and our overall health (More info on this modality in the modalities section). My life has forever changed due to this modality, and the mindset it creates.
Shortly after finishing this 85 hour program, it was time to dive back into Thai Massage training again to expand in this modality, knowing it was my favorite to practice and receive. I took an 85 hour training through Spirit Winds School of Thai Massage, in Nevada City, and realized that Thai Massage was the modality I was most excited to practice, interweaving other aspects of various modalities into each session. My favorite session experience begins and ends with an alphabetic alignment to reset the nervous system, and incorporates an intuitive and deep Thai massage session.
In the summer of 2024, Alphabiotics led me to a new modality I had never heard of before my alignment training; A movement practice known as EDGU (pronounced "edge-you”), a self-empowering practice of Evolutionary Spinal Maintenance designed to gently exercise and maintain the health and pliability of the intervertebral disks, promoting a balanced and healthy spine and body. My teachers said that the health of your spine determines the biological age of your body. This is because the spinal cord houses the nerve connections for the entire body, sending information from the brain to the body, and with proper nerve function, the body operates optimally. This movement exercises the intervertebral disks to avoid disk degeneration by maintaining their inherent strength, pliability and absorbency. The entire sequence is presented in the form of a relatable story, helping to guide through the movements using a theme of awareness, polishing, and letting go. I took a 45 hour teacher training in this modality at Breitenbusch Hot Springs Resort in Oregon, and it changed the game of movement arts for me. Teaching and spreading the word of EDGU has become a passion of mine because of the importance of it in everyday life for the longevity of brain, body, and overall health.
Straight from this training I made my way down to San Diego to do a deep dive into yet another modality that is deeply impactful, yet quite unknown to modern day society; Iridology. Iridology is the science of analyzing the colors, patterns, and structures of the Iris of the eye and how they relate to our body's health. I was drawn to this modality by my Thai massage teacher at Spirit Winds, who has practiced Iridology for 25 years, helping clients understand their conditions, and helping them draw a naturopathic road map to successful healing, all using their eyes to tell the story. I got to study in an intimate setting under the leading lady of Iridology, Ellen Tart Jensen, who learned from the master of detox and Iridology, Dr. Bernard Jensen, up until his death. I was completely enamored and in awe of the amount of information the map of the eye can tell us about the interworking of our body’s. I am still and will always be a student in iridology, as it is such an intricately deep teaching that I know will help many people world wide.
After over 1000 hours of trainings, I am still eager and hungry for more. I will always be a student, obsessed with understanding the inter-workings of the human body, and how to help people understand theirs on a deeper level as I continue to learn to nurture and understand my own. I see life as a challenge to deeply engrain ourselves into the mystery of being a human, to fully embrace this body, mind and spirit we were given; and to try our best through trail and error to live this life to the fullest.
I believe self care is a very important aspect of this challenge, and I am here for it, discovering more avenues each day.
