About Kathy Ozzard Chism...
In 1995, Kathy Ozzard was living in Miami, Florida, working as an Interior Architect and Designer with her own company, K O Designs. On a jobsite one day, she fell down a flight of steps, tearing the planteris muscle in her left leg.
Little did she know, this fall was about to change her entire life.
Knowing the value of massage for healing the injury, Kathy made a series of appointments at a professional massage therapy clinic located within a premier massage school, Educating Hands School of Massage. (www.educatinghands.com)
Each time she would arrive for an appointment, she noticed the smiles on the faces of the students and staff, the abundant good health all she encountered there seemed to be enjoying, the "aliveness" within the energy of the building.
Once her leg healed, which it did rapidly, she decided to take a night class and learn some massage techniques as an adjunct to her busy life. Two weeks into the courses, however, she knew she wanted to do this work for a living. (Please scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the wide variety of massage techniques and modalities Kathy has studied to assist you in healing, pain relief, relaxation, and rejuvenation.)
One year later, she graduated with a National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Hydrotherapy, started a private massage therapy practice, and became the Admissions Director at Educating Hands. Eventually that expanded to a teaching position as well.
In January of 1998, Iris Burman, founder and owner of Educating Hands, asked Kathy to join her at a Council of Schools meeting in Cancún, Mexico. It was at this meeting in Cancún that she met her husband, John Chism, the National Sales Manager for Living Earth Crafts massage tables at the time.
Eight months later she had moved to his area of Northern California, and they married at Yosemite in September of that year.
Kathy then helped create an Associate of Science degree program in Massage Therapy at the Western Institute of Science and Health in Rohnert Park, CA, and taught Introductory Massage, Professional Ethics, Supportive Touch (being present with those who are dying), and Pregnancy Massage to the students there.
She also taught a regular eight week "Massage for Friends and Family" class to people who wanted to learn some massage techniques, but did not want to become certified in massage therapy.
She currently teaches private classes of "Massage for Friends and Family" at her massage studio. Please contact her directly for class scheduling and pricing.
Since 1998, Kathy has been a Level I Bach Flower™ Practitioner as well, assisting many clients with her customized flower essence "Emotion Potions" to achieve living with greater joy.
Kathy has been featured in Massage Magazine, and has been a contributing writer in the allied health field for the National Certification Board newsletter, Common Ground magazine, and the Northern California Share Guide. Since 1996 she has always maintained a private massage therapy practice, first in Florida, and now in California.
Kathy is also the founder and director of the global 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Dream One World, Inc., (www.dreamoneworld.org), the creator of a charity online art gallery, the Gallery of Friends, (www.galleryoffriends.com), owner of an art card company to assist animal rescue, My PetLines, (www.mypetlines.com), a professional calligrapher (www.letteringwithlove.com) and owner of a company offering affordable website and resume creation and correction, Professional Site Proofs. (www.professionalsiteproofs.com)
Massage changed Kathy's life - all for the better. See how it can change yours!
Modalities and Massage Techniques
Kathy Has Studied and Uses Extensively
Acupressure/Trigger Point Therapy – 4,000 year old Chinese system stimulating specific points along the meridians, using thumb, finger, or knuckle pressure.
Compression/Kneading– Pressure and manipulation of the musculature to provide optimum circulation, release of toxins, and pain reduction.
Connective Tissue Massage
– Developed in Germany in 1929, this is a hands-on system that works on
the fascia, the membranous sheath surrounding muscles and organs to
treat many illnesses and organic imbalances.
CranioSacral Therapy ®
- A gentle manipulation which locates and corrects sensory, motor,
and/or intellectual dysfunctional imbalances of the craniosacral system.
Deep Tissue Massage – Bodywork systems that work deeply into the muscles and connective tissue to release chronic aches and pains.
Geriatric Massage– A massage system that emphasizes treating specific physiological and
psychological conditions associated with the aging process with the
expectation of improving the condition.
Hydrotherapy
– The use of water in any of its three forms – solid, liquid, or vapor
– internally or externally, to treat disease, injury, or trauma.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage –
A connective tissue massage technique which accelerates the movement of
lymphatic fluid to reduce edema - a condition in which the tissues of
the body contain an excessive amount of fluid.
Myofascial Release ® -
A mild and gentle hands-on form of stretching that evaluates and treats
the fascial system, that tough connective tissue which spreads
throughout the body in a three-dimensional network from head to toe,
without interruption.
Polarity Therapy
– A health system based on the concept of the human energy bio-field,
recognizing an electromagnetic, energetic pattern that precedes human
structure and function. This therapy is designed to simulate and
balance this field.
Pregnancy Massage –
A hands-on system specifically designed to treat the discomforts of
pregnancy and maintain optimum health for the expectant woman and her
baby, from her nine months of pregnancy, through labor and postpartum,
to the nursing period. (Kathy holds two additional certifications
in Pregnancy Massage, has taught Pregnancy Massage, and is a specialist
in this area.)
Reflexology –
The study, science, and art of using various 5,000 year old touch
techniques on specific points of the feet, hands, and/or ears to
normalize body function, maintain optimum health, and restore energy
throughout the body.
Shiatsu – An
ancient Japanese bodywork system that uses hand, knuckle, palm, elbow,
or foot pressure on specific points, called “tsubos,” located along
energy pathways, called “meridians,” to promote the free flow of ki
(chi) energy.
Soma Neuromuscular Integration™
- A system of body/mind therapy that changes people physically and
psychologically. By structurally balancing the body in gravity and
integrating the nervous system to allow more freedom of movement and
spontaneity in response to the environment, clients transform their
lives into paths of greater fulfillment and creativity.
Sports Massage
– A specialized form of Swedish Massage Therapy, which focuses on
enhancing athletic performance and facilitating post-event recovery for
the professional or amateur athlete, dancer, and exercise enthusiast.
Used pre-event, it can prevent injuries by increasing flexibility and
elasticity to the joints.
Supportive Touch –
An exceedingly gentle and sensitive massage for those who are dying,
and at the point of passing. As the last two senses to leave us are
hearing and touch, this is a very powerful way to be present,
comforting, and loving for those who are departing the earthplane. (Kathy is a trained educator in Supportive Touch, and has even taught this technique to emergency room doctors and nurses.)
Swedish Massage (Integrating all 5 aspects of Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Tapotement, and Vibration)
– A scientific system of manipulations on the muscles and connective
tissue of the body for the purpose of relaxation, rehabilitation,
and/or health maintenance. (A side note - many therapists find
vibration too difficult to do, and therefore do not use it. For some
reason, Kathy is a natural at vibration work, and her clients benefit
greatly from its addition to her massage.)
Therapeutic Touch -
A contemporary approach to healing based on the idea that human beings
are energy in the form of a field. This is a gentle, yet powerful tool
for actualizing the natural capacity within each person to heal and
achieve wholeness.
Trager ® -
Therapy that concentrates on using motion within the muscles and joints
to produce pleasurable sensory feeling, so the feedback loop between
the body and mind triggers tissue changes. Each time the feeling is
recalled, the change becomes deeper and more permanent.
Trigger Point Therapy –
The use of various methods to relieve or eliminate trigger points,
which are hypersensitive areas in the muscle, tendon, or fascia,
usually caused by direct injury, excessive stretching, or contraction.
Most often the trigger point is not in the area of pain, yet digital
pressure over the trigger point will elicit pain in the referred area.
Many
thanks to Elaine Stillerman, L.M.T, author of "The Encyclopedia of
Bodywork From Acupressure to Zone Therapy" for these definitions.
"We have the body we have because it is precisely the vehicle in which we can best do what we came to do."
~Christiane Northrup ~
