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I began my training in massage in the Spring of 2000 receiving my first massage license from theTexas Department of Health(TMI) in October of 2000. In Texas the training required to become a licensed massage therapist(LMT) is primarily split between classes in anatomy/ physiology and Swedish massage.

Swedish massage consists of five basic strokes and is primarily known as massage for relaxation. In addition to Swedish massage I have completed training in deep tissue massage, sports massage, trigger point technique, and energy work. Deep tissue massage targets muscles located deeper in the body.Muscles are layered and applying heavy pressure on a targeted area can work a specific muscle or muscle group located deeper in the body. Deeper muscles are often the more problematic muscles. The primary intent of sports massage is to enhance flexibility, decrease muscle soreness, reduce the negative effects of scar tissue, & help maintain optimal conditioning while decreasing the injury potential. Trigger point massage targets the tension in specific muscles by applying deep pressure to precise pressure points responsible for the referral of muscular pain. Energy work involves balancing the flow of energy centers or chakras throughout the body. My "classic" massage utilizes a combination of all of these techniques and is modified as I sense the person receiving the massage needs.

My formal education is in psychology and counseling. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Master of Arts degree in Counseling. Prior to my training in bodywork I work as a mental health counselor primarily in the area of managed care and rehab. I have also worked with individual with HIV including some hospice work.

I grew up on a small farm in Southeast Kansas. I wasn't exactly your typical farm boy, but I certainly did my share of farm chores, including raising livestock (mostly swine and sheep) and lots of farming (wheat, milo, and soybeans). That's me with my favorite farm animal, baby lambs... twins. I think I was about 17 when the picture was taken.

The farm was a wonderful place to grow up and taught me simple yet solid values that remain with me today. I am still a simple guy. Much of my ability to remain grounded or "connected" comes from the values learned on the farm. In this fast paced media driven society in which we live it is so easy to become caught up in the swirl of "stuff"which in the grand scheme of life really doesn't matter much. I believe true peace and happiness comes from an internal belief in one's purpose and a connection with the larger universe. Extraordinary bodywork can help connect a person with that simple place where peace and wellness occurs.

Why bodywork? I get that question a lot. I became hooked on body work after a few very positive experience on the massage table. I was amazed by the difference it made in my overall sense of balance and well being. I quickly decide to learn more about massage and eventually enrolled in massage school and learned the art of massage and body work. Since receiving my license in 2000 I have become very passionate about body work. I love my work.Everyday is a wonderful encounter of people and personality and the opportunity to my talents and gifts.

Personality wise according to the Keirsey temperament scale (very similar to the Myers Briggs) I'm an INFP, a healer. "Healers present a calm and serene face to the world, and can seem shy, even distant around others. But inside they're anything but serene, having a capacity for personal caring rarely found in the other types. Healers care deeply about the inner life of a few special persons, or about a favorite cause in the world at large. And their great passion is to heal the conflicts that trouble individuals, or that divide groups, and thus to bring wholeness, or health, to themselves, their loved ones, and their community." ...from http://keirsey.com/.

My favorite hobby without question is photography. Photography has been a hobby of mine since high school. I was the school photographer in high school and college. I was the quiet kid in the corner almost always with a camera around his neck. I love getting lost with a camera. The world can look very different through the lens of a camera. I like finding art or natural beauty in simple things. Currently I am photographing with a Canon 20D SLR and Adobe Photoshop CS3 is my darkroom. All of the photography on this web site are my work. You can check out additional photographs of mine from my recent trip to Japan at http://jimrobert.com/japanese_zen

I'm a mac kind of guy. My very first computer in the 80s was one of those cubed looking macs with no hard drive, just an internal and external floppy drive. Hard to imagine I know! I switched over to the Windows side when Win 95 came out but now I'm back on a Mac and it feels good to be back. I'm now using a MacBook Pro. This web site was created on my MacBook Pro using Dreamweaver.

Some Favorite Musical Artists... that's a tuff one, I have many. Really depends on my mood and what I need at the moment. For starters check out the links to the tunes on the left side of this web page.

Favorite Movies...Harold and Maude, Crash, Good Will Hunting, I am Sam, Life as a Housejust to name a few.

Favorite Broadway Show... Currently it's Spring Awakenings. An amazing story about touch, sexuality, and ultimately human nature. So glad it did well at the Tony Awards

My current affirmations... It's how I start my day. Amazing how much better my day goes when I take time for reflective meditation with affirmations.