About · True Bearing Bodywork

I'm Holly _(they/them)

I am a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, reiki practitioner, and yoga teacher from Seattle, currently based in Brooklyn. My practice brings an integrative approach to massage combining breathwork, Thai massage, shiatsu, reiki, MFR, Swedish techniques and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). I take a client-centered approach, listening to your needs and choosing the appropriate tools to address them with gentleness and patience.

I received my massage therapy training from Pacific College of Health and Sciences and completed my clinic internship at Womankind and the Pacific College Clinic. I received my MLD certification through Klose Training in the Vodder technique. I have extensive experience as a yoga teacher working with many populations including prenatal clients and folks with Parkinson’s disease. My 20+ years as a dancer/performer, as well as my history with injury and chronic pain, informs my knowledge of shifting bodies—how they move, and how they heal. I worked for three years as a youth counselor at the Ali Forney Center and take a trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming approach to my work. As a trans practitioner my gender-affirming work is based in a well-informed practice of not making assumptions.

Outside of practicing bodywork, I enjoy spending time surfing and adventure cycling.

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My colleague Jo and I develop tools and handouts to advocate for better post op standards of care for trans folks. For info about our Trans Massage Education workshops and materials, including self massage resources, click here.

A photo of Holly sitting and smiling on a massage table.

Bodywork for...

Trans and Queer Folks

As a queer trans person, I know general triggers for LGBTQ clients, how to speak in a gender-neutral manner, and to ask for preferred terms for different areas on the body. We can target muscles to reduce binding pain for people who wear binders, and can recommend breathwork exercises to practice before, during, and after binding. I am certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage for post-surgery care.

Perinatal Care

I am trained under prenatal massage master, Kiera Nagle, and have several years of experience teaching perinatal yoga. Bodywork can not only relieve perinatal musculoskeletal aches and pains but also anxiety, insomnia, and digestive discomfort.

Elderly or End of Life

I have worked with people with late stage Parkinson’s disease and have an understanding of different access needs including how to help the elderly move on and off the table. I have spent time as part of a care team, working closely with other medical professionals to make folks as comfortable as possible near end of life.

Chronic Pain

I know what it means to have good days and bad days—how to work with the pain and learn how improve quality of life rather than chase a solution. I have an understanding of nonlinear growth and being tired of appointments and promises. Healing is defined by the client.