Maya Ittah, LMT
Interview with Maya Ittah, Licensed Massage Therapist
Where are you from, and
how did you end up in Ithaca?
Clients
often ask me this question and it is a difficult one to answer. I have lived in
many countries, but was most influenced by France, West and Central Africa, and
Israel where I spent my childhood and early adolescence. I have also visited many more places
and all in all, consider myself a citizen of the world and try to carry this
rich background with me wherever I go. Ithaca, has been my latest dwelling place
for the past year and a half. I moved here from Florida after hearing about the
Finger Lakes School of Massage, which was highly recommended to me by many
people. As simple as it sounds, this is what brought me here!
What degrees do you
hold, or what training programs and schools have you attended?
After
graduating High School in Berkley, MI, I moved to Florida where I obtained a
2-year degree in Biological Sciences in hope of one day going to Medical
School. In trying to decide what
to do next, I was advised to consider Massage Therapy and thought it would be a
great introduction to the world of Holistic Medicine. I completed the 1000-hour
program at The Finger Lakes School of Massage, during which I also completed
two Cranial- Sacral workshops and a Thai Massage workshop.
Why did you become a
LMT and what do you like most about the work?
I decided to
study Massage Therapy feeling healing arts was what I wanted to specialize in.
I had considered Naturopathic Medical School, but was looking for something I
could accomplish in a shorter amount of time and practice immediately after. I
wanted to gain experience working with people in a healing environment and then
see if that was something I truly wanted to do. After practicing for a little
while, I realized I love this work and look to deepen my knowledge in this
field. What I like the most is when clients come to experience the therapeutic
benefits of Massage and walk out feeling rejuvenated by the session. This makes
every session so special.
Do you have an area
that you especially excel at or work that you prefer to do? What is your
favorite part of the job?
I have been
told that I can apply quite a bit of pressure and therefore get requested for
this kind of work regularly. I have found that deep work is very effective in improving
range of motion and therefore immediately benefits the clients. It is so
rewarding to know that I made a difference, no matter how little, in somebody's
day, month, year, or life. This is what motivates me to practice this form of
healing on a daily basis, whether at home for my son's growing pains, or at
work with my clients.
What tips do you pass
on to clients who are considering massage but aren't sure of the benefits?
Well, before
I received my first massage, I was unaware of the health benefits of massage,
but knew that I felt so relaxed after the session and no matter what the
therapist did, I felt great! It wasn't until after beginning the massage
program that I began to discover the many gifts massage had to offer. I would
recommend trying out a session, even if it's just a half hour, and seeing how
you feel. During this time, you can feel free to ask the therapist as many
questions as you want. He or she would be more than happy to share with you the
beauty of massage and how to specially suit it to your needs. From this
experience, you may decide that massage is something you would like to continue
experiencing.
What do you do to keep
healthy and energetic?
Being a
mother of a 3 ½ year old boy, I often feel I get my share of exercise J Otherwise, I walk and bike
everywhere, which always keeps me moving. Diet is a big part of staying healthy
for me. Eating freshly prepared, unprocessed, organic whole foods is one of the
best ways to maintain form and stamina. I have to admit I may indulge when I
have a craving, but everything in moderation!
When can we find you at
Rasa?
Mondays
9am-3pm
Tuesdays
11:45am-5:45pm
Fridays
11:45am-5:45pm
Saturdays
11:45am-5:45pm
Otherwise,
upon request.
