Massage Therapy
Ashley Nelson
LMT, Massage Therapist
Ashley graduated from Portland’s East West College of the Healing Arts in 2019. Before that, she spent six years as an Admissions Representative at East West, where she met many aspiring massage therapists who inspired her to embark on the same path. Since then, Ashley has found great depth of purpose and honor in serving her community through safe, caring and thoughtful touch.
Her treatments are tailored to each client's needs and comfort level. Ashley incorporates Neuromuscular Therapy and Trigger Point therapy into her assessments and treatments with a focus on addressing pain patterns three-dimensionally and rehabilitating injuries and imbalances. She believes in creating a space that allows vital life force energy (called Qi) to flow freely while maintaining a calm environment for the nervous system and whole being. Her approach harmoniously blends Western and Eastern modalities, all in service of bringing greater peace to her client's body, mind, and spirit. Additionally, her training in Thai Massage and Hawaii’s traditional Lomi Lomi massage adds full-body flow, rhythm, facilitated stretching, and joint mobilization to her treatments. Hot towels and hot stones are also used to provide further therapeutic benefits.
Outside of her practice, Ashley values a balanced life and spends her time with her beloved partner and young son and daughter. She is an avid reader and enjoys listening to books and podcasts, always seeking expansion and growth. Her family of four (plus two dogs) can often be found playing outside or engaging in the Arts in some form.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING:
Licensed WA Massage Therapist
East West College of Healing Arts, Portland, OR
Chivito Cowa
LMT, Massage Therapist
For twenty years, bodywork has been both craft and calling for Chi. And if you ask him, he’ll tell you he’s still a student. His path carried him to India, where for six years he studied with Ayurvedic doctors and traditional village healers. From them he inherited not only skills in massage, but a love for walking alongside people on their healing path or as he says "Coming home to themselves."
These days, Chi’s sessions are a weaving of the feel-good comfort of Swedish massage and the therapeutic wisdom of Eastern traditions so the body is not only soothed, but also listened to where it asks for change. Chi listens with his hands and to the needs of the moment, so you and your body receive exactly what you need that day.
Outside of the clinic, Chi spends his days writing his next book, wandering forest paths, plunging into rivers, and guiding others through rites of passage, vision quest retreats, and programs of inner renewal. He is a voracious learner and passionate traditional storyteller who loves gathering with others around the fire, feasting, and remembering what it is to be fully alive.
Modalities: Swedish, Cranial Sacral, Shiatsu/Acupressure, Thai Massage, and Ayurvedic Treatments.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING:
Licensed WA Massage Therapist
Ashmead School of Massage, Seattle, WA
Kerala Ayurveda Academy, Seattle, WA
Thai Massage Certification, Thailand
Yoga Teacher Training Certification, India
Chrissy Grooms
LMT, Massage Therapist
Chrissy has always been drawn to the healing arts and the profound impact therapeutic touch can have on the body, mind, and spirit. After graduating from East West College of the Healing Arts in 2019, becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist felt like a natural extension of her desire to support others in their healing journeys.
Trained in Structural Bodywork, Reiki, and Therapeutic Massage, Chrissy approaches each session with intention and care—tailoring her work to meet the unique needs of each client. Whether someone is seeking relief from chronic pain, navigating emotional stress, or simply needing time to reconnect with themselves, she believes in the body’s innate capacity to heal when given the right support.
Chrissy’s practice is rooted in the belief that well-being is multidimensional, and she’s passionate about creating space for clients to feel seen, nurtured, and empowered in their bodies.
Outside the treatment room, Chrissy finds joy in preparing nourishing meals, hiking through the Pacific Northwest’s natural beauty, and spending meaningful time with her family and friends. She’s honored to be part of her clients’ paths to greater balance and wellness.
We’re lucky to have Chrissy as an on-call Massage Therapist at Ripple, stepping in when needed.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING:
Licensed WA Massage Therapist
East West College of Healing Arts, Portland, OR
Fox Johnson
LMT, Massage Therapist
Fox grew up immersed in massage, meditation, and embodied awareness, learning early that touch is a language of care and connection. With over twenty years in college admissions, including ten years as Dean of Admissions at East West College of the Healing Arts, Fox supported future bodyworkers before returning to massage to align their work with values of body liberation, queer resilience, and radical joy.
Fox’s practice is trauma-aware, body-diverse, and queer-affirming. Their sessions are slow, grounded, and deeply attuned, blending Swedish, myofascial, and craniosacral-influenced techniques to support relaxation and client-centered care. Fox believes bodies are wise, adaptable, and deserving of ease - specializing in work with neurodivergent, trauma-impacted, and body-diverse clients, and offering an affirming space for every body and every story.
Outside the treatment room, Fox finds joy adventuring in nature, soaking in hot springs, and exploring creative city life, from movies and musicals to karaoke, D&D, comics, and video games.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING:
Licensed WA Massage Therapist
East West College of Healing Arts, Portland, OR
Kaitlyn Swanburg
LMT, Massage Therapist
Kaitlyn has always been drawn to helping people, starting as early as childhood when she would give massages to friends at sporting events and even on the school bus. Initially set on following a career path in her family’s footsteps, Kaitlyn shifted her focus after being encouraged to pursue massage therapy full-time due to her natural talent. In 2018, she graduated from East West College of the Healing Arts, specializing in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, and Spa Therapies. Since then she has continued to expand her skills with studies in Reflexology, respiratory massage, Thai stretches, cupping, and most recently, she completed her certification in Ashiatsu massage, a unique technique where Kaitlyn uses her feet to apply pressure—a method derived from the Japanese term for "foot pressure."
When she’s not helping others through massage, Kaitlyn can be found hiking and camping all around the Pacific Northwest, where she finds rest and relaxation in nature to recharge. She and her husband are enthusiastic foodies who love cooking and baking delicious meals for others to enjoy.
Kaitlyn also loves traveling, exploring different cultures, and, of course, trying amazing food from around the world. Of course, she especially loves to spend time with her growing family as her daughter was born this year!
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING:
Licensed WA Massage Therapist
East West College of Healing Arts, Portland, OR
Ricardo Saldia
LMT, Massage Therapist
Ricardo grew up in sunny Southern California where, as the son of a minister, he gained a deep appreciation for health and healing in all aspects of life. During college, he studied Behavioral Science and Religion at Pacific Union College in Napa Valley. However, he soon felt called to pursue his childhood dream of becoming an EMT and firefighter. It was during this time that he met his wife, a physical therapist who introduced him to the importance of fascia in supporting the body’s health.
Intrigued by her work, Ricardo sought out a local Rolfer massage therapist and was profoundly impacted by the treatments. Despite having no prior experience in massage therapy, he became captivated by the system of Rolfing, using skilled myofascial release techniques to heal pain and injury in the body. This passion led him to enroll in the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute in Boulder, Colorado, where he graduated in June 2003.
Following graduation, Ricardo and his wife moved to Vancouver, Washington, where they’ve built a home with their teenage son, Ivan, and their gray tuxedo cat, Shinx. Through his studies and years of practice, Ricardo has developed a deep understanding of how the body communicates its health through posture, movement, and alignment.
He is passionate about helping others experience the freedom and renewal that comes from a body in balance. Ricardo sees clients of all ages and implements myofascial release, rolfing, craniosacral techniques, hot stones and cupping to provide a deeply healing and comprehensive massage experience that promotes profound relaxation.
Ricardo believes in the body's innate ability to heal itself. Rather than “fixing” the body, he focuses on removing barriers to healing, allowing its natural processes to take over. By understanding your body’s needs, Ricardo empowers you to navigate life’s changes with greater resilience and serenity.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING:
Licensed WA Massage Therapist
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, Boulder, CO
Pacific Union College, Napa Valley, CA