Our Mission
Our mission is to provide restorative bodywork to encourage ease of movement and balance for the whole self. Our shared movement and dance backgrounds help us to understand how the body moves in space, enriching our knowledge of body mechanics. We offer a range of therapeutic massage services including relaxation, soft tissue injury, deep tissue and sports massage, oncology massage, and prenatal/postpartum massage.
Meet the Team
Jennifer Green, LMT
Founder & Massage Therapist
Erika Slocum, LMT
Founder & Massage Therapist
Jennifer is a nationally certified massage therapist and a 2005 graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute, formerly in Cambridge, MA. She is a long-time member of the American Massage Therapy Association and a preferred practitioner with the Society for Oncology Massage.
Jennifer's background in modern and improvisational dance enhances her massage training and understanding of the body. She constructs custom treatment plans for her clients using a blend of bodywork techniques including muscular therapy, Swedish massage, neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, gentle scar tissue mobilization, passive and facilitated stretching, sports massage and deep tissue techniques.
In addition to general therapeutic and relaxation work, Jennifer specializes in working with clients with complex medical histories (such as clients with cancer histories, and people in the midst of diagnosis or treatment) as well as those seeking gentle scar tissue work. Additionally, Jennifer has trained in pre and perinatal massage therapy with Carole Obsorne and enjoys working with clients at all stages of their pregnancy.
Jennifer's favorite self-care of late is to spend as much time outside as possible. Several studies have suggested that the benefits of being among trees and plants include lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rates, lower blood pressure and increased white blood cell levels. Check these articles for additional information:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/health/06real.html
If you want to help support Jennifer's work while our offices are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic you can tip her via VENMO @Jennifer-Green-258 or Paypal [email protected]
Erika is a graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute (formerly) in Cambridge, MA. She is a nationally certified massage therapist and licensed in the state of Massachusetts. She has been practicing massage therapy since 2005. She also holds a Bachelor's from Emerson College but began as a dancer at the University of Michigan. Her experience as a dancer and general active lifestyle has helped her understand how muscle groups work together, either in harmony or dysfunction. Each session may integrate a variety of techniques such as neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, and soft tissue injury work. She always seeks to create a safe, relaxing, and balanced treatment targeted to the needs of each client.
In the fall of 2019, Erika's work at BlueFern shifted to working exclusively in oncology massage; working with people with cancer, cancer histories, people going through treatment or in the midst of diagnosis and beyond. She also works with caregivers as she has a deep understanding of the impact on those supporting and caring for those going through illness and treatment. She has been doing this work for over a decade which has allowed her to use her clinical skills as a bodyworker while tapping into the heart and joy in working with this population. In addition to working at BlueFern she also works as a massage therapist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and teaches Tracy Walton's 4-day oncology massage workshop around the country.
Erika has additional coursework in pre and perinatal massage, certified through Carole Osborne's program, she is a Usui Reiki practitioner, trained in orthopedic massage with the Ben Benjamin Institute and oncology massage with Tracy Walton.
Lately, Erika has been starting her day (after enjoying a big cup of coffee in her bedroom window to watch the light change) with some simple movements to loosen her joints and warm up her neck and back.
If you want to help support Erika's work while our offices are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic you can tip her via VENMO @Erika-Slocum.
Jamie Brower, LMT
Massage Therapist
Jamie specializes in working with individuals in assisting them to better function in their bodies by reducing physiological effects of stress using various assessment tools and applying intuitive and integrated therapeutic massage. Her goal is to provide excellent, professional massage services to clients who are interested in utilizing bodywork as part of a health care regimen.
Jamie received a BA in Psychology from Nazareth College and worked in the human services field until 1993 when she attended and graduated from the Atlanta School of Massage. Jamie received a NY license in 2011 after completing additional training at the Center for Natural Wellness in Albany and now holds a license in MA.
Throughout the last 20 years, she has continued her education in areas such as Neuromuscular Therapy, Pregnancy and Infant Massage with Carole Osborne, TMJ dysfunction with Judith DeLany, and oncology massage with Tracy Walton.
Keep up with Jamie on her blog HERE.
If you want to help support Jamie's work while our offices are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic you can tip her via VENMO @Jamie-Brower-6 or Paypal [email protected]
Marie Dahlen Keane, LMT
Massage Therapist
Marie is a 2004 graduate of Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge, MA. She is nationally certified and licensed in the state of Massachusetts. She also holds a B.S. in Human Resources from Uppsala University, Sweden.
Marie has always been involved in many sports and activities which has increased her understanding of how different movement patterns (or lack thereof) affects the body.
She combines her treatment sessions with client self-care, designed to reduce or eliminate chronic muscle tension and promote health and wellbeing. Depending on the client's needs, Marie incorporates different modalities into her sessions such as relaxation massage, deep tissue work, myofascial therapy, and sports massage.
Marie has advanced training in pre- and perinatal massage with Carole Osborne, oncology massage with Tracy Walton and TMJ dysfunction with Judith DeLany. She also holds a certification in Myofascial Therapy from the Core Institute.
Through therapeutic massage, Marie is committed to make a healthy difference in the lives of people she touches.
Her current favorite self-care: Go outside and take a walk in nature!
If you want to support Marie with a tip during the COVID-19 pandemic you can do it via VENMO @Marie-Dahlenkeane.
Kristin Lash, LMT
Massage Therapist
Kristin is a graduate of Cortiva Institute and has been practicing in the Boston area since 2009. She holds advanced certifications in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year (prenatal, labor support, postpartum), Hospice Massage and is a Certified Reiki II practitioner; Kristin has also studied Yoga Therapy for Depression and Anxiety with Kate Graham, LMHC, C-IAYT.
Kristin specializes in deep, therapeutic massage, treating a wide range of clients including marathoners, cyclists, weekend warriors as well as those working through chronic pain, repetitive strain injuries, autoimmune conditions, and trauma. Her passion for running, outdoor sports and her personal yoga practice also informs her work.
Kristin strives to create a safe, nurturing and therapeutic environment for clients where relaxation is encouraged in order to foster release. Living in coastal areas, her work draws inspiration from the fluid, ever-changing yet constant nature of the ocean waters. She believes strongly in listening to the body and its patterns through intentional, mindful touch. Her technique - much like a tide - combines slow yet rhythmic strokes, stretches, positional releases and holds that allow her to sink into the connective tissues, create length and space and also work through adhesions and tension at the deepest muscle layers.
Keep up with Kristin on her website and blog HERE.
If you want to support Kristin during the COVID-19 pandemic closure, you can tip her via VENMO @Kristin-Lash.
Johanna Milburn, LMT
Massage Therapist
Johanna is a graduate of Cortiva/Muscular Therapy Institute in Watertown, MA. She has been practicing massage since 2008 and became certified in Massage for the Childbearing Year in 2009 with Kate Jordan. Johanna has a B.A. in Anthropology and Indian Studies from Mount Holyoke College and a Master's from the MGH Institute for Health Professions where she studied to become a women's health nurse practitioner.
She endeavors to warmly and holistically support her clients in reducing and eliminating pain, tension, and stress. She provides integrated sessions combining muscular therapy, deep tissue massage, swedish, and myofascial release. Johanna wants to encourage and empower her clients to embrace massage as an important and regular preventative health measure. She also seeks to increase client's self-awareness of their individual tension patterns, and of what they can do at home to extend the tangible benefits received from massage. She is thrilled to be a part of BlueFern and is honored to support her clients commitments to the on-going process of maintaining and maximizing their own wellness.
In addition to her work as an MT, Johanna is a Nurse Practitioner and is currently working overtime to help the BU community with online health provider access.
Johanna’s go-to stress reducers of late are hot baths and plenty of exercise!
If you want to provide some support to Johanna while our offices are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic you can send her tips via PayPal [email protected]
Clara Neelands, LMT
Massage Therapist
Clara is a devoted student of the natural sciences and health of the human body and believes in a holistic healing approach. She studied psychology and neurology at UMass Boston from 2004-2008. She attended Cortiva Institute of Massage Therapy, Boston where she received her certificate of Massage Therapy in 2011. Her training has included a detailed background of anatomy and physiology as an integral part of clinical assessment. Her palette of techniques work with the different layers of soft tissue to release blockages and tension holding patterns, and to help retrain neural pathways in the body, ultimately helping clients find ease and comfort in their own structural alignment.
Clara is an expressive dancer and a yoga practitioner of over 15 years, studying hatha and kundalini yoga. She received her certification as an Embodyoga teacher from the Amherst Yoga Center 2017.
As a member of the American Massage Therapy Association and The Yoga alliance, Clara enjoys sharing the deep healing she has found through awareness and movement of soft tissue.
If you'd like to support Clara with a tip while we are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic you can do it via VENMO @Clara-Neelands.
Heather Owen, LMT
Massage Therapist
Heather Owen graduated from the Massage Institute of New England in 2002 where her studies provided the fundamentals of anatomy, physiology, theory and technique as it relates to Swedish Deep Tissue work. Her protocols treat specific conditions such as headaches (including migraines), TMJ dysfunction, muscle spasms or frozen shoulder as well as general fatigue or insomnia. A typical session with Heather draws from several modalities including Swedish, Trigger Point, Myofascial, Deep Tissue, Cranial Sacral, Passive and Active Stretching and Reflexology to release restriction and tension wherever it is held with an aim to improve awareness and function of the tissues while restoring balance to the body as a whole.
Heather is a member of the AMTA and her massage career has spanned the country taking her to acupuncture clinics, chiropractic offices, dental clinics, golf resorts and med spas from Massachusetts, Maine, Alaska, Colorado, Arizona and St. Croix.
A Usui Reiki practicioner since 2000, Heather achieved the title of Master is 2002. Taking the study of Reiki further she learned the Karuna lineage and has been practicing on clients and facilitating retreats since 2004. Heather is happy to offer energetic healing individually or fused through a massage session to enhance results.
In addition to massage, Heather studied writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Buddhist University of Naropa in Boulder Colorado. Her practice of Aikido and Tae Kwon Doe and yoga improve her understanding of how the body moves through space. She also enjoys hiking and painting.
Heather’s favorite self-care right now: “I’ve been drinking a lot of tea with reishi dry mushrooms and fresh turmeric with fresh ginger. Turmeric is anti inflammatory and reishi mushrooms are really good for general immune boosting. Ginger is great for the lungs and tastes refreshing too.” Check out some of the relevant research here:
Curcumin (Turmeric): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4022204/
Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushrooms): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16230843/
If you want to support Heather with a tip while our offices are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic you can do so via VENMO @heatherven.