My name is Faithea McKibbin I am a licensed massage therapist, graduate of Sarasota School of Massage Therapy in 2006 and have practiced Massage Therapy for 18 years. I am an Army veteran, a graduate of the Academy of Health Sciences as a Behavioral Science Specialist and Field Medic. I have also practiced as an Orthodontic Technician and Lab Technician fabricating and placing Orthodontic appliances that helped correct deformities of the mouth and face. I have practiced in the medical field for over 30 years.
My massage therapy specialties include Reflexology, Neuromuscular Massage, Medical Massage, Medi Cupping Massage, Myofascial Release, Swedish Massage and Relaxation Massage or I can “rub you down.” I use techniques that may include gua sha, vibration, foam rolling, hot stones, hot packs, ice therapy, medi cupping, rocking, stretching, petrissage, effleurage, tapotement or rhythmic tapping, and friction.
In 2002 I enrolled my daughter, Krystal in a massage therapy school in Melbourne, Florida. Little did I know that helping her with her studies would redirect my life path to massage.
My first massage experience was in the student clinic at a massage school. I was amazed at the amount of tension that the student therapist massaged from my body using Swedish techniques. I was moving more freely and had less pain…nice.
I went back the next week and talked to one of the school faculty. She talked about the different massage modalities and their specific benefits and that I could experience better results with specific therapies. She explained to me that Chiropractic therapy might benefit me.
I explained my issues and injury to the chiropractor. He explained how Chiropractic worked and applied the therapy. For the first time in five years I felt better! After several months of Therapeutic Massage and Chiropractic I began to feel stronger and more confident in my ability to move, with less fear of injuring myself.
I was amazed with the life changing results of my own personal experience with Thesrapeutic Massage. I had to know more and share the miracle with everyone!
In 2004 I enrolled in the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy. I came into the program thinking I would only need to know how to “rub someone down.” There is so much more!
We learned anatomy and physiology, theory of massage, history of massage, hygiene, business and license procedures, ethics, pathology, contraindications and limitations, muscle energy techniques, Eastern and Western Theory, Swedish Massage, Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Massage, Clinical and sports massage and Elder/geriatric massage.
With this basic knowledge the body becomes this amazing miracle of a machine. Understanding how the systems work you can manipulate the system into a response, like influencing a muscle to relax, or influencing the body into releasing pain reducing/relaxing hormones. You also learn what not to do. For example some bodies are very sensitive to touch and if you palpate in a deep way it will cause pain and distress. Massage is so much more than rubbing someone down.
I still find Massage Therapy fascinating and mentally engaging after 18 years. It never gets boring. I am amazed every day I get to work with people and their bodies. I love helping in the healing process and contributing to improving the quality of life. The body truly is amazing!