CURRENT MISSION

Connecting with Oregonians around nourishing, low consumption cultural practices.

ABOUT ME

I love living well and helping people to live well. When I can, I help people in physical and emotional pain/tension with a variety of massage, counseling, meditation, and movement techniques.

I love to teach, and in my clinical health practice in the states, I have always made a point to teach people so that they can take care of themselves and not be dependent on me/others. I love to teach people how to care for each other, as well, with good communication skills, massage, and other areas.

For me, creativity is another key part of living well. I love to sing, and to learn songs to sing with others. I enjoy the inspiration of friends who have lots of energy and create - whether knitting, farming, music, art, etc - beautiful and/or functional things.

Living well also means self-sufficiency. I am interested in learning more about farming, care of (especially small) livestock like goats, sheep, and chickens. I can handle tools, both in the shop and in the field, but would like to learn more about construction (esp. natural building techniques), and mechanics - engines, tractors, wiring, etc.

Training - After getting a BA in liberal arts, I became a massage therapist for over a decade, specializing in reducing pain/suffering. I practice craniosacral therapy, orthopedic massage (injuries), and wellness (relaxation/circulation) massage. I teach yoga and movement awareness to release tension, increase balance and control. I listen, question, and teach various ways to improve relationships and mediate conflicts.

PHILOSOPHY

Relationships are important - I value honesty, self-awareness, accountability, integrity. Listening to someone to share their world and their experience; being listened to and sharing mine.
Good physical health supports curiosity, optimism, feeling pleasure and satisfaction.
Creative expression is another great way beyond friendships to add beauty to the world, to give back. I love permaculture and sustainable farming practices because they seem to help people be creative without consuming, with less destruction, and more connection to the natural world and other people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

1. I like to help where I think my energy and skills are a good fit - sometimes that's doing the dishes, treating a person's back pain, teaching a useful concept or skill, or just listening.

2. I like to explore new places and do new things - hiking, backpacking, music, (and dance, unless I'm feeling shy).

3. I like to learn, especially by doing, in a relaxed environment. Helping people to build, farm, create, teach, etc.

4. I like to play games, sports, hike, be active with people.

5. I sometimes take breaks to top up my energy. While I love to talk to people, I also have a very introverted side. I can get overwhelmed in larger groups, so I will go off to quiet corners now and again until the urge to mingle returns.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My favorite informal home stay was in 1998, staying with a friend's friend in Kathmandu for two weeks. Backpacking with her in the Himalayas is still one of my favorite memories.
Other favorites:
- staying with Scout in California the night before starting the Pacific Crest Trail in the Summer of 2009.
- Several folks in Charlottesville, VA, summer of 2014

Interests

Singing, making music, farming, yoga, sports (esp. soccer and ultimate frisbee), hiking and backpacking, reading and writing, massage, teaching, learning new skills and languages, sharing stories with people. Developing various 'sustainability' skills: farming, building, etc. etc.

• chickens
• arts
• writing
• singing
• design
• beauty
• dancing
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• shopping
• reading
• knitting
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• backpacking
• sports
• rock climbing
• soccer
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Lives of Others. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Music: Irish, classic american rock.
Books: Passionate Marriage; Beyond Backpacking; Conscious Loving; Small is Beautiful; How the Irish Saved Civilization; The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; Clear Your Clutter by Karen Kingston;

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

10 day silent Vipassana meditation retreat.
Himalayas
Hiked the first 300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach: bodywork, counseling and movement concepts and practices; efficient organizing and design principles.
I want to learn: to cook well and cheaply on local food; music (tin whistle, guitar); rock climbing; farming; more conflict mediation and leadership/group facilitation skills; food preparation and preservation.

What I Can Share with Hosts

The above; plus, a listening ear, intuitive hands and mind, help improving clarity of thought, expression, movement.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Costa Rica, Honduras, India, Norway

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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