Being in touch.
Photo credit: Cameron Griffin
“The body is our experience of ourselves, our temple in which the light of spirit burns. Unconscious worlds, numinous worlds, worlds with high order, and worlds with no apparent order can become known within the body, because of the body.”
Ready to feel at home in your own skin?
The body is the gateway between the inner and outer world. For better and for worse, everything we experience consciously and unconsciously passes through this gateway. Sometimes, our ways of adapting to our experience of ourselves, each other, and the world can become maladaptive patterns of experiencing. These maladaptive patterns can result in numbing, tension, and pain, often the residual effects of difficult life conditions, stress, or trauma held in our bodies.
By deliberately reconnecting with more of our felt experience in a safe context, we become more conscious of the ways in which we habitually organize our movement. As we become more aware of habitual patterns that contribute to unease, we can begin to consciously release those that no longer serve us, and restore healthier patterns of being. With practice, we develop the capacity to feel more at ease in our own skins at will by harnessing the mind/body connection to create new patterns of connection, integration, and vitality.
Integrative Massage Sessions
TUESDAY & THURSDAY, Bainbridge Island, WA at Dayaalu Center Cottage (located directly behind the main building)
Beloved Clients, please note that session rates will change as of January 1, 2025 to better reflect current market rates, which now range between 150-175USD for 90-minute sessions.
To take advantage of the current 2024 rate, please book your 2025 sessions online before the end of this calendar year. If the new rate is a hardship for you, please connect with me directly to discuss options.
Sustain sound body, heart, and mind through potent, compassionate, and intelligent human touch. One of the oldest therapeutic practices in the world, massage enhances our natural ability to remedy imbalances and maintain vibrant health vis medicatrix naturae (“the healing power of nature”), boosting the immune system, co-regulating the nervous system, releasing tension, reducing pain, and promoting overall well-being.
All sessions are designed to offer deep rest, rejuvenation, and relaxation. My priority is creating the optimal conditions for you to receive what you need without rushing. I offer spacious 90-minute sessions for those who love the luxury of lingering in addition to more focused treatments.
Massage treatments include:
A brief conversation about your overall well-being, conditions, intentions, and preferences
90-minutes* of seamlessly blended classic Swedish massage, deep tissue, gentle stretching, and various Eastern techniques customized for you given your particular needs
100% certified organic or wildcrafted oils and lotions
Massage table dressed and heated for your personal comfort
Please keep in mind that I only work with a limited number of seriously awesome, committed clients at any given time. This keeps me sane, healthy, and best of all, fully attentive to you. If you want to work together, get your sessions on my calendar sooner rather than later.
*Your session begins and ends as scheduled, so to ensure the most hands-on table time, please arrive and make yourself comfy on the table promptly. If you want a shorter massage, please book a 90-minute session, and let me know that you need to arrive later or leave earlier.
Somatic Realization Sessions
“There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it.”
— Elizabeth A. Behnke
Somatics is a way of getting in touch with ourselves through mindful experience of the body—an intentional and attentional way of caring for our experience that increases our ability to live more wholly. Through experiential inquiry, gentle movement sequences, and subtle breath-work, we learn to attend to the body's lived experience, increasing our awareness of the healthy and unhealthy ways we literally shape our experience.
I offer personalized somatic sessions designed to increase your capacity to feel comfortable in your own skin. Sessions usually integrate some combination of experiential inquiry, gentle movement, breath-work, mindful touch, and awareness exercises, but how we work together depends on your intention, disposition, and situation.
Please get in touch to discuss the possibilities, or schedule your sessions now online.
Please keep in mind that I only work with a limited number of seriously awesome, committed clients at any given time. This keeps me sane, healthy, and best of all, fully attentive to you. If you want to work together, get your sessions on my calendar sooner rather than later.
Testimonials
“I’ve had many massage therapists over the years, but none compare to Karen. ”
Her technique is remarkable—wide ranging in method, and she has an ability to find and release tension that is just right for me. Beyond her skill, Karen is warm, open, friendly, and, oddly important to me, interestingly well read. She genuinely cares about her clients. Each session leaves me feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and grateful to have found her. Highly recommended!
— David Stallings
"The gift of intuitive touch."
It is difficult to write a testimonial for Lumière without sounding over the top, but I'll risk it. I started seeing Karen for massage at a very difficult time in my life. A combination of stress and grief had left my body wrecked. Karen was able to gently but firmly set things back into kilter, locating sources of pain that I was not even fully aware of and deftly relieving these. She has the gift of intuitive touch, perfectly accompanied by her extensive knowledge of physiology. Regular massages from Karen are one of the healthiest, kindest, and most practical things I do for myself.
— Laura Blair Gano, Attorney
“Confident and joyous."
Special delivery of a full bloom of gratitude to Karen Sella. The somatic session she guided me through had me show up confident and joyous in my leadership. I am SO lucky to call such a "mighty wisdom teacher" my friend.
— Jeaneen R. Schmidt, CEO & Founder, J. R. Schmidt Coaching
"One of the best massages that I've ever had—and I've had hundreds!"
Karen addressed problem areas that really needed tending in such a gradual way that I was able to fully relax and totally let go of stress. This was one of the best massages that I've ever had—and I've had hundreds! I only wish that I had twice the amount of time.
— Laurie McFarlin
"Healing hands and huggable warmth."
Got the first massage of my half-century of existence. My body's machinery is running at a happy low hum, thanks to the healing hands and huggable warmth of Karen Sella.
— Jim Thomsen, Editor
"Light, navigation, and wisdom."
Karen entered my life as a coaching goddess of light, navigation, and wisdom. My life simply needed her touch for all the good things to happen.
— Siren Hakimi, City Planner
"You are in for a treat."
From the moment you arrive, you can already feel yourself beginning to relax as you are enveloped in zen-like peace that belies her other talents. Her massage "nook" is warm and inviting. The moment she puts her hands on you, you can tell you are in for a treat. Her style is intuitive and deeply relaxing. She found all the right spots. I left her home feeling taller and more grounded.
— Joy Derriso, LMP
"Rekindling to my spirit, as well as my physical being."
Your body work was rekindling to my spirit, as well as my physical being. After our session, I felt lighter, brighter, and inspired. Thank you.
— M.K.
"Deeply healed on many levels."
I am grateful to have met you and look forward to to my bi-weekly massages, which leave me feeling not only physically relaxed and integrated, but also deeply healed on many other levels. And in addition to your skilled massages, I love your wise insights and generosity of spirit. I drink them in every time I come. more light. Thank you!
— Jenny Coates, Tax Attorney
"Empathy and generosity."
At a time when the world is hard, you gave me a free massage out of the goodness of your soul. I still remember the touch, the feeling, that hour. It was my last massage, and you offered it. Your empathy and generosity and sisterhood made life so much better. It is your grace, your soul. Your are a gift to life itself. I wonder if you know how much you are appreciated and loved. Every single day, you are giving from the radiance of your soul. This is why, I think we were born. To live from that place.
— Lora Jansson
"No pain after just one impromptu somatics session with Karen."
I could do pigeon with no pain after just one impromptu somatics session with Karen Sella! Before this session, I was unfamiliar with somatics, but once I experienced the modality, I knew that I needed to pursue it further. I highly encourage anyone with long-standing stuck-ness or pain to try it.
— Elise Ami Volkmann, LMP, Wandering Hummingbird Massage