Illnesses, physical ailments, and emotional states are all particular forms of energy. In fact, every physical and emotional condition has a distinct energetic pattern and vibration. So why not use energy to heal energy?

I use three principal techniques to unlock energetic patterns and restore your body-mind to balance, leaving you relaxed and refreshed:

• a type of massage called shiatsu, based on an energetic map of the body (the meridians of Chinese acupuncture)

• cranial sacral therapy which releases structural restrictions in the body by relaxing the spine and enhancing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and spinal cord;

and

• hands-on healing – principally, a Japanese technique called Reiki.

Used together, these techniques help clear blockages, discharge toxins (physical, mental, and emotional), relax the body, and restore your energy and health. (Scroll down to see pictures!)

I also teach Reiki, which can be used for self-healing as well as healing others.

A typical healing session runs an hour to 90 minutes, depending on your preference. All three healing modalities are done fully clothed without oil – Cranial Sacral Therapy and Reiki on a massage table, shiatsu on a cotton mat on the floor. I also offer sessions in which I combine these healing approaches.

I have a studio in downtown Santa Barbara and also do outcall sessions in people’s homes upon request.

Peggy has given me shiatsu massage for five years and is an expert masseuse. Not only does she soothe one's muscles, but she also provides a calming atmosphere that does much to smooth away one's stress. As for Reiki, Peggy combines a wonderful touch with a gentle spirit, allowing one to feel and understand the mysterious healing powers of Reiki. In short, she has an excellent ability to soothe one's body and spirit. —Cathy

There is something about having ones body moved and stretched by someone else in a shiatsu session that is amazing. I feel great afterwards, all the negative energies floating away. —Maria

I'm 6' 2" muscular man who always thought massage had to be forceful to get results. Then I met Peggy. The shiatsu she gives is guided by both her body's strength and her soul's intuition. She always gives me a powerful, deep shiatsu session beyond traditional bodywork. After working with Peggy, I feel lighter, clear-minded, and present. —Aydin

I had developed shoulder pain that work made worse, resulting in increasing tension and pain. Because shiatsu is helpful for muscle tension and relaxation, I tried a couple of sessions with Peggy. I am very sensitive to pressure, but Peggy has that special touch and movements that release tension without causing pain! After the full body sessions, I had increased mobility in my shoulder and felt relaxed, balanced, and in a state of wholeness. —Anna

Cranial Sacral Therapy was developed by an osteopathic physician and uses extremely light touch to relax tension in the nervous system. I consider it a structural technique because it works with the bones of the cranium, the spine, and the sacrum to release stress in the back and neck, as well as throughout the entire body. It is extremely effective for chronic tension and pain, whether located in the neck, back, shoulders or other parts of the body.

The goal of a cranial sacral session is to release restrictions in the body—both physical and emotional—and enhance the functioning of the central nervous system. A session relaxes the connective tissues of the body, including the membranes that hold the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and spinal cord, by inducing small movements in the bones of the cranium. As restrictions are released, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is strengthened and the body returns to a more natural alignment that promotes health.

In addition to neck and back pain, cranial sacral work is very useful for recurring headaches, the pain caused by dental work and braces, eye problems, scoliosis, poor motor coordination, as well as releasing the cellular memory of physical and/or emotional trauma. It has also been found to help people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.

Because a session essentially “resets” the central nervous system, most people experience cranial sacral work as deeply relaxing and grounding.

I practice a type of shiatsu that includes a number of passive stretches and a gentle, energetic give-and-take between the practitioner and receiver.

Rather than press my thumbs into acupuncture points with all my might and force your body to relax, I use the weight of my body to lean into acupuncture meridians. The more tense you are, the more relaxed I am. You are invited to participate by opening to the amount of pressure that is comfortable for you. That way, the massage is never painful, even though it may work the body very deeply.

As a preventative health practice, shiatsu rectifies energetic imbalances that, left unattended, could develop into illness. It is also effective for unlocking chronic conditions, such as recurring headaches, lower back aches, shoulder pain, digestive troubles and anxiety.

Shiatsu is also an excellent massage for athletes who do very intense exercise, such as long bike rides, squash, marathons, spinning, etc., because it does wonders to release tension in the deep muscles. It is also very effective for people recovering from serious illness or surgery. The same techniques are used in a very gentle manner to restore energy levels and invoke the body's natural healing response.

Reiki is a profoundly relaxing form of hands-on healing. A receiver generally experiences it as heat transmitted through the practitioner’s hands. It allows a receiver to reach a deep meditative state where the body accesses its own healing power. It is an excellent complement to western medical treatment of any kind.

Reiki is commonly translated as “universal life energy” and was discovered by Mikao Usui (1865-1926) of Japan in the early twentieth century. It is the force that flows through all things in the universe; a Reiki session allows you to access that energy in concentrated form.

A typical session lasts about an hour and consists of me putting my hands on the body of the receiver in several positions on the head, upper torso, upper back, knees, and feet. The receiver is fully clothed and lies on a massage table.

I have given hundreds and hundreds of hour-long Reiki sessions. As a result, I have a deep connection with the energy and am able to work effectively with you in our very first session.

People experience Reiki differently. Many describe it as intense heat, shimmering waves of energy, a flow of energy, or as a deep meditation. Reiki alleviates pain, relieves anxiety, speeds recovery from surgery, helps depression, and brings individuals greater insight into their own healing. It is particularly effective for people who cannot physically tolerate vigorous bodywork, but would benefit from relaxing, healing touch.

Reiki is typically taught in three levels: Reiki I, Reiki II, and Reiki III (Master Level). I offer both individual and group classes at all levels; I also offer special packages to families living with serious illness.

All classes are taught in two sessions, with roughly a week in between. This gives you a chance to go home, practice, and acquire some experience, then come back with questions and deepen your learning.

After completing a class, students are invited to join a monthly Reiki Circle that I organize in downtown Santa Barbara with another teacher. These evenings are devoted to bringing Reiki practitioners together to give each other group treatments.

Living with a life-threatening illness or recovering from major surgery is challenging. It is often a source of exhaustion and great anxiety for the person who is ill, particular when chemotherapy and radiation are involved. At the same time, caregiving can be demanding and stressful for the family.

Reiki gives everyone – patient and caregivers alike – a healing tool that they can use to maintain their energy and spirits. It can also greatly speed recovery from surgery.

As a hospice volunteer here in Santa Barbara, I am constantly struck by how useful it would be if patients and their families knew Reiki. So I’ve put together a package of Reiki treatments and a Reiki class for families living with serious illness or recovering from major surgery.

I come to you. All you have to do is be there and be open to learning Reiki. The package provides:
• 4 one-hour Reiki sessions for the patient
• a Reiki I class for up to 4 people (including the patient)
• two facilitated group treatments: I lead you in giving one another (patient included) a group treatment – the most powerful way to heal with Reiki

I studied traditional Japanese shiatsu at the Ohashi Institute of New York City, where I completed over 400 hours of study that included shiatsu technique, anatomy, Oriental diagnosis, and group and individual tutorials. I am a licensed massage therapist in Santa Barbara.

I am currently pursuing ongoing cranial sacral training through the Upledger Institute, the premiere training institute for this therapy worldwide. I received Reiki I and II training from Petra Timmermans, a Reiki Master in the lineage of Usui-Hayashi-Takata, and a former Board Member of the Reiki Alliance. Ms. Timmermans is a student of Phyllis Lee Furomoto, the granddaughter of Hawayo Takata, the woman who brought Reiki to the United States. I have been attuned twice at the Reiki Master level, once by Rama Seltzer, an independent Reiki Master in Santa Barbara, and once by William Rand of the International Reiki Training Center in Michigan.

Other training includes Touch for Health with Phil Selinsky and the Yuen Method with Dr. Kam Yuen. I have been a volunteer for Hospice of Santa Barbara since 2004.

My formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in great books from NYU and a master's degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. I speak English, French, and Russian.