Christine Redman has always felt called to help others. She has been a recreational therapist for over 20 years working in Mental health. Feeling pulled to continue to help others she received her first 200 hr yoga certification in 2015, her children’s yoga certification and Rieki level 2 in 2017. Being passionate about helping others feel mentally and physically healthy, she decided to go to massage therapy school. She graduated in 2019 from North Carolina school of Advanced Bodywork. She believes in the mind body connection when you feel better physically it also helps you feel better mentally and emotionally.  She specializes in Thai yoga massage, Swedish and clinical Bodywork, during her sessions she combines all these techniques to help her clients feel better.  

Kimberly Savage, Holistic Massage Therapist {LMBT 17714}, Sacred Sound and Vibrational Alchemist, Meditation Facilitator is an E-RYT, Reiki Level 2 and a student of Intuitive Energy Healing and Ayurveda. She is a graduate of the NC Massage School with certificates in Clinical Neuromuscular and Structural Bodywork , Thai Massage, Ayurvedic Bodywork, Ace Medicupping and Massage cupping. Kim has studied with the Vibration Sound Association, Alessandra Montanna, Don Conreaux and Jens Zyger, Hale Pule, David Emerson, Michael Sitzer and Cara Viana.  She approaches every individual with reverence and respect focusing on healing and creating comfort in the body, soul and mind. Her massage technique, sound attunements and yoga teaching are influenced by the methods she has studied – swedish massage, sound and vibrational healing, intuitive energy, the energetic body {Chakra System}, thai bodywork, neuromuscular pain patterns, medicupping, aromatherapy, marma points, meditation, ayurveda and yoga.

Kimberly books by request only. Please contact her at maitrivedawellness@gmail.com or 518-728-2783

Hal Smith, co-owner and managing partner of Okra, started practicing at Okra a few years ago when he met Okra’s founder, Alicia Roskind. Once he saw and experienced the unique sense of community that had been created at Okra, he decided to partner with Alicia to further grow. Together they developed the retail concept for Gumbo Goods that would support the natural health and healing energy approaches that are practiced at Okra. In addition to managing the business, Hal offers massage services and hosts various workshops at Okra. He is a Licensed Spiritual Healer, Certified Raindrop Technique Specialist, RYT 200 Yoga Alliance Yoga Instructor, Certified Aroma Yoga Instructor, Certified ChiRunning Instructor, Certified Triggerpoint Myofascial Release Specialist, and Crossfit Trainer.

Greetings and blessings! It is an honor to be practicing massage and bodywork at Okra. I made the decision to go to massage school in 2015 after dealing with anxiety and PTSD for years and immediately noticed the benefits of receiving massage regularly. Helping others with similar issues that may be struggling with pain and tension associated with anxiety and stress is exactly what I was put here to do and I’m grateful to help. I’ve been licensed and practicing massage for six years and love this profession because I feel I’m helping others in the world find their peace and their place. I personally enjoy doing slower, deeper work that lets the brain follow along and provides for optimal nervous system relaxation. The nervous system itself is the reason we FEEL the tension our muscles experience. My style could be described as a blend of slow neuromuscular therapy with incorporated deep tissue. NC LMBT 15904 and Reiki Master Level

Jen Strassberg (LMBT #8600) came to massage therapy in 2008 after spending many years working in performing arts management. She graduated from the Edmund Morgan School of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapy in Cornelius and while her style is more on the deeper, therapeutic level, her primary goal is to help the client feel better and she will tailor her sessions to meet the needs of each client. She has spent the bulk of her career in high volume spas, in addition to several seasons as the Resident Massage Therapist for the American Dance Festival in Durham and Carolina Ballet in Raleigh, as well as backstage massage at concerts and special events. In 2009 she received her Ashiatsu (barefoot massage) certification – stay tuned for announcement on booking that service soon! When not massaging, you will find Jen walking her rescue pup Walter around town, seeing live music, or playing her trumpet.