

Stories in Your Skin: An anthropologist's notes from the massage table
Massage is often framed as physical—about muscles, fascia, pressure, pain relief. But underneath every session lies a deeper story. One shaped by history, culture, identity, and belief. Why do we carry tension in our shoulders, but not our calves?Why do some bodies flinch from care while others melt into it?Why is touch healing for some—and threatening for others? These questions don’t have purely anatomical answers. They live in the terrain of anthropology —the study of how
5 min read


Can Massage Help My Back Pain, or Should I See a Chiropractor?
This question comes up a lot. Usually after someone’s been dealing with back pain for a while and isn’t sure what the next move should be. They’ve tried stretching. Maybe some heat. Maybe nothing, hoping it would just pass. And now they’re wondering who they should even be calling. The honest answer is that there isn’t one right option for everyone. But there is usually a clearer option once you slow down and look at how your pain is behaving. Back Pain Has a Personality Bac
4 min read


What to Expect During Your First Clinical Massage
If you are thinking about booking your first massage session and feeling unsure about what will happen, that makes sense. A lot of people come in with questions. Some have only experienced spa massage. Others have never had bodywork at all. Clinical massage is different, and it helps to know what you are walking into. This post is meant to give you a clear picture of what to expect in your first massage session with David Holden LMT in Gresham, Oregon. No guesswork. No fluff
4 min read



















