About Marlene and Back Country Massage

Marlene

My name is pronounced "Mar-lay-nuh." A native of Germany by birth, I was adopted by an American couple and later became a naturalized U.S. Citizen around the age of four. I first lived in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley at that time, when my love for the mountains and gentle countryside was established. I have since lived in Maryland, Washington DC, Thailand and California.

I am a Renaissance Woman.

I am not only a talented massage therapist, but I also have backgrounds in web and print design, professional photography, writing, community building, dancing, activism, and more. I'm also an artist. In fact, my college years studying art (for which I earned a B.A.) were the years I became interested in massage. My anatomy drawings and studies made me curious about the structure and function of the human body. Post-college, I once took a 5-day workshop on "sculpting the head from the inside out" (bones of the skull and neck; then muscle, cartilage and other tissues; finally the skin ... see photos) and LOVED it. Some years later, when I finally decided to pursue massage, one of the joys I had was in learning about anatomy in detail.

Massage Training

I am:

• A Professional Member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals — #811887
• State certified in VA by the Virginia Board of Nursing — #0019006932
• Licensed in Washington, DC by the Health Professional Licensing Administration — #MT1450

In 2006 I graduated from the Shenandoah Valley School for Therapeutic Massage after completing a rigorous 550 hour program. I then passed every section of the national certification exam with high marks and obtained my Virginia Certification as a professional massage therapist (and later my DC License as well).

Continuing Education

I am presently pursuing certification in Orthopedic Massage (a.k.a. clinical, therapeutic or medical massage). Orthopedic Massage focuses on restoring pain free range of motion throughout the body, and integrating complete structural balance. Please see my Services page for more information.

Back Country Massage

I have been a professional massage therapist since 2006. Back Country Massage was officially established in 2007 as a private practice. The logo is a stylized countryside view framed by two hands. In the Buddhist tradition the right hand facing down symbolizes giving, the left hand up represents receiving. I think this is an especially appropriate symbol for the give and take of therapeutic masssage.