kate waters is an early riser

Emerging Energy’s resident massage therapist, Kate Waters, has spent years exploring various modalities of healing. As a client, her massages often feel like a breath-centered meditation as she works her way around the body, kneading, rolling, rocking and stretching the tissue. Her spacious, quiet style is both deeply relaxing and therapeutic, leaving clients to depart the clinic visibly transformed. This interview was an opportunity to ask Kate about where she’s been, how her practice has changed, and where she wants to go next.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Describe the influences and circumstances that led you to dive into bodywork and massage therapy and for how long have you been practicing? What was going on in your life at the time?

KW: I’ve been massaging for twelve years. I was a social worker before this, and I’ve always wanted to be in service to others. I was feeling really burnt out with that work, so I left that job and gave myself a month to travel and reflect on what I wanted. When I came back, I found the Cortiva Institute. After graduating and going back and forth to Costa Rica to be with the guy I was seeing at the time, I decided to move there and spent the next seven years living really simply, deepening my massage practice and diving into yoga.

In what ways has your perspective for your work changed over time?

KW: The body is wayyyyyyyyy more complex and fascinating than I initially knew! There’s always more to learn to how it can heal. When I was younger I was way more focused on anatomy specifically, and didn’t understand the body as a whole. I would come with the approach of, “ok here’s a problem with the right shoulder and I’ll fix it and they’ll feel better.”

Over time, I’ve moved to a more intuitive place with massage. I try to go where the body tells me to go. I also really believe in collaboration, calling in others who can help, whether that’s a trainer or chiropractor or some other kind of therapist. Maybe because I started this work in a spa environment, I used to see massage as just a way to relax, but over time my perspective has changed to see bodywork as effective preventative healthcare.

What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned through your work and study? What makes this fulfilling for you over a period of time like the past 12 years?

KW: There are ebbs and flows of the body. I’ve learned that it’s about finding peace with that. Like right now my hip hurts, but do I need to stretch it? Do I need to fix it? Or can I be ok with it? Getting deeper into my yoga practice has taken me deeper into my massage practice, for sure.

These days, I feel that I’m having a conversation with clients’ bodies and working from a place of my client as their own healer. They know their body best and this work is to help them to understand their body better. I come to the body thinking, “how can I hold this discomfort for you?” and trust that as the body makes its own connections and lets go, it will find the healing it needs.

I feel like I’m really living in my purpose. I’ve gone through periods where I couldn’t massage, like when I moved back from Costa Rica and had to go through the licensing process, and when I’m not able to do it I feel lost. Helping other people keeps me taking care of myself.

Speaking of caring for yourself, what are the things you do that help you stay well? Will you share any of your rituals or practices?

KW: I love yoga, rock climbing, hiking, and spend time with my nieces and nephews. Travel is fulfilling to me - my partner and I just spent a few weeks in Mexico and we’re looking forward to a trip to Boulder, Colorado this spring. I’d love to go to Peru.

I’m an early riser, I get up around 5:30 every morning. We have a whole morning routine.

I don’t think any of us who work with you are surprised that you’re a morning person. What is your routine?

KW: We do some breath work and chanting - Kundalini mantras calling in our intention for the day and for protection. We usually pull oracle cards, do some clearing with sage and blessing with palo santo. I like to spend some time bringing each patient who I’ll see that day to mind and calling in their highest self or any guides so that whatever they are supposed to receive can come through.

After that I do facial gua sha. And coffee, of course.

I love all of this so much. Ok last question; where or in what directions do you feel your path leading you?

KW: I’d like to offer some more workshops again, especially breath work and sound healing. I’ve started diving into western herbalism and planning to do a course on that. It’s exciting!