Akiko Kohayakawa LMT —

Lead Massage Therapist Akiko Kohayakawa, LMT (she/her) is a keen therapist as well as an avid martial arts practitioner who is deeply passionate about human movement and well-being. She is a Board Certified Structural Integrator who specializes in analyzing and freeing myofascial restrictions with the goal of helping clients move efficiently and effortlessly. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Swedish Institute in 2019, completed Structural Integration Training (ATSI) with Tom Myers in 2022, and is currently training in Neurovascular Release and Craniosacral therapy. Combining her natural talent with a firm understanding of science, she will carefully assess your needs and craft a program specifically tailored to you, using techniques and modalities such as Structural Integration, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Trigger Points, Shiatsu, ROM, Diaphragm Breathing and more.

Her curiosity and passion towards the body mechanics and functions started when she suffered her own knee injury back in 2016 during athletic training. While searching for the right treatment for her injury, she found massage therapy to be the most effective tool for her recovery. Growing up in Japan as a child, manual therapy felt very natural to her. She had unusually strong hands and possessed an innate astuteness in treating her family members’ physical pain; she was always a “go-to family massage therapist” in her home. Inspired by her own injury treatment experience, combining with her own upbringing, it was a natural calling for her to pursue a path in massage therapy, and she has never looked back since.

For the love of movements and activities, Akiko deeply understands your physical pain and psychological effects that could follow. While focusing on relieving pain, she would not neglect the importance of utilizing the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the key for prompt recovery and overall well-being. She envisions guiding your body into the recovery state and helping its own healing power. She is tirelessly committed and never stops learning about the science and art of the human body.

Passionate about nutrition for well-being, Akiko loves to cook healthy and delicious meals at home while listening to jazz music. Aside from martial arts, she has been involved in various sports and activities such as volleyball, dance, yoga, Pilates, weight lifting, strength training, badminton and more. For the love of Mother Earth, she enjoys surfing and freediving in summer, always finding nature to be her biggest teacher.