About Emily

Emily Kniffin

Nationally Certifed Massage Therapist, NCBTMB

B.S. Wellness and Alternative Medicine

I practice massage therapy because I enjoy helping people feel comfortable in their bodies. It is an honor to contribute to the health and wellbeing of the individuals whom I touch with my work. I love to witness the transformation of breath easily deepening, of muscle fibers loosening, worried thoughts fading, and the natural radiance of one’s being emerging. I hope that the relaxation and peace I help you experience also helps to bring balance and wellness to your family, your community, and our world.

I have cultivated both a comprehensive knowledge based on Western methods of seeing the human body through the analytic lens of science and a well-rounded understanding based upon Eastern concepts of the energetic systems that enliven and dance within the human form.

My early studies in the Health Arts and Sciences Program at Goddard College included Acupressure, Healing and the Mind, Art and Healing, Counseling and Conflict Mediation, and Ecology. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Wellness and Alternative Medicine at Johnson State College where I was a member of the Chesamore Honor Society and on the President’s List. My coursework included Biology, Chemistry, Kinesiology, Nutrition, Multicultural Healing, Buddhism, Stress Management, and in-depth study of the evolving paradigm of health and medicine in our society. I graduated from Touchstone Healing Arts School of Massage in 2000, having completed 550 hours of professional training in therapeutic massage that included Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology, Ethics, and many hours of hands-on experience with various massage modalities.

Since graduating from massage school, I have continually been developing and refining my professional knowledge and talent, especially through hands-on experience. During my three years as a massage therapist at Laura Ramirez’s office of Chiropractic in Burlington, I had the opportunity to expand my technical massage skills and focus on approaching chronic and acute musculoskeletal conditions with both sensitivity and depth. Working with clients privately in my own massage practice for the past ten years has offered me the opportunity to cultivate my awareness of each individuals’ needs and develop massage sessions tailored specifically to those needs, even as they change over time. For the past five years, I have also been employed at Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, accumulating hundreds more hours of experience performing massage and spa treatments at one of the largest luxury spas in Vermont.

I am greatly honored to collaborate with Erin Avelle in her therapeutic massage practice, and look forward to developing healing connections with new clients. This new chapter in my massage practice represents coming full circle, moving forward as I return my efforts to the community where they were first birthed. I bring with me all the years of experience I’ve gained along the way, and all the resources I’ve discovered to nurture the inherent healing potential and capabilities in each one of us. Thank you for joining me in this journey.