ABOUT
MARK WILLIAMS
Licensed Massage Therapist
Each day is an opportunity to help my clients with the challenges of the body and to experience the effectiveness of a skilled body-worker.
My first massage I received was a revelation. Becoming a massage therapist some years later changed my life. Now, 20 years and 10,000 plus massages later my work is still a joy everyday. Each day is an opportunity to help my clients with the challenges of the body and to experience the effectiveness of a skilled body-worker. The love of my work, the attention to detail and a thoughtful understanding of the art and science of massage is what makes my work unique.
Throughout my practice, I have honed the skills needed to manage pain, alleviate stress, and enhance overall wellbeing. Utilizing a combination of massage techniques, targeted for each client’s specific needs, I help clients achieve optimal benefits. I utilize a targeted combination of:
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Eastern and Western Bodywork
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Myofascial Release
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Neuromuscular Massage
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Orthopedic Massage
Whether you are looking for a sport specific massage, stress reduction and relaxation, pain management or injury rehabilitation, I will create a customized plan to provide the relief from soreness and muscle strain and enhanced athletic performance you are seeking. I provide massage therapy services in two Bergen County locations, Ridgewood and Upper Saddle River.
Experience Outside of the Treatment Room
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Faculty of Helma Institute & Institute for Therapeutic Massage
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Lead instructor for the Medical Massage Program at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
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Developed and taught continuing education and professional development workshops.
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Creator/founder of the Holistic Mentorship Network.
An Athlete Who Understands Athlete’s Needs
As an athlete and a massage therapist, I bring knowledge to the massage table that helps my clients, both athletes and non-athletes alike.
In 1993, after concluding the first day of a two-day cycling event, I hobbled to the massage tent at the day’s finish line, looking for relief for my painful legs. I was convinced I was in trouble for the next day’s leg of the event. Although I had never had a massage before, what was there to lose?
That massage brought quick relief, and when I got off the table, I no longer had muscle spasms. I felt slightly stronger and steadier on my feet. So far, so good.
But it was the next day that made me a believer. I woke up the next morning and I was amazed that my legs felt fresh and rested. It was as if I had not cycled those 80 miles the day before. That physical revival had an enormous effect on my psychology as well, and I finished the other 80 miles that day without a problem.
That first massage experience started a journey to the profession I love. Having been an athlete since childhood - ever since I was in Little League - I found a new appreciation for the body’s ability to heal when facilitated by skilled body work. Ice hockey was my sport growing up, and I played at a high level until my early twenties. I also taught myself how to be a skilled batter in baseball. I could have benefitted then from what I came to know.
Studying anatomy, the working of the body, and becoming a massage therapist definitely allowed me to be a better athlete. As a long-time runner, I was able to add road biking and swimming and competed in triathlons. Tennis is my main sport these days - part of my life for over three decades.
Today, many of my clients are athletes and attest to my work as helping their performance and competitive advantage.
Educator
I love to teach. I want to help others benefit from massage and found that helping to develop the next generation of massage therapists expands the circle of healing and helping.
In 2002, having had a successful private massage practice for five years, I was approached to teach the 10-month intensive hands-on orthopedic and medical massage program at the well-regarded University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s (UMDNJ) new massage program. I taught this program in three locations in New Jersey, and also taught sports massage, chair massage, and several other courses. By teaching, I learned more and developed new ways to relay information to my massage clients.