Our Team

AL POLIARCO

LMT (WI LICENSE NO. 13720-146), RYT, AUTHORIZED ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET INSTRUCTOR, CERTIFIED CHAVUTTI THIRUMAL PRACTITIONER

My name is Al Poliarco, owner and developer of Barefoot Hands Gravity Bodywork. I am a freelance LMT, Certified Ashiatsu - Deepfeet Bar Therapist, Ashi-Thai Bodywork Practitioner, Certified Sarga Bodywork Practitioner, Restorative Ashiatsu, and Ashtanga Yoga Instructor.

From the outside, my practice may appear purely physical, an artful flow with gravity; but this is how I connect with my clients. It's my way of holding the space for them for a moment to be still and find healing within.

Licensed Bodywork & Massage Therapist WI Licensed No. 13720-146

Certified Ashiatsu - Deepfeet Bar™ Therapist

Certified Sarga Bodywork™ Practitioner

Certified MediCupping™ Therapist

Ashi-Thai Bodywork Practitioner

Restorative-Aerial Ashiatsu Bodywork Practitioner

Certified FMT Rocktape™ Specialist

Registered Yoga Teacher | Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Aerial & Pole Fitness Enthusiast

ADAM ZAHN

LMT, ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET BAR THERAPY PRACTITIONER (TRAINED), WITH SPECIALTY IN TUI NA, DEEP TISSUE, AND REIKI

My name is Adam Zahn and I am a licensed massage therapist with a degree in Asian Bodywork and Therapeutic Massage from East-West Healing Arts Institute. Through years of dedicated practice of Yoga, Meditation and Tai Chi I have developed a nuanced sense of the body and mind from the inside out. With these practices came physical and emotional healing as well as a deep sense of internal peace. I went on to study Massage Therapy and Reiki, which became my methods of sharing the experience of healing with others. I believe that through touch we communicate directly with the body in its native language. I use this direct communication to facilitate the body’s innate restorative power to enact healing on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. As we heal pain and stress, we can become quiet enough within to attune to our Truest Self.

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SARAH MCMUNN (she/her)

LMT | ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET BAR THERAPY PRACTITIONER (TRAINED) | ADMIN-TEAM

Sarah is a massage therapist and bodyworker who believes massage is for every body. She is deeply committed to her clients and strives to create a welcoming, affirming and nurturing environment where therapist and client can work together on a personalized approach and treatment plan for care. As a life-long student, she loves learning and researching individual conditions to facilitate healing in the immediate session, and to promote life-long wellness through client education.

An avid traveler with boundless curiosity, Sarah graduated from the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy (CRSMT). Surrounded by natural beauty, this immersive, accelerated, rigorous program was situated in a barefoot, outdoor classroom setting, promoting deep and holistic levels of study and healing. Before embarking on a career as a massage therapist and bodyworker, Sarah built a career at national non-profits focused on health and wellbeing, social responsibility, and environmental activism. Her work concentrated on the fields of diversity, equity and inclusion, training and leadership development, and talent management. These passions were supported by her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison in Anthropology and Spanish, and her MBA.

Sarah appreciates how the power of massage and bodywork can change lives. She enjoys exploring different modalities to address client concerns and aims to create the afterglow effect in every single session- the light or radiance that remains; the euphoric feeling that lingers after a beautiful experience. She’s grateful for the opportunity to hold space and restore balance for those who entrust her with their care.

When Sarah isn’t at the studio she spends most of her time traveling, camping, hiking, biking, reading, cooking, designing, relearning piano, getting handy with home renovations, playing with her sewing machine, fostering rescue pups into loving homes, and supporting causes she believes in.

SPECIALTIES

Ashiatsu Deepfeet Bar Therapy

Swedish Relaxation Massage

Deep Tissue Massage

Trigger Poin Therapy

Myofascial Release

Craniosacral

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Sports Massage

Cupping

Hot Stone

Hydrotherapy

Certified FMT Rocktape™ Specialist

Usui Reiki

LILY YANG

LMT, ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET BAR THERAPY PRACTITIONER (TRAINED), & TAI CHI TEACHER

My name is Lily Yang. I graduated from East-West Healing Arts Institute and I hold a license as a Massage and Bodywork Therapist. I grew up in China and various aspects of Chinese culture that teach the importance of following natural ways to maintain a healthy body and the importance of balance in life have greatly influenced me. Therefore, I have a passion for Tai Chi and how it can promote a healthy body and lifestyle. In 2018, I became the Twelfth Generation of Teachers for Chen-Style Tai Chi. In addition, I love to share my interest and knowledge of the Chinese Tea Ceremony and the beauty and grace of Chinese Classical Dance.

To me our bodies are part of the Universe and by following the natural laws and pathways of the heavens and earth our bodies can be nourished. I believe our bodies have a powerful ability to heal themselves. By being attentive to our breathing and through meditation and looking inwardly we can listen to the sounds of our body and mind and understand how we can restore the natural state of our health by adjusting our body structures.

My motivation and the goal of my work is to help my clients manage pain, release pressures and tension, and seek a balance between their body, mind, and spirit. In this way they can enhance their energy, comfort, and health awareness.

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ALEX MADURA

LMT, ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET BAR THERAPY PRACTITIONER (TRAINED)

Al Madura is a LMT graduate from East West Healing Arts Institute in Madison with extensive training in Eastern and Western modalities. Al's approached in treatment is combining Ashiatsu-Deepfeet Bar Therapy and the many benefits of acupressure, Tui Na, General Myofascial Treatment, Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, and Lymphatic Drainage. Al's techniques are geared toward patiently bringing presence to the body and slowly allowing the body to open, release tension, and find ease and space for breath.

KWEKU

LMT | ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET BAR THERAPY PRACTITIONER (TRAINED) | ADMIN-TEAM

Kweku Brewoo is a graduate of Madison College’s Massage Therapy Program. With the belief that massage is a compliment to wholistic health, Kweku focuses on addressing and adapting to the specific needs of clients with different massage modalities and integrative techniques. His calming temperament, integrative technique, and passion for this work compliments his ability to provide anything from simple relaxation and stress reduction for general wellness to focused therapeutic massages curated specific to each individual body.

REBECCA SILVERA

LMT / CREATIVE DIRECTOR | ADMIN-TEAM

Rebecca recently returned to WI after 13 years in NYC and is excited to share her gifts with the Barefoot Hands community! Raised in WI, she began her career studying Psychology at the U of MN Minneapolis (2006). She then moved to Brooklyn, NY and worked as a juvenile correctional officer and a GLBTQ Caseworker. Rebecca began to thirst for a more tangible source of healing in her life and discovered her passion for massage therapy and attended the Swedish Institute of Health Science (2010). She also completed the graduate studies program for advanced massage therapy at CATA (Center for the Advancement of Therapeutic Arts, 2014) After working in Costa Rica, and studying massage in Thailand, she settled down in Manhattan where she ran her own private practice for over 6 years. She also returned to the Swedish Institute in 2014, this time as an Adjunct Instructor, where she still teaches remotely.

Although she loved massage therapy, Rebecca craved something deeper, this time on the metaphysical level. This led her to deepening her spiritual practice, exploring mediumship and honing her intuitive abilities. After years of developing these skills, she has now created a unique menu of offerings to help others on their spiritual journeys, from Ancestral Integration, to Anchoring, an energy/bodywork session that merges the metaphysical with the physical. She also facilitates a bi-weekly class called WombSpace on Tuesday nights and monthly Psychic Development courses. Check our events page for more information!

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KRISTOPHER GROVE

LMT, ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET BAR THERAPY PRACTITIONER (TRAINED) / SPECIALTY IN MFR, SOUND HEALING, REIKI & NADA YOGA PRACTICE | ADMIN-TEAM

Kristopher graduated in 2016 from East West Healing Arts Institute in Madison as a Massage Therapist. There he was trained in both Eastern and Western modalities of bodywork. Following graduation, he went on to study a Myofascial Release technique developed by John Barnes. He has also received training in a Thai Abdominal Massage technique, this unique technique has many benefits that are often overlooked with traditional massage.

Kristopher also works with sound healing or Nada Yoga. As a Nada Yoga practitioner he uses Tibetan singing bowls to facilitate sound therapy. The bowls he uses have been crafted with prayer and intention to support healing on a deep level. They are also personally sourced by his teacher in the Himalayan mountains. Nada means flow of sound and Yoga is union. When playing these bowls, sacred vibrations emanate out and bring about peace of mind as it balances the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. Along with massage and sound therapy, he is a Reiki level one practitioner who has pursued a variety of energy healing techniques. Tapping into this energy, he focuses on connecting with his clients needs and holds space through intention and prayer to act as a conduit for the healing energy of our divine essence.

All of the modalities that he brings to the session have the goal of helping his clients create a sanctuary for their minds, body and soul. Kristopher believes that the most effective way to bring about balance within our being is through the innate wisdom found within our bodies.

Kristopher has blended all of his modalities into the Sacred Grove Sanctuary Revitalization technique. You can book now!

May you be infinitely blessed in all ways.

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KIRSTEN MARTIN

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST WITH SPECIALTY IN DEEP TISSUE, REIKI & RESTORATIVE YOGA PRACTICE

Kirsten Martin has been practicing massage therapy for about a decade! She specializes in deep tissue and loves to find the root problem areas in the body. She is also trained in reiki and enjoys sprinkling some of that into each session. She attended National Holistic institute in California, which is one of the top massage schools in the nation. She is very interested in holistic medicine and is also a certified yoga teacher. She absolutely loves creating special playlist for massages. And her free time she loves studying psychology and somatics, going into nature with her dog, dancing and singing!

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NAÅD SILVERA

LMT | ASHIATSU-DEEPFEET BAR THERAPY PRACTITIONER (TRAINED) WITH SPECIALTY IN SHIATSU PRACTICE & MIOFASCIAL TREATMENT

Naåd is a traditional Shiatsu and dynamic myofascial release practitioner, trained and licensed in New York City by the oldest massage school in the country.

As the creator of SHÎFT body work technique (a combination of spiral myofascial release, Dynamic cranial sacral release & traditional Indonesian martial movement)

Naåd offers a truly transformative, restorative and relaxing shift from mundane aches and pains into your body's integral truth.

REBECCA BROWN

LICENSED ESTHETICIAN

I have a love for apothecary and specialize in natural and healing services. With my experience, natural ingredients can provide you with the same, if not better results, if the Ingres are used properly. Healing to me is an important part of life. My goal is to provide a ceremonial-type service for a transforming and regenerating experience.

I have traveled parts of the world to focus on personal healing. In my journey, I found passion in aiding other beautiful humans to help heal themselves while taking joy in exploring life. Something I truly believe is that I will always be a student of life wherever I go.

I enjoy facilitating sound therapy, traveling, music, researching herbal properties/medicines and creating. A true passion of mine is utilizing many different healing modalities.

I offer a variety of services that can be viewed on my website: www.sacredhearthealings.com

Licensed skin therapist since 2010

Certified quantum healing hypnosis technique practitioner (QHHT) since 2019

Certified end of life doula since 2020

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BAREFOOT HANDS

JOIN OUR TEAM!

BAREFOOT HANDS provides professional and therapeutic massage services and training. We are Madison’s Gravity Bodywork Central with advanced specialty in Ashiatsu-Deep Bar Therapy, Sarga Bodwork, Barefoot Shiatsu, and other barefoot oriented techniques. If you are interested in joining our team, please call or text us at (608) 770-1022.