Full Circle: Why Giving Back to Sunnyside Elementary Means So Much to Me
Honoring local educators, reflecting on unexpected healing, and announcing Soul Trine’s new, closer studio location this August.
There is a quiet, powerful magic in coming full circle.
Back in May, Krysten and I loaded up our massage chairs and headed over to Sunnyside Elementary to offer free 10-minute chair massages for Teacher Appreciation Week. It was our second year bringing bodywork to the Sunnyside staff, and as we set up in the breakroom, a deep sense of gratitude washed over me.
To the world, we were just two practitioners offering a quick moment of physical relief during a busy week. But for me, walking through those doors carries a history that touches the very core of why I do this work.
Where My Journey in Education Began
Long before I became a bodyworker and trauma-informed coach, I was a young woman trying to find my footing. In the spring semester of 2002, I landed my very first job in the education system at Sunnyside Elementary as a teacher’s aide in a classroom supporting children with complex needs.
What the staff and the children didn’t know at the time was that I was walking through a deeply sad and heavy season in my life. I showed up every day to do a job, but those children became an unexpected medicine for me.
Despite their daily discomforts and physical challenges, those kids showed up with pure joy. Their smiles, resilience, and happiness were inspiring. They had no idea they were doing it, but their presence offered me a profound method of healing right when I needed it most. Working alongside them taught me so much about human resilience, adaptability, and the spirit’s capacity for joy.
A Soft Spot for Our Educators
That semester also cemented my deep reverence for teachers.
I come from a family with educators whom I admire tremendously and love dearly. Through them, and through my time in the classroom, I understand the selfless labor of love teachers show up with every single day. Teachers don’t just instruct—they hold space for entire classrooms while navigating demanding days.
That level of care takes a toll on the body and the nervous system. Offering a 10-minute chair massage during Teacher Appreciation Week was my small way of offering a moment of true respite and restoration. Ten minutes might not seem long, but when applied with intentional pressure, it gives the body a moment to pause and reset.
A Summer of Preparation & A Closer Studio Location
While we were working with the team at Sunnyside back in May, many teachers mentioned wanting to come see us at our studio, but felt our current location was just a bit too far for a regular visit.
As we’ve spent this summer gearing up for the upcoming season, I’ve been holding that feedback close to heart. I am so excited to share that as of August, Soul Trine is moving to a new location!
While we aren’t quite in Lawrence Township, our new space is significantly closer—so close that depending on where you’re coming from, you may not even need to get on the interstate. We wanted to make bodywork and nervous system support much more accessible for you.
Stay Connected!
Our doors remain open and available for bookings right now! If you are scheduling for next month, please note that all appointments in August will be held at our new location. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter below to get the new address, location details, and moving updates delivered directly to your inbox.
Wishing You the Best for the New School Year
As the summer comes to an end and school prepares to start again, I want to send my absolute best wishes to every educator, administrator, and staff member stepping back into the building.
May you enter this new school year supported in mind, body, and spirit. Taking care of your physical body and honoring your need for rest is essential for the incredible work you do.
Thank you for educating and loving our children. The world needs you, and we are so glad to be here to support you.