Meet the staff at Optimal Movement in Rochester, Minnesota. With years of experience, we’re proud to tell you a bit about ourselves. Click each staff member to learn more about them and book an appointment.
Philip is a dedicated and passionate practitioner who combines principles of Eastern and Western Medicine practices with Movement Based Therapies to help individuals think, move, and feel the best they possibly can. His Studies Include Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Exercise Science, and a Doctorate In Eastern Medicine and Acupuncture. Philip specializes in the treatment of Sports and Orthopedic Injuries, Joint Function/Mobility Assessment, Athletic Performance Enhancement, Neurological and Receptor Dysfunction, Food and Supplement Therapy.
Originally from Marshall, MN, Dr. Carter spent a year in Zimbabwe, Africa trying to start a sustainable non-profit chiropractic and functional medicine clinic. From there he spent some time soul searching and ended up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was able to see a high volume of clients to refine his techniques and protocols with manual adjustments, soft tissue work, functional medicine, energy medicine, and Applied Kinesiology. His Travels have brought him back to Minnesota to be closer to family and friends. Currently, Dr. Carter is studying indigenous traditional healing modalities of North and South America. In his free time Dr. Carter can be found found exploring nature, traveling, lost in a book, playing harmonica, or hanging in a hammock.
Marisa is a licensed massage therapist specializing in deep tissue and focused therapeutic massage. She creates individualized treatments and expertly assesses how tension in the muscles and surrounding tissue are impacting the health of the rest of the body. Marisa’s sessions include gentle to firm-pressure therapeutic massage, deep tissue and trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and a variety of stretching & mobility techniques. Marisa also incorporates tool-based techniques such as cupping and gua sha with her clients’ permission. Marisa enjoys working and teaching from the heart, creating a safe, judgement and expectation-free zone in which clients can heal, achieve their personal health/wellness goals, and deepen their relationship with themselves. Marisa obtained an Associate in Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy in 2014, which consisted of 1200+ training hours. She also holds a 230-hour Yoga Instructor Certification and Advanced Reiki Certification. She has obtained continuing education in a variety of modalities including Reflexology, Mayan Abdominal Therapy, Thai massage, and (her personal favorite) Dermal Traction Method. Although massage is Marisa’s “big girl” job, she is also a certified yoga instructor and former pole fitness instructor/competitor. Bodywork, yoga, and dance have been a huge part of her personal journey and growth, and she is ecstatic to have the opportunity to share her passions and help create a community of health-conscious individuals.
La’Mika has a vast knowledge on anatomy stemming from her experience in the health & fitness industry. La’Mika approaches her massages with the focus of treating the root cause of pain and not just the symptoms. She masterfully blends her skills of Deep tissue, trigger point therapy, cupping, and myofascial release to ensure the best outcomes for your mind and body. La’Mika’s work can help those suffering from chronic pain, athletes looking to improve performance, or anyone seeking to improve overall relaxation and wellness. La’Mika has a passion for sports and loves to help with youth activities. She has a creative and entrepreneurial drive, working in massage therapy, sports, and clothing. She enjoys spending time with her son and loves to travel in her time off. She is passionate about helping others grow, find balance within their bodies, and mentally being their best selves.
Ricardo specializes in Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release, Sports Massage, Swedish Massage, and Craniosacral Therapy. He works with each client’s focus areas to start relieving the problem and will tailor his techniques and massage to the client’s tolerance of pressure. Ricardo’s goal is to help you feel more grounded in your body and live life more fully by helping to reduce your pain and stress. Ricardo received his certification in massage therapy from the Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in Tucson, AZ in 1996 which consisted of 1000+ training hours. He was a combat medic in the Arizona National Guard. In his free time Ricardo likes to be outside with his girlfriend and their two dogs. They enjoy hiking, kayaking, fishing, and camping. Ricardo is new to the area and is excited to explore the city and all that it has to offer.
Pan comes from the original family of Thai Traditional Massage Healing Hands. Pan offers Deep Tissue and Medical massage. Her passion is helping people get out of pain through massage. Pan got into healing hands massage when she was 8 years old as a result of an injury that her mother suffered. Her mother taught her how to palpate and massage her injured hip and it worked like magic. Her mom was able to walk a short time after teaching her these traditional techniques. As pan was young, she ignored her calling and gift of healing through massage until she was injured in a car accident herself. Through chiropractic and massage therapy she was able to heal and felt that massage was her true calling. Pan has over 800 hours of training and has obtained her associates degree in Massage Therapy. She also went to the Thai Healing Therapy Massage School and is a level 2 practitioner in Thai Yoga Massage. Pan is very passionate about helping people to relieve their stress and pain. She has 15 years of experience as a licensed practitioner in the state of Minnesota. Pan is very skilled in trigger point therapy, pressure point therapy, deep tissue massage and in the treatment of chronic pain. Pan enjoys treating rotator cuff injuries, tingling and numbness in arms and hands, migraine headaches, sciatica, muscle strains, and low back pain.
Teresa entered the field of Massage Therapy and bodywork after a life changing experience with Energy Medicine. She promptly enrolled Sister Rosalind Gefre’ School of Massage Therapy and graduated in 2009. She has advanced training in the massage modalities of Relaxation, Trigger Point, Reflexology, Lymphatic Drainage, and Healing Touch. Teresa Believes in treating the whole person. She believes that health and wellness are not just limited to your physical health. She recognizes the intricate connection of the mind, body, and spirit and is passionate about helping people tap into their inner-selves to promote health and wellness. When Teresa is not working, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones- that includes her cat, Ari! She loves being outside in nature, where she feels grounded and connected. She also likes to have fun singing and dancing!
Deb was first introduced to massage therapy while working at a jewelry company. While there, she developed chronic pain patterns from working long hours, performing detailed work with a bad posture. After getting a massage, she was amazed by the relief she felt from her chronic muscle tension. Ever since, Deb has been fascinated by holistic and natural approaches to facilitating wellness and balancing the mind-body-spirit connection. Deb combines Deep Tissue, Orthopedic, and Trigger Point Therapy as needed to treat each client’s specific needs while also incorporating relaxation techniques into her massages. Deb received her certification in massage therapy from the Minnesota Riverland Technical College in Rochester, MN and has been practicing massage therapy for the past seven years. In her free time, Deb likes to stay active. She has a passion for working out, spending time with her family, hiking with her dogs, collecting crystals and gems, and absorbing as much knowledge as she can.
Rick is a compassionate and dedicated practitioner of Yoga and is also a Somatic Yoga Therapist. Oftentimes our natural movement patterns are obscured by pain and injuries stemming from bad habits, trauma or overuse. Rick helps his clients find their bodies’ intended patterns through body awareness, breathework, muscle activation exercises, and muscle activation therapy liberating the individual from pain. He is a certified 500hr soma yoga therapy instructor and studies yoga therapy at Yoga North Soma Yoga Institute in Duluth, MN, where he focuses on Thomas Hannah clinical somatics, Buteyko breathing, therapeutic yoga, ayurveda and classic hatha yoga. He is also a AFPA certified holistic wellness coach and holistic nutritionist, as well as a French Culinary Chef.
Living along the water of the Mississippi River, Marissa has always called Minnesota her home & the ones who live in southern MN her community. An advocate for self-development & body positivity, she aspires to optimize her overall well-being while helping others do the same. Marissa completed a 700-hour program at Minnesota School of Cosmetology & believes the learning has just begun for her! Having graduated in September of 2022, Marissa is interested in myofascial release, advanced therapeutic techniques, & cupping therapy. She also loves the style of Swedish massage & the benefits it has to offer for her clients. Marissa values the power of solitude & surrounding herself with her loved ones (especially her dog Koda)— You can spot her cheering at sporting events, soaking up the sun or rereading the Harry Potter series. She is looking forward to working with everyone at Optimal Movement & is excited to learn more about the world of massage therapy from them. “relaxation is a practice, so whenever I give someone that space to truly relax it brings a lot of opportunity for healing… that means more than anything to me.”
Abe has been a massage therapist practitioner for over 20 years. He received certification from the Utah College of Massage Therapy. Abe has a firm therapeutic touch that has been honed through his certifications in medical massage, lymphatic drainage, deep tissue, medical cupping, and sports massage. For the last 20 years Abe ran and owned a spa in Mississippi. 14 years ago he opened up a school of massage in Mississippi. Unfortunately, covid put an end to both of these long-standing institutions. As a result, Abe decided to move to Rochester to continue to share his skills and love for massage in the Med City.
Gunter grew up in Southeast Minnesota and graduated from Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School. He served for 5 years in the Navy before moving back here to Rochester where he pursued a career in the medical field as an EMT for the past 5 years. He has witnessed the positive influence of physical touch in the healing and rehabilitation process which piqued his interest in massage therapy. Gunter graduated from Riverland Community Technical College with his certificate in massage therapy where he learned Swedish massage, Trigger-point therapy, Deep tissue, sports massage, and cupping therapy. In his free time Gunter enjoys spending time in nature and loves camping, hunting, fishing, or tinkering on any number of woodworking projects for his friends and family.
Dr. Kyler has a deep passion for helping people. He got his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and was a board-certified Athletic Trainer before obtaining his Doctorate in Chiropractic from Northwestern Health Sciences University. Dr. Kyler brings a unique combination from his Athletic Training background and pairs it with his holistic Chiropractic training to help people of all ages obtain their maximum potential. Dr. Kyler uses every appointment to fully understand the person in front of him and what their main complaints are in order to individualize each treatment making sure that all questions are answered, and all concerns are addressed. In his free time, Dr. Kyler enjoys spending time outside with his wife, Abbie, and two sons, Otto and Bodhi. He also enjoys playing basketball and golf.
Deeply rooted in the holistic traditions of energy healing, Renata Milosavljevic is a seasoned Reiki practitioner now gracing the rooms of Optimal Movement in Rochester, Minnesota. With years of experience channeling the universal life force energy to promote healing, balance, and wellness, Renata is a beacon of light and tranquility in the wellness community. Now at Optimal Movement, she is excited to offer her expertise and heart-centered approach to those seeking a holistic touch to their wellness regimen. Whether you're new to Reiki or have experienced its transformative powers before, Renata welcomes you with open arms and an open heart. Book a session with Renata and embark on a journey to align your energy, revitalize your spirit, and achieve optimal wellbeing.
You can find us here, feel free to drop by or give us a call.
Phone: 507-993-0830
Address: 3270 19th Street NW, #203 Rochester, MN 55901
Email: feelbetter@optimal-movement.com