Awake Embodied Healing | Seattle | Massage Therapy & Yoga

About Me

fremont seattle massage therapy myofascial craniosacral somatic

After discovering the power of embodied healing for myself through addressing my own pain and stress, I had found my purpose in exploring, practicing, and sharing what I'd learned. I feel grateful to be doing work I love: using my hands, finding my flow state, listening deeply, and connecting with the community.

I believe in the healing power of inhabiting our bodies: being awake to our lived experience. Being present with our sensations, thoughts, and emotions helps us notice, process, and release what we're holding so that we can integrate change. Healing gives us the power to break old patterns of tension and feel safe and at home our bodies; in doing so, we feel more deeply connected and alive.

Here's a little bit about me: I'm a lifelong athlete and lover of movement. I grew up in Colorado ski racing and went on to play volleyball at The University of New Hampshire (where I also received my business degree). In 2016, I moved to Seattle to be near the mountains and the ocean, and today I'm a runner/cyclist/hiker/dancer/yogi. In 2021, after almost a decade focused solely on my marketing career, I began my winding road to realize my dream of being healing practicioner. Movement and embodiment have been my solace, my joy, and my medicine for life. I hope to share that with you.

Values

Curiosity

I approach clients with curiosity and non-judgement, and I encourage them to meet their challenges with the same mindset. In working together, we will find creative ways to reach goals while appreciating the body for the intelligent solutions it's found to cope with imbalance, discomfort, pain, and physical and emotional traumas.

Equity

I aim for my practice to be a safe space for people of all races, ethnicities, abilities, genders, orientations, ages, and sizes. It is important to me to make my services as accessible as possible to people of all financial statuses.

I acknowledge that I have more to learn and unlearn and that I haven't yet found perfect solutions for accessibility. I'm committed to continued learning and growth in this area.

Compassion

I meet my clients on a human level and try my best to understand their goals for bodywork in the greater context of their lives. I deeply care about connecting with clients and treating them with compassionate care at every stage.

Body Sovereignty

You have the right to the full control of your body. I will always get consent before treatment, invite feedback, and have an open dialogue with clients throughout the session. I highly encourage clients to listen to the wisdom of their bodies and use their voice to communicate their needs.

Credentials & Education

Brenna Buckwalter

LMT #MA61420329, Intra-Oral Certified, RYT-200

Craniosacral Core Series Program with Lauren Christman (Present - August 2025)

Craniosacral Therapy Training - Core 3: Facial Bones, Sphenoid, Sphenobasilar Junction, and the Long Tide (May 2025)

Craniosacral Therapy Training - Core 2: Synovial Joints, Air Sinuses, Unwinding, and Mid-Tide (February 2025)

Craniosacral Therapy Training - Core 1: Transverse Structures, Pelvis and Mandible, and Cranial Wave (November 2024)

Craniosacral Introductory Workshop with Lauren Christman (September 2024)

Graduate of Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts (2023)

CPR & First Aid Certified by the Red Cross (2023, 2025)

Graduate of The Yoga Tree's 200-Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training (2022)

Graduate of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training (2021)

Reading List

In an Unspoken Voice by Peter A. Levine

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery by Dr. Arielle Schwartz

The Art of Somatic Coaching by Richard Strozzi-Heckler

Movement by Gray Cook

Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance by Page/Frank/Lardner

Stalking Wild Psoas by Liz Koch

Body-Centered Psychotherapy: The Hakomi Method by Ron Kurtz

Embrace Yoga's Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice by Susanna Barkataki

Acknowledgements & Lineages

I live, practice bodywork, and teach yoga on unceded Duwamish land.

All the knowledge I share I owe to the generosity of teachers who have educated me and the ancient lineages that have developed and evolved the practices of yoga and bodywork.

The beginnings of Yoga were developed by the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in the Indus Valley (now India) over 5,000 years ago. The practice has been passed down from teacher to student since then. My training and practice fall under the ancient lineage of Hatha Yoga.

Bodywork has also been practiced for thousands of years, in different styles across the globe. I practice modalities that have been influenced by many lineages from Eastern and Western cultures as well as those indigenous to Turtle Island.

Thank you to my bodywork teachers and mentors:

Lauren Christman, Broehe Ballman, Tracey Alta, Marian DiPerna, Sequoia Rolfes-Haase, Jessica Brammer, Robert Zelesko, Bevin Keely, and Katrina Koleto.

Thank you to my yoga teachers and mentors:

Susanne Hutchinson, Kristin Reed, Amanda Mitchell, Shubha Simhadri, Shelly Storm, Heather Hested and many more.

Finally, thank you to my esteemed peers:

Abby Brinkman, Molly Bulger, Mickey Leytze, Kara Maran, Anya Ludwig, Jessica Jobaris, and many more.