About Jenny LePage - Owner and Massage Therapist

Jenny LePage, NCTMB (Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) is the owner of Bozeman Massage Therapy LLC, located in downtown Bozeman, Montana.

Training

Jenny graduated from the renowned Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Boulder, Colorado.  This extensive 1000 hour program is one of the top massage schools in the U.S.  It is known for its balance between eastern and western techniques; Jenny received equally strong training in both methods.  "Western" courses included Neuromuscular Massage and thorough training in anatomy (including a cadaver lab), physiology, kinesiology and pathology.  "Eastern" approaches included Shiatsu and the study of energy systems in and around the body.  Jenny also received her training in Prenatal and Postpartum Massage - as well as a foundation in Aromatherapy - from BCMT.

Her continuing education includes courses in Asian Bodywork and Reiki and she is currently completing a certification in Aromatherapy.  She is also influenced by research and experiential learning in Craniosacral Therapy, Acupuncture techniques and Shamanism.  A constant learner, Jenny researches all that fascinates her through books, treatments, discussion, experimentation and self-study.  She values many styles of medicine, both conventional and alternative - she once considered the path of medical school but decided it did not quite suit her (after nearly passing out watching a simple surgery!).  She is preparing for her next huge educational venture of Acupuncture school.

Jenny is also a graduate of Prescott College with a double degree in Adventure Education and Environmental Studies (Agroecology).

Wilderness

Spending time outdoors has always been important for Jenny.  Her childhood backyard in southern Wisconsin bordered a forest where she often wandered, building forts with her siblings or exploring miles of woodlands and swamps.  Summer trips to her family's cabin in northern Wisconsin were also formative; fishing, picking blueberries, playing in the woods and stargazing around campfires built some of her earliest and best memories.

In high school Jenny enrolled in a transformative 3 week Outward Bound backpacking, canoeing, and rock climbing course in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota.  After spending most of her first year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison rock climbing whenever possible, she transferred to Prescott College, a small liberal arts school in Arizona with a strong environmental focus.

She spent the next several years learning communication skills, therapy techniques, teaching and facilitation skills and technical wilderness skills to lead groups on therapeutic and adventure trips in the wilderness.  Sharing an equal passion for science, the environment, and gardening, she studied Sustainable Agriculture (Agroecology), learning sustainable farming techniques and exploring topics in sustainability involving our entire human population and planet.  Check out her senior project integrating chickens on the college farm.

Jenny spent about a decade working for a number of outdoor programs including Outward Bound.  She taught multi-day to multi-month whitewater canoeing, backpacking, and rock climbing courses for teenagers, adults, families, and troubled teens/young adults in mountain and desert ecosystems of Montana, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California, Vermont, Utah, and Mexico.  She also trained and supervised staff for several programs including Outward Bound, The Boojum Institute, and Farm and Wilderness Summer Camps.

Jenny enjoys spending time outdoors in many ways.  Most recently she has been loving running after recovering from a repetitive stress foot injury that happened when she first moved to Bozeman and lasted years - part of that time she could not walk at all!  She especially enjoys learning to downhill/backcountry ski now that she resides year round in the (snowy) mountains.

Yoga and Contemplative Practices

Jenny took her first yoga class with her sister while at UW-Madison.  Unable to lift her arms overhead from years of gymnastics, push up contests, and being generally athletic, Jenny discovered a new approach to health which included alignment in the body.  Jenny became a serious student of yoga, developing awareness, control, strength, and openness in ways she thought were unimaginable.

Some of her most influential teachers include Bill Garrett, Christina Sell, Cindy Lusk, Jeanie Manchester, and Richard Freeman.  Jenny also spent a month in an ashram in Colorado where she primarily learned meditation techniques.

Jenny taught yoga for about 5 years -  in the wilderness on courses she instructed, at a therapeutic wilderness program where daily contemplative/yoga practice was included as a treatment method, and in yoga studios.  Though she is not currently teaching yoga while focusing on her massage practice and business, Jenny was registered as an Anusara-inspiredTM yoga teacher. Her knowledge of alignment in the body informs her massage practice, and yoga-based poses are often given as homework to clients wanting to continue their own work with alignment, pain management or performance.

Jenny's current practice includes yoga asana (poses) as her body dictates, meditation, pranayama (breath control) and continuous centering.  Jenny works on ever deepening her practice after experiencing major shifts in her body and awareness over time.  She constantly works to develop compassion and seeks to understand the nature of being human.

Business Philosophy

Jenny's approach to business is a reflection of her life experience and ethics.  She is committed to running an environmentally and socially conscious operation.  Green construction materials were used in the recent renovation, business associates and suppliers are chosen for their shared ethics, and the vision for growth includes (very) fair hiring practices and additional green building.  A straw bale treatment center right here in Bozeman is on the horizon!

Teaching

Teaching has often been integrated into Jenny's life.  In early high school, Jenny's first stint in this role was teaching gymnastics to youngsters.  Of course, during her time working in the outdoor field she was in a strong role of an educator, instructing both students and training staff, as well as when she taught yoga.  One of her earliest teaching accopmlishments was developing and facilitating an outdoor program called Girls Adventure Club for middle school girls with a fellow student as a senior project.

Whether or not in an official role as an educator, Jenny loves being a teacher, sharing what she knows with others.  Most recently, Jenny enjoys "teaching" clients about physical and energetic anatomy, alignment, self-care, and injury healing/prevention when applicable in a session.  She looks forward to hiring staff soon and entering a new role of management and facilitation.

Jenny also spent 2 years teaching at Healthworks Institute, a massage school in Bozeman, Montana.  Classes she taught include Body Awareness, Integration and Chair Massage.  She also instructed formal feedback sessions for students learning massage.

Travel

Jenny delights in spending time in different cultures and remote environments.  Her desire to travel stems from part adventurous spirit, part social responsibility.  By learning about other cultures and issues of the world, it is more possible to discover what the world needs and how to be of the greatest service.  It is also fascinating to find what connects us as one humanity, and one planet.

Most recently, Jenny traveled to India, exploring north, south and central regions of the country.  During this trip she spent two weeks in Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama and center for Tibetan refugees.  She volunteered at LHA, a social work organization aiding Tibetan refugees, where she taught advanced massage skills to Tibetan women seeking livelihood as massage therapists.   She also taught English conversation classes with refugees every day - a highlight was discussing the nature of enlightenment with Buddhist monks practicing their English!

Simply observing India while passing through various parts of the country was eye-opening - depressing and inspiring all at once to observe this very populated developing country.

Another profound spot was Mexico's Copper Canyon, where Jenny traveled while working as an Outward Bound instructor.  Interacting with the indigenous Tarahumara and learning their customs was powerful - a glimpse into a way of living simply and close to the land.

Jenny also spent time in Guatemala living with families and studying Spanish and has visited our neighbors (Mexico and Canada) on multiple occasions.  Travel within the United States includes a month-long permaculture course on the Big Island of Hawaii, a volunteer trip with Habitat for Humanity in a small Georgia town, extensive time (particularly in remote regions) of Texas, Arizona, California, Montana, Vermont, Wyoming, and Utah, and visits to almost all regions and states of the US from the dreamy Oregon coast to bustling LA to the exhilarating heart of NYC.  She looks forward to more travel - learning others' customs, exploring healing techniques, and offering service whenever possible.

Interests

Jenny's additional interests include writing, reading, playing instruments, listening and dancing to music, art, gardening, preparing and eating nutritious (local) food, spending time with family and friends and of course, entrepreneurship.