Heartwood

To Schedule Your Appointment
Appointments are made by contacting practitioners directly at the numbers or email addresses listed.

Members

847-975-7959
Create Email
Website
Grandmother Winter Jade Forest

Shiatsu is often called “acupuncture without needles.” It is proven to reduce stress, increase energy, relieve aches and pains in the head, neck, shoulders, back and joints, aid digestion and elimination, boost the immune system, improve sleep, and promote robust health and well-being. After assessing the meridians that will best address your complaints and goals, I will concentrate on those meridians in the areas you have brought to my attention, applying finger pressure along the energy channels in the body. Pressure can be light, medium or heavy, according to your needs and preferences. At the end of a session, your body moves more easily with less discomfort, while your mind feels both calm and alert.

Since 1975, I’ve been a specialist in, and international teacher of, Zen Shiatsu. My studies with its creator, Dr. Shizuto Masunaga, together with my decades of experience, have resulted in several specialties, including: joint pain and mobilization; improved immune system function; reproductive health; digestive complaints; and increased emotional equilibrium. My work provides connection among all aspects of your being – emotions, thoughts, attitudes, etc. – and relief that comes from harmony among these aspects.

To schedule an appointment, you can book directly online from my website: grandmotherwinter.com. Or, feel free to call, text, or email me.

Credentials:
  • Medicine Woman, Cherokee tradition
  • Minister, Universal Life Church
  • Certified Practitioner and Instructor (AOBTA)
312-848-5547
Create Email
Website
Joe Ingraffia

I have always been interested in health and fitness. I enjoy running, fitness training, paddle boarding and many outdoor activities. I’ve always benefited from receiving bodywork and massages.  After I received my first Thai Massage, I decided I wanted to share that style of bodywork with others. I’ve been practicing Thai massage since 2011, and in 2019 I started practicing Shiatsu which is Japanese Bodywork with an influence of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Both are Asian forms of bodywork that moves energy throughout the body. Thai Massage and Shiatsu complement each other. Thai massage is a passive yoga, deep tissue massage while Shiatsu has a softer touch using pressure along the meridians. Thai Bodywork and Shiatsu help the receiver release unwanted energetic feelings that no longer serve them and cultivates emotions that support physical and mental health.

I hope to see you soon.

Credentials:
  • Certified Thai Bodywork Practitioner
  • Certified Zen Shiatsu Practitioner
  • Certified Personal Trainer, AOBTA 
773-610-0083
Create Email
Website
Jeanne Phenany

Over 25 years ago, my first shiatsu session began a life long journey of self-discovery and delving into the holistic wisdom of Asian medicine modalities.  I love that this form of bodywork takes into account the entire person; body, mind and spirit.  As a Zen Shiatsu Practitioner, I have witnessed the healing power of shiatsu in assisting my clients to navigate the seasons and transitions of life with more strength and resilience.  Whether the focus of our sessions is of a physical or emotional nature, shiatsu supports the body’s wise and innate healing capacity, clearing the path for optimal well-being and engaging in life more fully.

Shiatsu is a form of Asian bodywork that supports health and well-being by balancing the energy of the body with gentle pressure and stretching.  The client wears comfortable clothing that allows for stretching and ease of movement.  Each session is tailored to the client’s individual needs. I incorporate shiatsu, massage, energy work, meditation, qigong, taichi and 5 element theory.

Specialties: Women’s health (fertility, pregnancy, postnatal, menopause), Stress Relief, Chronic Pain, Autoimmune and Chronic Conditions, Phobias, Trauma/PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief

Credentials:
  • CP AOBTA, LMT
  • Post Graduate Studies at Zen Shiatsu Chicago (2015)
  • Graduate of Ohashi institute (2000)
773-998-2665
Create Email
Website
Nathan Torrence

What I love most about practicing Shiatsu is the way it makes me develop myself as human being. Whether from a minor ankle injury or from years of emotional trauma, working to help people heal has brought out the depths of my own sensitivity, strength, and capacity to do good.

My second favorite thing about Shiatsu is that I get to work with the physical body! This means feeling the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual as one thing – a life. It is a joy to help people to feel that great goodness of life in themselves!

I graduated from Vassar College with a concentration in Studio Art and a secondary focus in Biology. My Shiatsu certification was earned at Zen Shiatsu Chicago in Evanston; shortly thereafter, I completed their Post-Graduate program in Clinical Shiatsu studies. I currently study Shiatsu with my main influence and dear mentor, Grandmother WinterJade Forest.

Credentials:

CP (AOBTA), LMT

Create Email
Christian Wacker

I offer touch, presence, and care at the sacred thresholds of life. As a Zen Shiatsu therapist, I hold space for those in transition—whether softening long-held patterns, stepping into a new phase of life, or preparing to release this one.

My practice is shaped by years of studying Ashtanga yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and embodied listening. I approach the body not as something to fix, but as something to be in relationship with. Together, we’ll honor the quiet places — where healing unfolds through attention, rhythm, and trust.

I studied at Zen Shiatsu Chicago in Evanston, IL where I now work as Programs Administrator. I’ve also studied at Pura Veda Gurukulam in Costa Rica.

Credentials:

RYT, LMT, AOBTA-CP

Heartwood Services