About Brandi
Hi! My name is Brandi Schunk...
...and I am here to tell you a bit about myself. I am an open book, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Growing up
I am one of the seemingly few people who can proudly say that I was born and raised (mostly) in the Austin area. Born in Georgetown, Texas, I spent the first twelve years of my life in the same house in South Austin. I moved to Los Angeles, California when I was twelve years old, staying there for three years (this is where I learned to talk so fast!) I was then lucky enough to live in beautiful Boulder, Colorado for a year before coming back home to Austin. After finishing massage school in 1998, I then moved to Midland, Texas for two years. Upon return from Midland, I lived in Austin until 2005, when I relocated to Round Rock. In 2006 I opened a wellness center, The Healing House of Round Rock, whcih then closed in 2008. In 2007 I married the most amazing and wonderful man on the planet and moved back to Austin. As of April 2008, I now both live and work in Austin and I can truly tell you, it's good to be home.
The path to massage
I always knew that I wanted to be a massage therapist. This may sound a bit strange to some folks who didn’t even know about massage until they were fully grown, so let me explain. Growing up I was very lucky in that my mom massaged me often. This taught me the value of human touch early on in life. As I became old enough, I began massaging my mom, and walking on my dad’s back, and I found that I absolutely loved being able to help them feel better. There was a massage school in my neck of the woods, so I knew that there were people who made a living out of massage, and I always had a feeling that is what I would do. Sure, I had fantasies of being an astronaut or archaeologist, a writer or an artist, but there was always massage in the background. Straight out of high school I enrolled in massage school and have never looked back!
Hobbies and interests
I am what you could call an outdoorsy, earth-mama, artsy, new-agey, hippie kinda gal! I love to be outdoors, especially hiking near rivers, creeks, lakes and oceans. I am a tree-hugger and have pictures to prove it! I have traveled to many amazing places, including Ireland and Scotland (www.travelpod.com/traveler/vivaciousbrandi.html), which offer some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. In addition to creating art myself, I enjoy meandering through art museums soaking in the beauty that other people have envisioned into being. I am interested in the healing arts, and am always reading at least one book in this field. I take classes in modalities that pique my interest, always looking for new ideas to incorporate into my practice and to utilize for my own healing. I’m all about peace, love and happiness, and find it my personal mission to spread joy throughout the world! I also thrive on "self-improvement" and personal growth, and love taking courses and reading books that support this path. Landmark Education is one such organization that has had a huge and wonderful impact on my life. I have also been going to Gateway Church since 2002 and was baptized there in 2007. Gateway has offered a non-judgmental, safe and fun environment to explore and learn more about Christianity, and has been an important part of my spiritual journey.
As a therapist
I believe in treating people as whole, healthy beings, not a list of symptoms. We all have the ability to heal ourselves when given the right tools. By focusing on what is wrong with our bodies, we tend to become attached to our dysfunctions. When we instead focus on how amazing our bodies are, they respond in kind and miraculous healing can occur.
I view healing as a process, not an event, and understand the importance of creating unique treatment programs for each individual. I recognize that emotions and energetic states affect overall physical health, and I create a safe environment for expression and release of these stored energies. By breaking free of old patterns which are no longer serving us well, our bodies are able to find a new, more productive way of being. Like peeling back layers of an onion, we work one step at a time to uncover the root cause of your pain and restore optimum health to your body.
I continue to be amazed and fascinated by the human body. My touch is both knowledgeable and compassionate, and my demeanor quickly puts you at ease. I have an immense sense of gratitude for my gifts of healing and for those who choose to experience my therapy. I enjoy being a positive force in the life of every person I meet
