Mary Ann Percy, owner and service provider at Kulshan Cares: I have spent more than three decades assisting those facing personal and/or health challenges--serious illness, injury, chronic pain, and life transitions. My goal is to help people improve their sense of well-being in body, mind and spirit; reduce pain and stress; and practice self-care. I devote myself to bringing healing and greater sense of wholeness and wellbeing to each person I serve. I specialize in Integrative Care: stress management, exercise physiology, massage therapy, including the practice of hands on Traditional Chinese Medicine, spiritual counseling, and chaplaincy. Mine is a proactive approach that has a positive impact on every aspect of my clients’ lives and relationships.
I graduated from Queens College, City University of New York, with a Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology, and worked in the fields of cardiac rehabilitation and adult fitness--developing therapeutic exercise programs and offering stress management and nutritional guidance to my clients. To further enhance my knowledge and ability to assist people with their healing, I then attended (what is now called) The New York College of Health Professions, and was licensed as a Massage Therapist by State University of New York Education Department in 1985. In addition to the extensive course work there in Swedish massage and other Western modalities, I had the privilege of studying with an expert and great teacher of Korean massage. She was the ninth generation in her family to practice Korean hands-on healing/massage, and I was invited to participate in her 18-month "post-graduate" internship. My on-going somatic education has included Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Feldenkrais Method/Awareness Through Movement, and numerous other modalities.
I was invited to the medical team to provide pre- and post-event massage to the elite runners of the New York City Marathon, the members of the U.S. Olympic Volleyball team, the participants in The National Veterans Wheelchair Games, The National Blind Ski Championship competitors, among many other top sporting events. Many of the clients in my private practice were facing the pain and discomfort of various acute and chronic conditions, grief and loss, illness and injury. They were appreciative of the improvement in function and ease afforded by my hands-on healing work and recommendations for therapeutic exercise, movement and lifestyle changes.
Recognizing that much of our pain and distress has deep roots in challenges experienced throughout our lives, the stories we tell ourselves (and other tell us) about ourselves, and how we understand ourselves and our role in relationship to the world, I embarked upon a two-year program in spiritual guidance. There I further developed the gifts of presence and compassionate listening, helping others to hear and value the deep wisdom available to them. This often transformed their relationship with their situation or illness, as well as their daily experience. This work subsequently led me to training as a chaplain, and to having the privilege of accompanying and serving people with serious illness and their loved ones, including people receiving hospice as well as hospital- and community-based palliative care services. My further education in Advanced Healthcare Ethics with the University of Washington Medical School led to my appointment on the Bioethics Committee of a large California hospital.
I am deeply gratified to now be able to offer all these services to the people of my community who are facing serious illness, chronic pain, life transitions...and to the people who love them!
I am a member of The American College of Sports Medicine, The Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, and Spiritual Directors International. I am licensed in Washington as a Massage Therapist #60722246
Call or text soon to schedule your initial appointment! 360.201.5992.
Thank you!
