With a decade of experience spanning from Kentucky to New Jersey, including training in Thailand and a background in yoga instruction, Alexa Wilson brings a unique perspective to massage therapy at Jennifer Layne Acupuncture and Wellness. We spoke with Alexa about her journey into bodywork, her philosophy of "yielding," and why human touch is essential to healing.
You've been practicing massage therapy for 10 years. What originally drew you to this work?
There were really two big reasons. The first is that I wanted to offer an alternative to the traditional Western approach to pain management. The opioid crisis is a nationwide issue. For me, massage is an effective alternative to just throwing a bunch of pills at something and hoping it goes away.
The second reason is that so much of our society is really deprived of touch. Touch is something that humans need — it is vital to our developmental health as children and our wellbeing as adults. It’s truly fascinating how the simple act of consensual human touch can release a powerful stress-fighting hormone called oxytocin. We certainly need more of that in today’s world!
That's a powerful motivation. How did your background shape your approach?
I'm a 500-hour certified yoga teacher, though I don't teach anymore. All of that training is woven into my practice—the functional anatomy, the understanding of how bodies move and work. I also studied traditional Thai massage in Thailand several years ago. While I don't practice strictly Thai massage anymore, those elements are definitely present in my work.
There's this dance between Thai massage and yoga—they're very similar modalities with the Eastern philosophy they share.
You mentioned you recently moved from Kentucky to New Jersey. How has that transition been?
[Laughs] New Jersey is not Kentucky—it's so different in every way!
What's really interesting is the difference in clientele between the two places. Kentucky can be very laid-back, while here it's a constant grind. In New Jersey, I've found that people sometimes just want you to dig into them until they're in so much pain that maybe they can't think about their work stress. That’s simply unproductive. That's actually part of why I prefer to be known as a trigger point massage therapist rather than a deep tissue therapist.
Can you explain more about that distinction?
I do deep work, but I work deeply where it's needed. People hear "deep tissue" and assume I'll be digging into them the whole time. But trigger point therapy is different—it's about finding those specific areas where tension builds and releasing them precisely where they're needed.
You use a beautiful term—"yielding"—to describe your approach. What does that mean?
Yielding is this idea of working with the body’s nervous system. I never start a session digging into the area of concern. Instead, I first focus on relaxing the nervous system so the tissues of the body are more receptive to the deeper work needed. "Yielding" is simply the act of honoring what the body is asking for; sometimes that’s spending more time in an area or varying pressure. This, I find, is where long-lasting change can occur.
My approach is fluid and relaxing, but clinical in its focus. I like to work on specific issues, postural patterns. Working with the nervous system is vitally important to doing the deeper work that might be needed. It's intuitive, but it's also very intentional.
It sounds like building trust with the body is essential to your work.
Exactly. The intake is a vital piece for me—it's my opportunity to connect with clients, really hear them and understand where they're coming from, why they're here, how I can help them. I keep communication open throughout the session along with other tools and techniques that incorporate trauma-informed principals into my practice.
You mentioned working with older populations at yoga retreats. How has that influenced your practice?
I assist at a yoga retreat every year in Mexico, and the majority of students are retired. Working with older populations has made me very cognizant of limitations, physical restrictions, and how to work through those together. It's taught me that every body has its own story and its own needs.
After 10 years in this field, what keeps you passionate about the work?
Every client is different, every body tells a different story, and being able to facilitate that healing through touch—something so fundamental that we've lost sight of in our society—that never gets old.
I've been with Jen since March, doing a hybrid of front desk and massage work, and I love being part of a practice that really values this holistic approach to healing. Even though I'm new to the team, it feels like the right fit for everything I've learned over the past decade.
Any final thoughts for someone considering massage therapy?
Remember that this is your time and your healing journey. The conversation between my hands and your body is unique to you. Whether you need specific trigger point work, gentle relaxation, or something in between, it's about finding what your body needs in that moment. And sometimes, what you need most is simply to be touched with intention and care—because that alone can be profoundly healing.
