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Applied Somatic Medicine™ , Acupuncture, and Massage for Women in Tigard and the Greater Portland Area.
Whether you’re drawn to somatic medicine, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, or a combination — all paths here lead to the same goal: a body that feels better, functions better, and doesn’t have to fight so hard to stay afloat.
(or skip ahead and schedule your first appointment)
Welcome to the Embodied Community.
If you’re experiencing anxiety, sleep or energy issues, tension or pain, digestive imbalance, or hormonal shifts—and you’re interested in a deeper, root-cause approach—you’re in the right place.
Most women come in because something feels off — stress, sleep, digestion, pain, hormones, or just the sense that their body isn’t cooperating and their mind is in overdrive.
This page will walk you through how we work, what to expect, and how to take your first step.
We specialize in nervous system regulation, stress-related conditions, women’s health, and chronic physical symptoms—offering a boutique, whole-body approach that helps you feel and function better.
This care is especially helpful if you’re dealing with:
• Chronic stress, anxiety, or burnout
• Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
• Digestive issues (bloating, irregularity, sensitivity)
• Headaches, jaw tension, neck or shoulder pain
• Hormonal shifts, PMS, perimenopause
• Pelvic tension, menstrual pain, or reproductive concerns
• Fatigue that doesn’t resolve with rest
• Feeling “on edge” or wired but tired
• A body that doesn’t respond to willpower anymore
“If you’re a high-functioning woman who needs more balance and a true reset in your life, Katerina is your gal.
She takes a highly effective, holistic approach to well-being, and I truly can’t say enough positive things about her. She listens deeply and has an incredible ability to make you feel like you are her only client.
I came to her with anxiety, difficulty sleeping, gut health issues, and hormonal imbalance. She has done an amazing job helping me work through these challenges and, most importantly, helping me feel empowered to take on each day–even the daunting ones–without feeling overwhelmed.
I highly, highly recommend Katerina.
In particular, her somatic bodywork is amazing!!
Honestly, anyone would benefit from working with her.
Why this approach works when others haven’t
Many conventional approaches focus on isolating and managing symptoms — often with medication, lifestyle advice, or coping strategies — without fully addressing why those patterns are happening in the body in the first place.
While these tools can be useful, they don’t always resolve the underlying stress, tension, and physiological patterns driving issues like anxiety, pain, digestive trouble, or hormonal disruption.
That’s where our work begins.
We work with the nervous system.
Stress doesn’t just happen in your head — it’s held in your physiology. By working directly with the nervous system, the body can unwind patterns that keep you tense, wired, or exhausted.
We listen to the body, not just the symptoms.
Rather than chasing isolated complaints, we look at how your systems are interacting — sleep, digestion, hormones, pain, mood — and address what’s underneath them.
We use hands-on care to create real change.
Somatic bodywork, acupuncture, and massage work directly with connective tissue, circulation, and internal communication pathways, helping the body release what it’s been holding and reorganize more efficiently.
“I don’t even know where to begin — The Embodied Wellness Studio has truly changed my life.
For years, I carried deep pain, anger, sadness, and fear that I just couldn’t seem to release, no matter how hard I tried. Through [my practitioner’s] incredible skill, intuition, and compassion, she helped me let go of emotions I thought I would be holding onto forever.
For the first time in five years, I feel genuinely happy — peaceful, light, and free.
It’s like I finally have myself back. The combination of her work, presence, and gift for healing has touched me in a way I can’t fully put into words. I truly believe God has used her as a vessel for healing.
I cannot recommend enough! She has helped me heal from within — and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.”
Which Path is Right for Me?
Acupuncture + Applied Somatic Medicine is a fit if you’re working with chronic stress, sleep, digestion, hormonal shifts, or systemic patterns — and want a root-cause, whole-body approach that addresses what’s driving your symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves.
Deep Tissue Massage is a fit if you’re carrying significant muscle tension, dealing with chronic pain or tightness, recovering from physical strain or injury, or need therapeutic work that goes into the deeper layers of tissue.
Relaxation Massage is a fit if your nervous system is running hot and your body needs permission to fully downregulate — less about fixing a specific problem, more about giving your system real rest and release.
Maya Arvigo Abdominal Massage is a fit if you’re dealing with menstrual pain, pelvic tension, digestive discomfort, or reproductive concerns. This specialized technique works with the abdomen and pelvis to restore alignment, circulation, and ease in the organs and surrounding tissue.
A combination is often the most powerful path. Many women pair massage with acupuncture or somatic medicine to move faster and go deeper — the modalities reinforce each other in ways that one alone can’t replicate.
This is not a one-size-fits-all or protocol-based approach — your body leads, and we respond.
How to Get Started
There’s more than one way to begin. Choose the option that feels most supportive right now.
Option 1: Book a free consultation
Best if you want clarity before committing
A short, no-pressure call where we:
• Talk through what you’re experiencing
• Answer your questions about this approach
• Make a clear plan for next steps, if it feels aligned
Option 2: Schedule your first appointment
Best if you’re ready to begin treatment
If you already know you want to start, your first visit can begin with somatic medicine + acupuncture, therapeutic massage, or Maya abdominal massage — depending on what your body needs most right now.
What to expect at your first visit
Your first visit is spacious, unrushed, and designed to help us understand what’s happening in your body — and begin creating meaningful change right away.
1. We start with listening
• We talk through your health history, current symptoms, and what you’re noticing in your body.
• This includes stress patterns, sleep, digestion, pain, hormones, and anything else that feels relevant.
2. Hands-on treatment
• Your session may include acupuncture, somatic bodywork, and other supportive techniques based on what your body is showing that day.
• You’re guided to stay aware of sensation and internal shifts, rather than pushing through or overriding signals.
3. Clear next steps
• Before you leave, we’ll talk through what support is likely to be most helpful moving forward.
• This may include follow-up care, add-ons, herbs, nutrition support, or referrals when appropriate.
Many women notice changes quickly — and more lasting shifts tend to build with consistent care.
Ready to begin? Schedule your first appointment.
“Katerina is absolutely amazing!
I have had my fair share of acupuncture in my life and nothing has matched my experience with Katerina.
It is like having an acupuncturist, body healer, naturopath, nutritionist and therapist all in one package!
I came to her completely burnt out on life and within just a few sessions I felt an incredible difference.
I have already referred several of my friend who have had similar positive experiences.
Katerina is magic! I am so excited to have found such an amazing partner in health.”
Ongoing care & support
Most of the changes women want — steadier energy, better sleep, fewer symptoms, a body that responds more easily to life — happen through a series of well-timed treatments rather than a single session.
After your first visit, we’ll recommend a rhythm of care based on how your body is responding and what you’re working toward.
The goal isn’t endless treatment — it’s helping your body learn a new, more sustainable way of functioning.
How follow-ups work
Early on
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Visits may be closer together to help unwind long-standing patterns and create momentum.
As things shift
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Sessions naturally space out as your system becomes more resilient and responsive.
Long-term
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Some women choose to continue with periodic care, while others step into the Embodied Program — a more structured container designed to support consistent treatment, integration, and transformation over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Applied Somatic Medicine™?
Applied Somatic Medicine™ is the clinical foundation of how we work at The Embodied Wellness Studio.
Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, it works with how stress, emotion, and lived experience accumulate in the body over time — and how the nervous system organizes itself in response. Through hands-on bodywork and acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle support, it creates the conditions your body needs to release stored tension, regulate, and reorganize.
It’s not massage and it’s not acupuncture alone — it’s a distinct system of care that works with the patterns beneath your symptoms. Most patients find it the most transformative part of their treatment.
Can I come for acupuncture only?
Yes — and some women do, particularly for maintenance once most symptoms have resolved and they want to support ongoing wellness.
That said, most patients choose to combine acupuncture with somatic medicine, massage, or both, mixing and matching based on what they need and what fits their budget.
As a general guide: if stress, mood, or an emotional component is part of the picture, somatic medicine is strongly encouraged. If your main symptoms have quieted and you’re in a maintenance rhythm, acupuncture alone is a natural fit. If you have mild symptoms with a musculoskeletal or digestive component, acupuncture with a targeted add-on often works well.
We’ll help you figure out the right combination at your first visit.
Can I come for somatic medicine sessions without acupuncture?
Yes. Somatic bodywork can be received as part of a session without acupuncture, and we’ll guide you on what makes sense for your body.
The one thing worth knowing: acupuncture is the only service covered by insurance. Somatic medicine, massage, and add-ons are self-pay regardless of your plan. If insurance coverage matters to your decision, we’re happy to talk through what makes the most sense for your situation and your budget.
Can I come just for massage?
Absolutely — massage is a complete entry point at the studio, no acupuncture or somatic medicine intake required.
We offer deep tissue, relaxation massage, Arvigo® Abdominal Therapy, and foot reflexology as standalone sessions.
Start wherever feels right for your body.
What is Arvigo® Abdominal Therapy?
Arvigo® Abdominal Therapy (also known as Maya abdominal massage) is a specialized technique rooted in the traditional Maya healing lineage of Don Elijio Panti.
It works with the abdomen, low back, hips, and sacrum using hands-on techniques drawn from Arvigo® Abdominal Therapy and Chi Nei Tsang, supporting the organs, connective tissue, and nervous system in releasing held tension and restoring healthy flow.
It’s particularly well-suited for digestive issues, reproductive health, low back pain, and anxiety that lives in the belly. Your first session includes an in-depth intake, full hands-on treatment, and a personalized self-massage practice to continue at home.
Ready to begin?
Option 1
Book a Free Consultation
A short call to talk things through and map next steps.
Option 2
Schedule Your First Appointment
Begin with an intake and hands-on treatment.
Either path leads to the same goal:
helping you feel and function better.
Welcome to the Embodied Community. We can’t wait to see where this takes you.