Heart-Centered Healing Modalities
About Us
Mission Statement
We are here to facilitate healing experiences and help people feel empowered to take charge of their own wellbeing. We believe that our inherent human potential far exceeds the modern standard of 'normal health'. Every person has the capacity to experience real happiness, health, and inner peace when the body, mind, and spirit are working in harmony. By addressing your whole being with a variety of modalities, we hope to be a supportive step on your path.
Benj Spound
Benj's experience in healing arts began through traveling, studying Buddhist psychology and eastern philosophy, and practicing meditation. In 2016, he discovered Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage in a moment of synchronicity and was instantly drawn to it because of its heart-centered nature and the way it addressed the mind-body-spirit as one.
In his first experience receiving and offering Lomi, it became clear to him that this was much more than a standard massage. For those who want it, Lomi can open the doors to access to deep inner work, allowing the receiver to release a lifetime of baggage, trauma, and pain. Benj also practices The Body Tune Up and Touch for Health, which are incredible tools for improving the wellbeing of the receiver.
In healing sessions, he incorporates meditation and breathing with bodywork to facilitate transformational experiences for each person.
Sara Paton
Sara earned a self-designed bachelor’s degree from Northern Vermont University with focuses in Wellness and Alternative Medicine, Wilderness Therapy, and Psychology, with a minor in Spanish. She completed her 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Ashtanga at Grateful Yoga, and began teaching yoga, meditation, and pranayama classes.
She began practicing Lomi Lomi in 2017, and has trained in several lineages. Along with Lomi, Sara practices Passive Structural Alignment, Digestive System Rebalancing, and offers private yoga sessions. She also makes a variety of healing salves and tinctures which are available for purchase.
Sara currently pursues her masters degree from the university of New England in Social Work, with the goal of deepening her ability to serve her community.
The Lomi Masters
The lineages of Lomilomi we practice were shared with the world by many great teachers, and we offer our gratitude to them for sharing their unique styles. Mahalo!
Sherman 'Raman Das' Dudoit
Heartworks Lomilomi
Kahu Abraham Kawai'i
Temple-Style Lomi
Aunty Margaret Machado
Big Island Lomi
Serge Kahili King
Kahi Loa Lomi
Uncle Harry Uhane Jim
Traditional Hawaiian Touch Medicine & Lomi HA
Testimonials
Bodywork
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Hands down the best massage I’ve ever received. Incorporating breath work was so meditative and effective. It allowed me to totally relax and breathe into the tension spots which then lead to that much more of a release. Such a calming & safe space for healing🙏 Thanks Benj!
-Sami Harvey
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I've had the honor of getting multiple massages by Vermont Holistic Bodywork and plan to get more in the future!
The first massage I received from Benj was absolutely lovely! He provided direct attention to stuck energy and tension within my shoulders. It was such a grounding experience, even amidst a yoga festival.
The most recent experience I had was a tandem massage. Benj and Ashley were thoughtful, communicative through movement and brought relief to much of my body that has been under immense stress. I left feeling lighter and more open (especially in my back and neck!).
I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to have a restart, refresh and/or overall uplifting experience. I get multiple massages a year and nothing beats the care and quality of Vermont Holistic Bodywork. If you have the opportunity to receive a massage, don't forget to grab some CBD salve at the end. It's amazing too!
Thank you Benj and Sara!
-Kate Roberge
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Benj is an exceptionally talented massage therapist and kind human being.
He is intuitive, highly technical and a true healer beyond massage. Benj is the opposite of a "paint by numbers" therapist who just follows a standard protocol.
My family spent 6 months living in the Upper Valley (our Covid adventure) which was awesome, but I brought all the stress of having recently launched my New York City based business with me, not to mention all the remote learning ridiculousness! My weekly massages from Benj kept me grounded and more relaxed so I could enjoy our time - he is truly exceptional.
Last but not least, Milldale Farm is itself a special place to find peace and to be surrounded by beautiful scenery and caring people.
-Laurie Thompson
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Sara has worked out a ton of tension for me as my massage therapist with her Hawaiian style of massage. She is very thorough and receptive to communication regarding level of pressure. She also remembered areas of my body which were more tense previous sessions which made the experience personal.
-Lisa Ellis
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Sara does an amazing job! Very professional with great knowledge of the body. The style of deep massage provides lasting effects between my monthly visits.
Thank you, Sara!!!
-Mark Weigel
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Benj is an excellent Massage Therapist. His Lomi-Lomi style and technique is unique and has a flow of it's own.
After a long work week, I know it's time to treat my self with a Healing Session with Benj. He is extremely knowledgeable, I appreciated that he applied "firm/deep pressure" in my massage session and reminded me to let my body relax. To allow all my worries of the day, melt away.
Benj is so professional! I felt extremely safe in my massage session and I would highly recommend paying him a visit.
Your health & well-being is so worth it!
-Katie Vezina
Trainings
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I absolutely loved the content of this course. Hawaiian language and ancient philosophy is so beautiful! I loved talking about the connection between trauma and the physical body and healing. Patti was so skilled, kind, and humble! She did a great job of keeping us on course. I love that she thought to take us to the lake for our ceremony. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for telling me about this opportunity and having mme!
-Emilile McDonald
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The training, course material and having Patti as our teacher was truly a magical experience that I will always remember and treasure. I feel like a completely new person. Healed and transformed. There's no where else I want to be, I love you all so much!
I absolutely loved coming together with positive like-minded individuals. I enjoyed learning new massage techniques, being in a peaceful environment, and getting back into my spirituality and into the Hawaiian culture and language. Mahalo Nui Loa for providing this amazing course in such a beautiful and magical place!
-Katie Vezina
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Causes We Support
We make efforts to give back, both to our local VT community and to the Hawaiian people.
A portion of the proceeds from our trainings and services are donated to the following organizations:
Kahea ~ The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance
A percentage of proceeds from our Hawaiian Massage Trainings is donated to Kahea, a Hawaiian charity focused on environmental justice, sacred summit preservation, ocean protection, land and cultural rights, and functioning food systems.
For info or to Donate to Kahea: www.kahea.org
VT Be True
A percentage of all proceeds from our services at Milldale Farm benefit the VT Be True Non-Profit, which works to provide yoga, bodywork, mental health counseling, and other wellness services to people in VT without the resources to afford them.
For info or to Donate to VT Be True: www.vermontbetrue.org