Our Mission
Located in the Sellwood neighborhood of SE Portland, The Articulate Body is a manual therapy and rehabilitative movement clinic focusing on pain relief; pain management; sports injuries; and post surgical support. Embracing an integrated massage approach to your healing, We'll draw on a variety of massage modalities that may be suitable for your unique needs on any given day. These can range from deep tissue and orthopedic cupping to gentle swedish or guided imagery and proprioceptive (body awareness) techniques. We also offer training in the Gyrotonic method, a highly effective rehabilitative and functional fitness exercise system.
My goal is to nurture a freedom and ease of movement in your body. First, we work to calm the nervous system to minimize the intensity with which it experiences pain or discomfort. Next we work to address any scar tissue or myofascial adhesions which may be present and inhibiting the body's ability to experience its full range of movement potential. Finally, we work to help the client cultivate a deeper awareness of their boy and movement patterns, especially those which may be contributing to pain or disfunction.
Working together in a calm and nurturing environment we will cultivate a learning and healing process to harness your body’s innate ability to be free of pain.
Bios
Joseph W. Gillam, BA, LMT
OR Lic # 23871
Member American Massage Therapy
Certified GYROTONIC® Trainer
Association
My studies in anatomy, movement, kinesthetic awareness, and bodywork began over 25 years ago at the start of an international dance career where I performed with the Mark Morris Dance Group, The Erick Hawkins Dance Company, and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
At one point, a neck injury nearly sidelined my career, but the therapeutic support of a massage therapist got me out of the wings and back on stage. That healing event sparked my interest in injury rehabilitation; which evolved into a curiosity about the neuromuscular connections in the body. The connections of thoughts and emotions create both conscious and unconscious movement patterns. These habitual patterns often create movement restrictions and dysfunction, which in turn perpetuate cycles of pain. It’s my goal to help clients untangle these patterns and assist them in returning to a state of functional balance, free from pain and discomfort.
In 2002, I retired from dancing professionally and moved to Ithaca, NY to attend The Finger Lakes School of Massage. In 2005, after spending time honing my skill s in a local clinic, I established The Articulate Body and have continued studying and building on those skills ever since. I consider myself a partner in your unique healing process. By creating a warm and welcoming environment, I invite open communication. My experience as both dancer and bodyworker allows me to offer a customized experience that integrates various modalities coupled with body awareness instruction.
Ruby
Chief Relaxation Officer
Ruby joined our team in winter of 2011. Since then she has parlayed her innate love of belly rubs, butt scratches, and chin skritches into a position as quality control supervisor of manual therapies here at The Articulate Body. Her sweet, sensitive nature brings a calming influence to our space. As a natural born Lean-er, she encourages our clients to develop their own massage skills to take home to their loved ones. When not in the office, she can be found hiking local trails, chasing tennis balls in the river, or curled up in her dad’s clean laundry
