Teresa Lockhart Eisenlohr
Massage Ministration is the work of Dr. Teresa Eisenlohr, M.A., M.Div., Ph.D., LMT. She comes to this by a long and winding and painful road. A series of gymnastics injuries, falls, and car accidents left her in chronic pain at the age of 22, and doctors didn't know what to do for her other than give her addictive pills, which she didn't want. She saw a chiropractor regularly instead and learned to manage the pain.
In the meantime, she earned two Masters degrees (in English and a Master of Divinity), became an ordained Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor, served churches, had babies, became a spiritual director, earned a Ph.D. in theology, taught preaching and worship in a seminary, designed and directed preaching academies for pastors' continuing education, and wrote liturgy for her denomination while serving in its national office.
It was while she was in Louisville that she discovered medical massage. The chiropractor she saw there was also a licensed massage therapist. The massage she provided, along with her chiropractic care, gave her more healing in two years than in the previous 25. "I'd always thought massage was spa day for ladies who lunch," Teresa admitted. But when massage started healing her pain, she was intrigued.
Then her husband of 30 years suddenly died. Life changed; priorities shifted. Healing became a paramount concern. When she later remarried and moved to Cincinnati, she felt called to a different ministry. Her new husband gave her the gift of not having to work to put food on the table, so she chose to study massage.
"Massage? Really?" people asked. "Why?" Because doctors didn't know how to deal with her pain, she'd become a student of alternative medicine years ago. One of her daughters got the family curse of migraines, and she'd massage her back and neck to help. Her new husband's old soccer injuries appreciated her massages, and he's the one who identified her gift. "I can feel where something hurts whenever I massage someone," she said, "but I didn't really know what I was doing to make it better. So I decided it was time to learn."
In the meantime, she earned two Masters degrees (in English and a Master of Divinity), became an ordained Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor, served churches, had babies, became a spiritual director, earned a Ph.D. in theology, taught preaching and worship in a seminary, designed and directed preaching academies for pastors' continuing education, and wrote liturgy for her denomination while serving in its national office.
It was while she was in Louisville that she discovered medical massage. The chiropractor she saw there was also a licensed massage therapist. The massage she provided, along with her chiropractic care, gave her more healing in two years than in the previous 25. "I'd always thought massage was spa day for ladies who lunch," Teresa admitted. But when massage started healing her pain, she was intrigued.
Then her husband of 30 years suddenly died. Life changed; priorities shifted. Healing became a paramount concern. When she later remarried and moved to Cincinnati, she felt called to a different ministry. Her new husband gave her the gift of not having to work to put food on the table, so she chose to study massage.
"Massage? Really?" people asked. "Why?" Because doctors didn't know how to deal with her pain, she'd become a student of alternative medicine years ago. One of her daughters got the family curse of migraines, and she'd massage her back and neck to help. Her new husband's old soccer injuries appreciated her massages, and he's the one who identified her gift. "I can feel where something hurts whenever I massage someone," she said, "but I didn't really know what I was doing to make it better. So I decided it was time to learn."
Always curious about anatomy and the mind-body-spirit connection, she enthusiastically delved into her studies at SHI Integrative Medical Massage School in Lebanon, Ohio, and set up her own practice upon graduation. One week later, she was doing continuing education. "What can I say?" she shrugs. "I love to learn." That's why she's always researching and doing continuing education: so she can help others live as pain-free as possible.
She still brings her skills as a pastor to bear in massage. Ethics are paramount in creating a safe healing space for others, and her practice is rooted in prayer as she anoints you with oils chosen just for you. Whether those prayers are silent or spoken is your choice. As a progressive, non-judgmental Christian theologian, she seeks to channel divine compassion as she offers herself to serve as an instrument for God to use in making others whole.
"That's probably way more than anyone wanted to know about me," Teresa concludes. "But I figure if someone's gonna embark on this healing journey, they need to know who's accompanying them."
She still brings her skills as a pastor to bear in massage. Ethics are paramount in creating a safe healing space for others, and her practice is rooted in prayer as she anoints you with oils chosen just for you. Whether those prayers are silent or spoken is your choice. As a progressive, non-judgmental Christian theologian, she seeks to channel divine compassion as she offers herself to serve as an instrument for God to use in making others whole.
"That's probably way more than anyone wanted to know about me," Teresa concludes. "But I figure if someone's gonna embark on this healing journey, they need to know who's accompanying them."