Prairie House Massage Therapy

Jeff Nixa, M.Div, CMT

Home
About Jeff
Massage Menu
Gift Certif's & Discounts
Contact/ Appointment
Map & Directions
FAQ and Prices
Mission and Story
Self-Care Articles
Testimonials
Colleagues in Healing
Professionalism Matters
Ever had a massage ruined by a chatty therapist?  Forced to listen to the therapist's
personal problems or political views?  Ever received an "autopilot" massage where the therapist seemed distracted, or failed to  address the issue you needed help with?

Amateurism is not just annoying, it directly impairs the therapeutic bond necessary for massage to work.  A massage by a self- absorbed therapist will not be effective.

At Prairie House the focus will be on you. 
One hundred percent.  Jeff talks with you
before the massage, so you don't need to
talk during the massage.  This assures maximum body-awareness for both the
client and therapist during the massage.
 
Education Matters

A majority of massage therapists in Indiana

have no college education.  Many have not

graduated from high school.  Prior to 2009 no minimum training or certification was even required for persons using the title, "massage therapist" in Indiana.         

 

A reputable massage therapist has graduated from a state-accredited massage school with

a minimum of 500 hours of training, passed

the national NCBTMB massage exam and is

an active member of the AMTA or ABMP professional massage organizations.

 

Jeff Nixa has over 750 hours of accredited massage training, hundreds of hours of additional continuing education credits, a college bachelor's degree, and two graduate  degrees in both law and theology.  His formal education includes:


  • B.A. Political Science & International  Relations, Carleton College, Northfield,    MN (1982)
  • J.D. in Law, Lewis & Clark School of     Law, Portland, OR (1986)
  • M. Div. Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN (1999)
  • "Highest honors" massage therapy  certification, Davenport University, 

           South Bend, IN (2002)

 

  

 Jeff's Family: Andree, Regina, Jeff & Aimee

 


"Though Jeff's approach is grounded in the physical...his greatest gifts are as a reflective listener.  With the facility to engage from a

range of perspectives from spiritual to

cognitive/ behavioral to simple issues around lifestyle and practical tips on daily living."

 

-David, chemistry professor     

    

Continuing Education Matters

Jeff has continued his bodywork education beyond school graduation, with hundreds of hours of continuing education training.  His studies have covered:

  • Myofascial Release (John Barnes)
  • Pregnancy Massage (Osborne-Sheet)
  • Common Injuries (Benjamin Institute)
  • Positional Release & Patterns (WMTI)
  • Sports Massage (Ctr. for Vital Living)
  • Trigger Point Therapy (Amber Davies)
  • Active Isol. Stretching (Aaron Mattes)
  • Oncology Massage (Memorial-Sloan
     Kettering Cancer Center, NYC)             
  • Professional Ethics (Cortiva Institute)
  • Reflexology (Cortiva Institute, Chicago)
  • Myoskeletal Alignment (Erik Dalton)
  • Anatomy Trains (Tom Myers)
  • CranioSacral Therapy (Upledger Inst.)
  • Active Myofascial Therapy (Diamond)
  • Shamanic coaching and counseling,
              Crow's Nest Center for Shamanic 
              Studies (C. Michael Smith).

 

  "Jeff has a great awareness of the body and really understands how to promote
healing within it.  I feel very comfortable in recommending Jeff as a massage
therapist to my acupuncture clients."
 
  -Lawrence Erpelding, Acupuncturist  
 
 
Professional Licenses, Permits
  • American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) - Professional Member, #205744
  • National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB)  #400431-00
  • City of South Bend, IN- Business License #09-00002972 
  • St. Joseph County Health Department  Massage Therapist Permit 

 

 

 

Most photos on this site courtesy of Christi Nelson,    

Photographer.  See www.rawsii.com  

 

 

 

  Jeff teaching a couples' massage lesson  

 

 

Life Experience Matters 

Jeff's career path has passed through the legal world as an attorney, the ministry world as a university campus minister and hospital

chaplain, the psychology and mental health field as a pastoral counselor, and the medical 

field as a hospital-based massage therapist.  Jeff has traveled in 23 countries and lived and worked in Minnesota, Oregon, New York

City, Wisconsin and Indiana.  He is currently engaged in a 3-year shamanic healing apprenticeship rooted in the healing traditions

of the indigenous peoples of N. and S. America.

 

Jeff''s Prairie House practice combines critical thinking with the caring heart of a healer.  This  balance is rare in health care today: an intelli-

gent person who understands the importance of

proven techniques yet who can also  engage the intuitive heart and soul for lasting healing. 


"As a former massage therapist myself

trained at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics, I have had many professional massages over the years.  Jeff Nixa is

one of the best."

                                                     -Mary, PhD.    

 

 

"Jeff is an experienced therapist who has
cultivated a very special skill of connecting
mind and body for a relaxing and healing
massage.  He listens, cares and makes you
feel comfortable during your session."
 
-Angie, massage therapist     

 

Community Involvement Matters

Jeff is active in the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and testified before the

Indiana state legislature in 1996 to help assure passage of a much-needed massage therapist certification law.  This statewide law went into effect in 2009 and established the first-

ever minimum standards of education and

professional accountability for all massage therapists in Indiana.


"I like that you operate out of a nearby

neighborhood center, and that you're also

a progressive activist.  Feels like I'm

supporting a good cause."


   Elaine, administrator    

Saint Mary's College    

 

For his peers, Jeff helped bring integrative

healing staff from Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Cancer Center (NYC) to South Bend in 2007 to educate Michiana massage therapists on safe standards for oncology (cancer) massage. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Balanced Life Matters 

Jeff seeks health in his own life and community

in several ways.  He has volunteered to captain

the annual Adopt-a-Block  program in his inner city neighborhood.  He is a runner, a year-round bicycle commuter, and Past President of the Bike Michiana Coalition, a bicycle advocacy group of 1,500 local members (www.BikeMichiana.org).  Jeff is a writer and radio essayist on local public radio station 88.1 WVPE (www.WVPE.org).  He practices twice-daily zazen sitting meditation.  And he learned to kayak and Eskimo roll on the Great Lakes in a 17-foot wooden sea kayak he built in his living room!


But his most challenging and rewarding activity to date is being the proud father of two teenage daughters :) 

  

 

Jeff kayaking near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin    

"Jeff is a Renaissance Man kind of guy; a
cycling, kayaking, marathon-running, gardening, attorney-chaplain-carpenter polymath who easily creates a comfortable rapport between masseur and client.  I'm a big fan and enthusiastically recommend him to my patients and friends."
 
-Mark, MD   

 


 

 Make Appointment  

 

Prairie House Massage Therapy

  (574) 855-0636