Meet our practitioners

My journey into wellness has been a lifelong commitment rooted in the study of the human body and the art of helping others feel their best. Since 2011, I’ve worked as a licensed massage therapist, blending clinical knowledge with restorative care to support both active bodies and those seeking relief from stress or pain.

My work is informed not only by formal training, but by years of exploring movement arts such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, and dance. These disciplines continue to shape my understanding of balance, recovery, and well-being, guiding a practice that blends precision with intuition. Each session is thoughtfully tailored to meet your individual needs—whether improving mobility, supporting recovery, or creating space to unwind.

At Wild Yonder, I work alongside a select team of practitioners who share this same commitment to excellence. Each therapist is carefully chosen and trained to ensure every client experience reflects the high standards of care that define our practice. This work is a responsibility I hold with deep respect and care.

Wild Yonder is a place for meaningful bodywork and restorative care—a professional, welcoming space where expertise and compassion meet.

~ Michael Short, Founder

Since receiving my first massage, I’ve been deeply inspired by the positive change it can bring. I’m grateful to have found a career that allows me to participate in the healing process. My goal is to provide sessions that are thoughtfully tailored to your individual needs while cultivating a deeper sense of well-being. Through Swedish massage, deep tissue work, Shiatsu, and Reiki, I aim to create a uniquely restorative experience.

My massage education began in 1996 at the Ohashi Institute in New York City, where I studied Shiatsu. I was drawn to the holistic and energetic nature of this work, and it continues to guide my practice today. After a 14-year hiatus working in the restaurant industry, I returned to massage therapy in California and graduated from the McKinnon Body Therapy Center in 2011.

I practiced in the Bay Area for five years before relocating with my family to Kansas in 2016. We’ve grown to love the warm, creative community Kansas City offers, and I’ve enjoyed connecting with and learning from many talented local therapists. Outside the treatment room, you’ll often find me exploring nearby state parks with my two rambunctious dogs, playing pickleball, or baking.

~Melanie

Hello, I’m Steph! I’ve been a licensed massage therapist since 2011, bringing over a decade of dedicated experience to my practice. My approach blends deep tissue, myofascial, and craniosacral techniques— never relying on a single modality, and instead drawing from each to meet the unique needs of every client.

After taking a pause from massage for several years, I have returned  as an answer to a larger calling in my life. My greatest goal in a session is to help clients reconnect with their bodies and the present moment through nourishing touch. Whether you're seeking relief from chronic tension, support through stress, or a deeper sense of embodiment, I attempt to create a safe, grounding space.

 It is an honor to work with my clients on their journey toward greater balance and joy.

~Steph

I have spent much of my professional life working in warehouses and service industry jobs. My livelihood always seemed to rely on how much I could push my body. Everyday we carry ourselves through physical, as well as emotional, labor. And being of service to others can blind us to our own needs. I came into massage therapy wanting to take care of those who care for everyone else. 

Earning my license in 2013, my focus has always gone beyond offering a relaxing massage. I have tried to use my training and education as a tool for therapeutic change. My massages have been described as an energetically healing experience; a touch that is intentional, grounded and deeply restorative. 

I have always been interested in the science of touch; how even something as simple as holding someone’s hand can help them feel comforted and safe. The art of massage is putting that science into practice, using a combination of touch, knowledge of anatomy and intuition to help improve circulation, range of motion, and overall wellness in the body. Receiving a massage is giving yourself permission to rest, letting the practitioner take care of the body that will carry your whole life.

~Jesse

A life-long learner, I am forever a student, practitioner, and teacher of embodiment and alchemy.

I am a 5th degree black belt in American Kenpo and a teacher of Qigong and Tai Chi: sacred energy mover, deep soul whisperer, and death doula. My practice and study in energetic arts spans over 30 years. 

My journey began at the age of 13, when I attended my first 10-day silent meditation retreat and experienced energy moving through my body, being present within myself as I never had before.

At that tender age, I came to see the body as a “terrain,” and each discipline I studied as a slightly different “map,” guiding exploration of body-mind connection, transformation, and energetic alignment.

Through focused training in energetic and martial arts traditions, I honed my sensitivity to energetic movement: its flow and stagnation, gathering and release, and how this relates to self-stories, well-being, and vitality.

 Over years of self-inquiry and study, I have woven together what I’ve learned to curate universal, gentle practices that invite energy to move more freely, support alignment within the physical and energetic systems, and cultivate growth and integration.

This work is creative, collaborative, empowering, transformative, and filled with wonder and joy. It is an honor to walk alongside others through this sacred terrain and support them in finding home within their own body.

~ Ritu