About Kris Shaw

Professional Qualifications

Acupuncture and Medical Massage Qualifications

My clinical & educational qualifications ensure that you get outstanding massage and accupunture care with:

30 years of professional massage experience. I began my practice in 1978, specializing in deep tissue & oriental bodywork.
15 years of acupuncture clinical work with specialties in injury care, gynecology and allergy work.
I am a master bodyworker with over 20 styles of bodywork specialties to choose from.
20 years as a senior massage instructor teaching the full massage training curriculum. My teaching passion in more recent years has been with medical massage, anatomy and soft tissue pathology.
Strong, skilled and sensitive hands that can palpate & treat a large spectrum of long standing chronic injuries that don't respond successfully to other treatment care such as surgery, physical therapy or chiropractic care.

A compassionate listener. I've taught listening skills for years to massage students.
Awarded the Best in Philly Massage Therapist award in 1977 & 1978 by the Philadelphian Magazine
Throughout my career, I've been a professional student & scholar, continually upgrading the 3 health professions I embody: as an acupuncturist, nutritional consultant & medical massage therapist.Attended over 5000 hours of continuing education in holistic studies covering the spectrum of functional medicine & nutrition, herbology, body psychology & women's health concerns.

Have studied with many of the leaders in the medical massage profession, learning their cutting edge treatments for eliminating the more complicated pain conditions.

Have been practicing acupuncture for 12 years in my Pennsylvania private practice, specializing in chronic pain & women's health concerns.

Professional Affiliations

Nationally certified by the NCCAOM for Acupuncture since 1989. WA State licensed acupuncturist.
12-year member with the American Massage Therapy Association.
Nationally certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork since 1992

Educational Background

I am a graduate of a rigorous 1000-hour professional licensing massage program from Ontario, Canada. I graduated from the Canadian College of Massage in the late seventies, then went on to provincial & state licensing in British Columbia, Ontario, North Carolina, and Washington State. As a native of Montreal Quebec, I relocated to the States in 1978.

My interest in health and wellness began with my undergraduate work in nutrition & business from Ryerson College in Toronto in 1976 & then a 3 year acupuncture diploma program from Tri-State College of Acupuncture in NYC in 1987.

For the last two decades, I have been highly regarded for my work with teaching, writing and directing two holistic massage schools in the New Jersey area, passionately empowering thousands of individuals to cultivate and enjoy better health. After spending 12 years in a medical massage practice, I have seen thousands of medical conditions, which have benefited from my multi-modality approach. I bring exceptional qualities of loyalty, wisdom and a depth of awareness to my work, offering an impressive range of physical, mental and emotional benefits with my hands on and health coaching approach.

My Working Philosophy

It's your body & mind that has the power to heal itself. Alternative medicine requires a change of philosophy on the part of the seeker and provider. As a health consumer and client, not a patient, you are expected to take personal responsibility to accept slow steady results rather than look for the magic bullet. I enjoy working with clients who are willing to do maintenance & preventative health care with themselves and their families.

I encourage clients to be actively involved in their own treatment care– learning, observing, working to heal and being honest with yourself and me as your practitioner, about where you are at in your life. With your participation, based upon your goals & priorities, a customized treatment plan can be developed. Some people seek immediate results while others prefer a less aggressive, long-term approach.

For some challenged with chronic pain patterns, you may need to change the ergonomics of your work environment, being more observant of your posture, using good body mechanics or doing specific stretches & exercises between treatments. I encourage you to be respectful of your body and the healing process. You may be requested to do support your health investing in nutritional supplements, to restore vitality to your body/mind. Most clients feel like they are get more than their value for what they pay for with alternative health care at Healing Wisdom Center.

You may call for a brief consultation or to make an appointment.
Please call 206.370.2600.

Women's Health Concerns

I've been a facilitator to dozens of women in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue support groups that are seeking an empowering model to their medical intervention treatments. I assisted many women who were in chronic pain to have more productive lives. Sleep reeducation and various self-help bodywork were successfully implemented. I love to teach about self-care on all levels, burn out prevention, and cardiovascular alternative care.

My women's health seminars & color puncture therapies have been working with the body/mind approach for depression and anxiety states, concentration, memory & learning challenges. I also work alongside psychotherapists from the body point of view with grief, anxiety attacks, moodiness & short temperedness.

My specialty areas of work are in the herbal - bodywork connection, interweaving support for soft tissue injuries such as fibromyalgia, whiplash, carpal tunnel, PMS and arthritis. I have many years of clinical experience with emotional bodywork, insomnia, digestive and gynecological challenges. I emphasize the health and wellness counseling approach, implementing herbs, nutritional supplementation, and colorpuncture and flower essences to do their restorative work on the body.