your dream team.
Talented and down-to-earth, creative and inquisitive, the team at West Side Wellness is unique. Each therapist brings different skills and perspectives to the table, but we all work together as a team. You can't go wrong! Read our core values.
Before making an appointment, read about our modalities and be sure to see who does what, especially if you're pregnant, scheduling for a kid, or looking for a specific treatment.
Before making an appointment, read about our modalities and be sure to see who does what, especially if you're pregnant, scheduling for a kid, or looking for a specific treatment.
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jen raimondi, owner + directorNow limiting her clientele to auto accident case intakes, Jen started West Side Wellness in January 2011. Prior to studying massage, Jen earned a BA at Wesleyan University and a MFA at Rhode Island School of Design. Many experiences steered Jen towards adding a massage therapy license to her credentials, including being a volunteer patient companion at RI Hospital. Jen completed her massage therapy training at the Santa Fe School of Massage (formerly the Scherer Institute) in New Mexico in 2007. Since then, Jen has studied myofascial work with Andraly Horn, myofascial massage with Howard Rontal, and cadaver anatomy with Dianne Polseno. One winter, Jen went back to Santa Fe for a three-day intensive with Cathy Black, called "Healing Presence: The Intuitive Pathway." Jen is a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. NCBTMB Board Certified.
rhode island state license MT01476 myofascial bodywork, medical massage "Jen and her fellow therapists have always taken into account the unique needs of different massage clients. They remember details about each individual. The therapy can be both energizing and relaxing. There are no promises of "cures" for major conditions, but there's plenty of short term relief, important coping mechanisms, and most importantly: expanded body and motion awareness." |
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chavi banker
Chavi is forever in love with the wonder, mystery and beauty of the body. She has engaged this love affair in a multitude of ways, including as a Jewish community organizer, trauma-informed yoga instructor, and as a full-spectrum doula. In 2016, she earned a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and has since pursued work in both the academic world and the world of embodied healing. Chavi received massage training from Bancroft School of Massage Therapy. These days, she plays with the texts of body, soul, and earth through her work as a scholar, bodyworker, and community herbalist in Providence. In her work as a massage therapist, Chavi makes material her intellectual commitments by approaching the body with reverence, fluidity, and nurturance. She weaves massage modalities to create a trauma-informed approach to bodywork that invites her clients to return in safety and joy to their bodies. When Chavi is not studying or massaging, she can be found exploring the forest, dancing, cuddling with her beloved dog Blue, or practicing new jiu jitsu techniques. Chavi habla español.
rhode island state license MT02570 therapeutic + relaxation massage, medical massage, abdominal massage, prenatal massage, lomi lomi, sarga (barefoot) massage, reiki "Chavi is kind, thoughtful, and very skilled; she has great anatomical knowledge and fresh ideas that have helped ease my aches and pains. She has taken a very thoughtful approach that has targeted difficult areas effectively." "It was the best prenatal massage I've received so far. Chavi used the perfect amount of pressure and was receptive and quick in responding to any feedback I had. She seemed skilled and experienced. I felt very relaxed in her presence." |
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aria boutetAria´s involvement in somatics began in the worlds of reproductive health/justice and the arts. She self-designed a degree in ´Citizen Arts´ at New School University, then worked as a full spectrum doula with the Doula Project, providing emotional, physical, and informational support. She began her journey towards massage via an informal polarity therapy mentorship, completed Level 1 Reiki, then went on to complete two massage programs: Costa Rica School of Integrative Massage and the Newport Massage School.
Aria´s massage style is intuitive and patient: she believes the body and mind find their own balance when given space, time, and loving attention. She works to empower choice and voice in her clients, encouraging awareness and curiosity about themselves and their bodies. She believes embodied healing processes can begin to mend the effects of individual & collective trauma. Aria is excited to be practicing at WSW, where she hopes to situate her bodywork practice in a larger social justice context. rhode island state license MT02524 therapeutic + relaxation massage, medical massage, prenatal massage "Aria does a great job. Her massages relieve all of my stress." |
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kei soares cobbKei is a Cape Verdean-American performance artist and healer from Bridgeport, CT working to create safe-space for people of color, mothers, queers, and other beings to reestablish and cultivate relationship with our ecosystem and inherent capacity for health. Kei attended yoga teacher training with Kripalu in 2012 and then studied Viniyoga with Karen Lee, western herbalism with Mary Blue, deep-tissue and Thai massage with Andrea Altman, Myofascial Release with Michele Fava, and Craniosacral Therapy with Andraly Horn and folks at the Upledger Institute. Kei’s practice is nurtured by watermelon, staring into the sea, dancing, hiking, gardening, and fatherhood.
rhode island state license MT02275 therapeutic + relaxation massage, myofascial bodywork, medical massage, craniosacral therapy, prenatal massage "Kei was amazing, thoughtful and thorough with the right balance of deeper massaging on the problem areas but maintaining focus on the rest of the body as well. I felt wonderful after! Peaceful and whole." "Kei is the most supportive massage therapist I have had the pleasure to work with. He has thorough knowledge of the body and combines it with a heart centered approach." "Kei is skillful and attentive and all around a great guy." |
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meralise conleyMeralise graduated from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 2012. From 2012 to 2014, she worked at WSW, where she discovered her passion for therapeutic massage, and trained with Jen Raimondi in myofascial work. She was also certified in structural integration by Rob Martin of Rolf Bodyworks. From 2015 to 2017, Meralise worked with a chiropractor, which was was a great learning experience as she continued her focus on myofascial and structural bodywork.
In 2017, Meralise had her son, Charlie! Since his arrival, her whole life has changed. She decided to close her private practice and focus on being a full time mommy. Meralise feels so fortunate to be returning to West Side Wellness. Here she can continue her journey, helping and healing people. Other than massage and being a mommy, she loves spending time with family and on the ocean. rhode island state license MT01981 therapeutic + relaxation massage, medical massage, myofascial bodywork, prenatal massage, cupping "Meralise is fantastic. She knows just which muscles need the right poking and stretching. I always feel better after a session on her table." "Meralise is downright amazing, the atmosphere is both calming and wonderfully designed, and I can have a yearly membership which is awesome." |
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ali estremeraAli has always had a passion for helping people, starting with her career as an emergency medical technician; eventually, she sought a more holistic approach. With her background in anatomy and desire to be hands on, she chose to work with the power of touch through bodywork and massage.
Ali attended the Muscular Therapy Institute (now Cortiva), receiving her certification in 2007. She has continued her education in various modalities, focusing on injury rehabilitation, and specializing in deep tissue work. She looks forward to working with the talented team of professionals and the community of clients at West Side Wellness. rhode island state license MT02387 therapeutic + relaxation massage, myofascial bodywork, neuromuscular therapy, craniosacral therapy, prenatal massage "Ali was easy to talk to, and she seemed to have a knowledge of anatomy and a therapeutic approach to massage, which I appreciated as a person with a chronic pain condition." "Ali was able to identify some problem areas and locate sources of pain. Sometimes the work was intense, but in a good way that yielded results." |
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jennie finnA practicing massage therapist since 2003, Jennie attended the East West College of Healing Arts in Oregon, following that up with over 200 hours of advanced bodywork instruction in orthopedic massage, Zero Balancing, reiki, and more. Jennie has trained in craniosacral work at the Upledger Institute, and she has a degree in biology from Dickinson College.
Using gentle holistic therapies, she creates an environment to strengthen the vitality and body intelligence within a person by promoting internal balance. She has developed a deep level of compassion, from working in the massage field and from working with children with special needs for many years. In her time off, she is likely exploring an undiscovered corner of beautiful Rhode Island, biking, or meditating in nature. rhode island state license MT01047 relaxation massage, zero balancing, craniosacral therapy, reiki "Zero Balancing brings me back to a place where I feel clear and in line with myself, not scattered or tangled. My body feels complete and at peace — like I have received a full body massage — though Jennie’s touch is always gentle and specific and never too intense." |
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chastity joyOriginally from Tennessee, Chastity enjoys calling Rhode Island home. She has a certificate in massage therapy from Lincoln Technical Institute, and she's currently studying nutrition and personal training so she can more fully advise her clients on wellness and movement.
Chastity is passionate about helping people feel better through massage, and her excitement about the work is infectious. She excels at focused, problem-solving bodywork. rhode island state license MT02368 therapeutic + relaxation massage, neuromuscular therapy, medical massage, reflexology "Chastity has fantastic problem solving skills and sustained strength, along with great, great energy." "I loved my massage from Chastity so much that I came back two weeks later and sent my husband to see her." "Chastity is an excellent provider and was able to work on the areas I needed the most, with the right amount of pressure while still making me feel comfortable and relaxed! I have been getting massages for the last 25 years on a regular basis and Chastity is without a doubt in the top 2 or 3!" |
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jenny o'dwyerA Rhode Island native, Jenny graduated from The Newport Massage School in January 2016. With the background in ayurvedic bodywork gained through this unique education, it became natural for Jenny to see a person as mind/body/soul; not separate in any way. Attracted to treating the subtle body, Jenny therefore trained to be a reiki practitioner. From there, the door opened to study the John Barnes Approach to Myofascial Release; she's done a number of trainings in the Barnes method. Why does Jenny love this work so much? Because she finds value in being the facilitator for a client's own body's healing wisdom.
Jenny is currently on maternity leave. rhode island state license MT02285 therapeutic + relaxation massage, myofascial bodywork, prenatal massage "Jenny was amazing and super adaptable to my needs due to chronic illness." "Wonderful experience. Jenny is a skilled and intuitive therapist – her treatment really helped me with an acute pain flareup." |
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luis riveraA Providence native, Luis graduated from the Massage Therapy program at Lincoln Technical Institute in 2007, and has been working at Rhode Island spas and clinics continually since then. He's also enjoyed working at a variety of sports events. Luis is an anatomy nerd, and he finds real joy in learning more about the human body every day. Luis is trained in neuromuscular therapy techniques, and has completed Level One certification in craniosacral therapy. Adept at sports massage techniques, Luis also plans to become a reiki practitioner, because he has found it rewarding to incorporate energy work into his sessions. Luis habla español.
rhode island state license MT01627 therapeutic + relaxation massage, myofascial bodywork, craniosacral therapy, neuromuscular therapy, prenatal massage, reiki "Luis is a massage therapist extraordinaire; I truly consider him a massage artist. He is gifted, and my sessions are deeply therapeutic." |
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donna roderickAfter 33 years of teaching health education, Donna went back to school for massage therapy, adding a 2017 Lincoln Technical Institute massage certificate to her Bachelors degree in Kinesiology from URI and her Masters in Health Education from Rhode Island College. Plus, she's a certified yoga instructor to boot.
Donna's interest in health and well being is obvious when you look at what she does for fun: swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, spin, boot camp, and Zumba. Donna loves hiking: the White Mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Peruvian Andes, and most recently, the Himalayas in Nepal. When she's not doing any of that, she's reading historical fiction, gardening, and hanging with four legged friends. rhode island state license MT02433 therapeutic + relaxation massage, cupping, IASTM "Donna was welcoming, helpful, and did great work loosening up the tension in my shoulders and back. She has an attentive and strong touch." "Donna was amazing! She did a great job and made me feel relaxed. She had a great vibe and really listened to my problems with pain." "I love Donna." |
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karon hartshorn
MASSAGE STUDENT INTERN
Karon is our hand-picked massage student intern; she's working under our guidance and training. She's currently in the middle of the massage therapy program at Bancroft School of Massage Therapy. Karon has a background in nutrition, herbalism, and reiki, and she looks forward to adding her massage certification to her toolkit. relaxation massage |
"My philosophy of healing is simple: healing starts from within, and as a bodyworker, my work is to facilitate healing. My intention is to provide space for the client’s personal journey towards well-being. The simple gesture of touch can open the door to a world of change." Jen Raimondi, owner
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"I am completely in love with the space. You feel a sense of relaxation and peace even as you open the door. The high ceilings, low lighting, warm tones, and gorgeous natural light put you at ease instantly. It's remarkable."
"It has been about a century since I’ve had a massage. Thank god the good people at West Side Wellness exist and have this available to an old person (okay, me), and they are so great. Caring, professional, friendly and the best. Thanks!!!"
"It has been about a century since I’ve had a massage. Thank god the good people at West Side Wellness exist and have this available to an old person (okay, me), and they are so great. Caring, professional, friendly and the best. Thanks!!!"
