Anna Birkeland, AAS, RT(R) ARRT, NC LMBT #5518 has over 20 years experience in the health and wellness industry. Her massage therapy, EMT training, private care provider and patient advocacy work experience pair well with her radiography experience, advanced radiation science studies and three years of hospital internships, enabling her to provide highly skilled direct patient care from a strong knowledge base.

 Anna has always fostered positive and genuine connections with people, which have led her to many interesting life experiences, including being a nationally certified ski instructor for over 13 years, teaching for 5 of those years at Deer Valley Resort in Park City Utah, one of the top US ski destinations. As a result, she has worked as a sports massage therapist with professional athletes as well as patients who require a high level of complex care during her many years as a private care provider. A lifelong passion for learning, growth, and adding value to relationships are her main motivators.  

Effective June 2021, Anna has experienced extremely high demand for her services and has welcomed well qualified associate therapists to the Lighten Up team! In order to provide you with the best experience, your massage therapy is customized to address your specific needs.  Our experienced professional massage therapists are focused on client safety, comfort and results.   Your preferences are always noted and you are encouraged to communicate with your massage therapist before during and after your session to ensure your therapy is customized uniquely to you.  Each session is booked with enough time slot to ensure you have a full session on the massage table as well as plenty of time to communicate your goals for your massage. All Lighten Up therapists assess your needs with a careful intake before each session so you get the perfect combination of massage techniques you'll love that will also address your unique therapeutic needs.

License: NCLMBT #19539

• Trained in multi-disciplines through Asheville’s Center for Massage and Natural Health 
• Experienced in Swedish, Sports, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Neuromuscular Therapy, Hydrotherapy, and Spa/Aroma Therapy modalities 
• Over a decade of experience as a community leader in the sport of parkour and helped to expand its development in Tennessee 
• 8 years experience as a certified personal trainer and strength coach working one on one with clients in various training environments - including kids, youth, and adults. 
• Comfortable with helping individuals through mobility limitations, or guiding family classes through obstacle based progressions 

Johnny's many years of athletic development, personal training, and experience with customizing individualized programming enables him to offer a unique style of bodywork that is both nurturing and therapeutic. It is his intention to hold space for others that encourages a natural healing environment and provide tools for those to feel confident in their journey of health discovery.

Lauren combines her experience of strength conditioning and trauma-informed care into helping her clients become present for their bodies’ own healing power. 

Geared towards pain relief and functional mobility, she is passionate about helping all ages live without restriction. Lauren blends her knowledge of bodywork, anatomy and kinesiology, and her Psychology background to create a tailor-made visit for each client’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. 

Using techniques from Neuromuscular Therapy, Structural Integration, Swedish, Thai, and Triggerpoint Therapy, lymphatic drainage, gua sha and cupping, she believes in getting to the root of the pain, not just the symptoms.