Following many years of outdoor and community service jobs across the United States, as well as two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar, Vanessa earned her 800-hour massage diploma from East West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, Oregon. Vanessa furthered her studies in Thailand, where she became certified in Advanced Thai Massage at Loi Kroh Massage School. In 2023, she received an additional 150-hour Thai massage certification from Baan Hom school in Northern Thailand. On a personal note, Vanessa lives with a chronic autoimmune disorder and understands the challenges that come from bodies that don't always work the way we wish they would. Her hobbies include West African dance, cooking semi-professionally and enjoying life with her two dogs.