Dena

Owner + Creator of Applied Pressure

"The Surgeon" Dena has been honing her skills for 21 years. Yes, more than half her life has consisted of washing sheets every night and manipulating bodies every day. In that time, Dena has become a true master of her craft & created a style of bodywork that is stand-out! Dena goes to the places other massage therapists don't dare venture ... intuitively finding her way to the root of the issue, pulling (lots of pulling) the tight fascia/connective tissue away from the bone, almost like ringing the muscles out and putting them back into place > restoring blood flow, restoring posture. This is not simply massage; this is true treatment bodywork. If you're looking for someone who addresses the areas that are normally skimmed over. Book with Dena. Everyone at Applied Pressure is superb, but Dena is the most treatment oriented and precise on the team: it's like having surgery, without the scalpel. Now that being said, Dena brings a great deal of finesse to her sessions as well, intuitively sensing where your threshold for pain lies without needing to ask, so, this will feel good:
That *hurts so good* kind of good.
That *deep relief you've been searching for* kind of good.
That *you're getting your money's worth* kind of good.

A session with Dena is like nothing else. Enjoy!

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Jess

(maternity Leave until July)

"The Intuitive" Jess brings a God-given gift for connection and healing to her clinical skills at Applied Pressure. She is that ideal, rare mix of intuition and clinical bodywork knowledge. Starting out as Dena's apprentice, she quickly learned to do deep work with her feet in addition to effective treatment bodywork with her hands! Everyone at Applied Pressure is deep, Jess is no exception, but her sessions could be described as "less intense" due to her notable finesse and use of a broader stroke. Jess is powerful in her own way. She is drawn to working with folks of all types even those amidst/post cancer treatment needing more lymph focus and a more compassionate approach. If you truly need to *receive*. If you are worn out from giving yourself away all day: Come see Jess. She will restore you. We bet you'll be rebooking with her again, again, and again...

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Nick

Bodyworker of applied pressure

"Bear Hug" Nick came to us with a knack for swedish relaxation + experience working with college and professional athletes. We call him Bear Hug because making sure clients feel especially cared for on the table is his M.O. He is strong and athletic, so, having power behind his flowy style is what takes his massage to the next level. Nick has grown in leaps and bounds since apprenticing with Dena and officially has her stamp of approval for being able to administer true treatment (TX) bodywork with notable stand-out work in the psoas, streching of the hips & myofascial skin pulling throughout the torso in a way that opens up the spine and shoulders in an all encompassing, feel good way. Disclaimer: this is the type of session that may elicit drooling + loss of consciousness. A session with Nick is powerful, but he makes it feel good by paying homage to his Swedish roots with a flowy rhythm maintained throughout. He is a good fit for clients of all sizes and he is the best fit on the team for olympic lifters/cross fit types due to his use of a broader stroke and larger hand size. Give Nick a try... his style truly is a Bear Hug experience!

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miranda

Apprentice OF APPLIED PRESSURE

"Quiet Ninja" Hailing from small town Missouri, Miranda is quiet-natured and humble. Blessed with the "gift of touch", her hands are intuitive & VERY strong. Her education fortifies her with a thorough understanding of anatomy and kinesiology. During her interview massage Dena actually exclaimed, "Wow! we are off to a great start!". Miranda has been a pleasure to train. She asks all the right questions and then stealthy applies what she just learned in her next deliberate yet delicate move. One of our long time regulars nick named her "Quiet Ninja" and that's spot-on! She is one of those therapists that allows you to sink deeply into the session without the disturbance unwanted conversation. Although Miranda is still an apprentice, her Applied Pressure bodywork using her hands is flawless. And we are working towards getting her fully comfortable and graceful with using her feet. We are giving 20% off for the month of May so she can provide bodywork, meanwhile, practicing her ashi (footwork) skills. We invite you to book with Miranda to experience her natural talent + be part of her evolution!

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Customer

Reviews

I am WILDLY particular when it comes to bodywork

I understand the body from the inside out and can tell within 10 seconds of someone working on me if they are the real deal.Dena 1000% is. She has a felt sense about the functionality of the body, which makes her work incredibly effective and precise.The work she does on my neck / head / shoulders is what I’ve always wanted someone to do during a massage. It always feels like she has 3-4 hands which is just so crazy and magical to experience!To top it off, she’s an awesome human being. Do your body and yourself a favor🙏🏻✔️

- Samantha C.

When was the last time you had a meal that made you say "that was ALOT better than I expected"? Or, a music concert that left you in awe of how you felt afterwards? Fill in any number of your own personal peak experiences and then imagine yourself getting a massage that breaks open your idea of how good you can have it - that's what awaits for your first session with Dena (I've had approx. 10 of these in the last year - all top quality). Dena's winning combination includes highly skilled / intuitive hands AND feet (not "Thai"), and is as unique as it is wonderful. She is both sweet & deep, but never painful. I have had 4 hip operations in the last 2 years, and have worked hard to bring myself back into an active lifestyle, which involves lots of excercise. After I see Dena I feel better for days afterwards, and move with the giddyness of a youngster. If you want the best, get on her schedule. Just know its a busy one, so plan ahead...I promise the wait & $ will be well worth it.

You will not be given a 600-count Egyptian cotton bathrobe and a pair of organic hemp flip-flops to slip on your blistered feet or a glass of champagne served in Riedel stemware while you wait in an opulently decorated lounge for your massage to begin. A “massage therapist” will not infuse your skin with essential oils, or cover your face with Dead Sea mud. No hot rocks sourced from Mt. Etna will be applied to your back.Applied Pressure is a real – sparsely, but tastefully decorated – massage studio, run by a BAD ASS massage therapist named Dena, with a bit of attitude, an infectious personality, and Minnesotan work ethic. Dena will use her hands, elbows, and feet (while suspended from custom-made oak monkey bars secured to the ceiling) to mend your broken body, so you can abuse yourself once again in your chosen field of sport.My first massage therapist relationship lasted nine years, my second massage therapist relationship lasted 23 years. Some people die, others retire. It’s unlikely that I will be looking for a new massage therapist anytime soon.Be punctual, because Dena always is, and if you lose your place on her regular’s list, you may be waiting a while for another spot to open up.

Dena is so knowledgeable and so welcoming. She did a wonderful job explaining the benefit of new techniques and reminding me to breathe/relax when she found tension in my body. After the first 15 minutes my back, shoulders, and neck felt better than it has in years. She's so in tune with what the body is going through - she's quick to find the real source of pain. I can't recommend her enough. It was an amazing experience. I'll be a lifetime client - best kept secret in the twin cities!

She's knowledgable, strong and thoughtful during her sessions. It was my first visit to Applied Pressure and I was so happy with my session. I recently moved back to the states from Asia and have tried lots of fun and different massages (Thai, Lao, Chinese TCM) and Dena's are incredible - they're up with the best of em! The massages are methodical and magical! If you're looking for the real deal bodyworker - not just a massage she's the one!