Brenda Molloy worked as a medical educator for many years prior to doing bodywork. A car accident left her unable to return to work. She tried many treatment methods before finding shiatsu, which set her healing in motion. Brenda took shiatsu classes in Canada and developed a part time practice from the support of her teacher who kept sending her clients. She wanted to study further, but her Canadian school cancelled their Shiatsu program due to lack of interest.

     Discovering Acupressure Institute she said, "was the best thing I have ever done; it changed my whole perspective and gave me the confidence I needed to go forward." When she started classes at the Institute, she had Crohn's Disease, but due to self-acupressure she was able to take her health into her own hands. "The school supported my personal healing, prepared me to heal others, and gave me the confidence to pursue this as a career. The rich variety of excellent teachers, collectively taught me many different aspects of healing, not just how to push points." After completing the Acupressure Institute's teacher training she built her practice by setting-up talks at senior centers, women's clinics, and self-help groups.

     Brenda currently teaches and practices in a beautiful retreat-like environment about twelve miles outside of Colona, Canada. Within a few years of private practice she was able to buy the house that she was renting. She transformed her empty basement into a healing space. Now she sees eight to ten shiatsu clients a week in her clinic and spends the rest of her time teaching. She deliberately keeps her practice at that level because of the great demand for her teaching. Her sessions last one and a half to two hours with a sliding scale of $65-$100. Brenda's clients range from post-stroke geriatrics to young mothers to forklift operators and truck drivers who want shiatsu muscle release. Her bodywork incorporates Zen Shiatsu, Amma, and Ashiatsu. Brenda assigns her clients to do stretches and points in between sessions. She also uses guided imagery and visualization in her Doula work. When asked about the type of healing work she uses, Brenda says, "My work focuses on the movement of Chi."

     Brenda teaches a Monday night yoga class, a full moon Tantra (Vajra Yogini) class for women, and is currently mentoring five women in acupressure. She teaches acupressure to yoga instructors, spa practitioners, and Pilates instructors and hopes to teach a formal shiatsu training in the future. She is finding other practitioners to teach out of her studio, including a Reiki master and a professional counselor. She also enjoys teaching workshops at retreats and finds many clients that way.

     Brenda retains her clients by staying in the present moment, treating each person in a special way. She says if you send people away with either a point they can work on at home or a stretch they can do, then they feel empowered, and tend to return.

     One of Brenda's client's is an elderly gentleman, who used to be an influential businessman before having a stroke, which left him with a twisted foot and in a lot of pain. He promised Brenda that, "if you can get me to walk without a cane or a brace, I'll send you and your husband to Hawaii for the holidays." Brenda responded by saying, "let's see what happens." As they worked together weekly, his singing voice came back, he gradually became stronger and his foot released, no longer needing a brace or cane. After a gorgeous trip to Hawaii, Brenda acknowledged that this experience taught her to believe in her skills and know the power of prayer in her work.

     Acupressure opened Brenda to become a thriving compassionate individual. She loves teaching and interacting with her students. "I love to turn people on and see them light up when they begin to feel the life force within their body," she said. "I love the moments when my students feel energy pulsing and their eyes light up."