Relax Blacksburg's
Massage Therapists

These are the massage therapists working at Relax Blacksburg.  We are all Licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

If it's experience you are looking for, you've come to the right place.  Our therapists have over 50 years of combined experience helping clients meet their health goals.  We are also very proud to invest heavily in advancing our skills through continuing education.

You deserve the best.  Come experience truly high-quality massage.

But don't take our word for it.  Check out some reviews from our clients.

And please don't feel obligated to stick with just one therapist.  Feel free to book with all of our therapists so you can figure out who you prefer.  Some of our clients even rotate between therapists, as we are all very different in our styles. 

No matter who you choose, we will all create a customized massage session focusing on your individual needs.  If you are in pain, we will create a specific treatment plan just for you.  If you just want to relax, we will focus on getting you into a deep state of relaxation so your stress will melt away. 

Click on our names to learn more about us.  Or just keep scrolling down.

Brian Makris, LMT, Owner
License # 0019013096

Brian graduated from the Pennsylvania Institute of Massage Therapy in 2000.  Soon after graduation, his skills landed him a job as a massage therapist for high-end clients at the Westin Resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

He has done extensive continuing education at the Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga giving him over 1,300 hours in massage training.  He was working at Eucalyptus Massage Therapy before opening his own business, Relax Blacksburg. 

His specialties include medical massage, Strain Counterstrain therapy, Neural Reset Therapy, pain management, injury rehabilitation, Hawaiian lomi lomi massage, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, sports massage, trigger point therapy, Swedish massage, hot bamboo massage, hot stone massage, pregnancy and post-natal massage, geriatric massage, and improving range of motion (ROM). 

Clients say they choose him as their therapist because they see results.

In his spare time, Brian enjoys cooking, cycling, hiking, speaking German, and traveling.

Learn more about Brian on our About Us page.

Brian is available Tuesday-Saturday*

*Brian is currently fully booked over two years in advance and is not accepting new clients.  Relax clients that would like to see him should fill out our waiting list. 

*Brian's rates are higher than our other therapists.  Add $10 to our regular massage rates for his sessions.

Book an appointment with Brian

Anne Porterfield, LMT, CLT
License # 0019010430

Anne moved to Blacksburg with her family in 1977.  She now lives in Giles County with her husband of 30 years and their two dogs. 

She studied at the Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga and graduated in 2012.  She has over 1,000 hours of massage training and eleven years experience helping clients.

Before joining Relax Blacksburg, Anne worked as a massage therapist at Eucalyptus Massage Therapy and Mountain Lake Hotel.

Anne has always had an interest in massage and becoming certified (now licensed) in medical massage was a joyous accomplishment for her. 

She truly loves her career and strives to improve the lives of her clients to the best of her ability.  She says it is an honor to give her clients the gift of relaxation, movement and mobility.

Anne specializes in manual lymphatic therapy, Swedish massage, myofascial release, sports massage, deep tissue massage, cupping, advanced prenatal and post-natal massage, pain management, strain counterstain (SCS), hot stone massage, hot bamboo massage, trigger point therapy, geriatric massage, kinesiology taping, improving range of motion (ROM), and chair massage.

In her spare time she enjoys cooking (and eating), travel, reading, trivia, exercise, dog walking and spending time with her family.  She has also spent over a year in Denmark and speaks conversational Danish.

Anne is available Tuesday through Saturday

Book an appointment with Anne

Polly Jones, LMT
License # 0019012838

Polly grew up in Damascus, MD and graduated from JMU with a degree in English.  She moved to Blacksburg in 1991 and fell in love with everything about it.  

She was inspired to go into massage therapy after a transformative experience with her daughter. 

Polly says, "At age 7, my daughter went through a rough period of terrible nightmares.  It escalated to the point where she was afraid to get in bed at all and was up all night crying. 

In desperation and without much hope that she would let a stranger touch her, we took her to a bodyworker my husband was seeing at the time.  He worked on her for half an hour, and she never squirmed once. 

It moved me to tears just to witness this quiet interaction, this caring being offered and received.  That night my daughter slept straight through until morning.  I was floored.  The impact of that touch had shifted something deep within her, and I knew right then that I wanted to learn how to offer my own intentional touch to other people. I have found that being a massage therapist is just as rewarding as I had hoped in that moment."

Polly graduated from the Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga in 2014.  She has 650 hours of massage training. 

Polly specializes in Swedish massage, medical massage, deep tissue massage, ashiatsu barefoot massage. trigger point therapy, myofascial release, pain management, pregnancy & post-natal massage, shiatsu, craniosacral therapy, geriatric massage, hot bamboo massage, hot stone massage, and chair massage.

Prior to joining Relax Blacksburg, she had her own business Be Well Bodywork. 

In her spare time, Polly enjoys hiking and paddle boarding with her family as well as catering to the whims of their three cats and two guinea pigs. 

Polly is available Monday through Friday

Book an appointment with Polly

Drea Cargill, LMT, CLT
License # 0019018652

Drea grew up in Pennsylvania.  She was drawn to massage to help others and show people that massage is necessary for the well being of their body and mind.

She attended a 600 hour massage therapy program at the McCann School of Business & Technology.  She graduated in 2014 and has nine years' experience helping clients. 

Drea spent five years working as a massage therapist at an upscale luxury spa in the Poconos called The Lodge at Woodloch.

Drea specializes in medical massage, oncology massage, manual lymphatic therapy, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, pregnancy & post-natal massage, hot stone massage, hot bamboo massage, trigger point mapping and techniques, massage cupping, and kinesiology taping.

She is a highly-skilled therapist that will adjust every massage to the specific needs of each client.

When she isn't massaging clients, Drea likes to be outside exploring the outdoors.  She has really been enjoying all the outdoor activities the NRV offers. 

Drea is available Tuesday through Saturday.

Book an appointment with Drea

Micah Kochanek, LMT
Indiana License # MT22107439
Virginia License # 0019019579

Micah grew up in the small town of Upland, Indiana.  He became interested in massage therapy in high school, but became much more drawn to it in college once he was able to see the positive effects it had on people.

In 2015 Micah went to college to study Exercise Science, which includes the study of kinesiology (movement science), exercise physiology, fitness, and wellness.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University in May of 2019. 

After college, he studied at the Alexandria School of Scientific Therapeutics Institute in Alexandria, Indiana.  This school was established in 1982, has Federal Accreditation, and specializes exclusively in massage therapy and alternative health education. 

He graduated from ASSTI in June of 2020 with over 600 hours of massage instruction over the 10.5 month course of study. There he learned Scientific Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Active Isolated Stretching, Hydrotherapy, Muscle Balancing, Anatomy and Physiology, and Ethics and Business.

Outside of work Micah enjoys being active: exercising, going on hikes, bike rides, and frisbee golf.  He also enjoys cooking, baking, board games, spending time with friends and family, and being plugged in at his church. 

Micah is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Book an appointment with Micah

Mary Leigh Lear, LMT
Virginia License #  0019019244
North Carolina License # 20617

Mary grew up on a farm in Georgia and relocated to North Carolina when she was 11 years old. In her childhood, she grew up among a myriad of animals.

In her early twenties, Mary explored a host of different jobs looking for her niche in this world. From information technology, bookkeeping to flower arranging, she finally found her passion for Therapeutic Massage in 2020. Her heart called to Virginia for years, finally moving here in 2023.

Mary attended Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston Salem, NC in 2020 and graduated in 2022. While in school, she committed herself to the studies of kinesiology, anatomy, and pathology, determined to provide her future clients with individualized and effective treatment. She graduated with high marks and began a successful career in the fall of 2022.

Mary’s specialties include deep tissue massage, sports massage, and Swedish massage.

Mary is passionate about helping others in big and small ways, not only through her bodywork, but also her bedside manner. She is personable, gregarious and meticulous in her practice and dedicated to her clients' treatment goals

Mary is a published illustrator, proud carer for special needs animals, a self taught fingerstyle guitar player, a fan of all music genres, and a lover of nature.

Mary is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Book an appointment with Mary

Alexis Willson, LMT
Virginia License # 0019019529
Pennsylvania License # MSG010075

Alexis moved to Floyd, Virginia from her hometown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the summer of 2023.

She attended Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy in 2008 and has over 800 hours of training and 15 years' experience in the industry. She has worked at luxury spas, therapist-owned small businesses, and managed her own solo practice for several years called Inner Space Bodywork.

Her favorite clients to work with are individuals with chronic pain and autoimmune disorders who value mental stress relief and physical pain relief equally. She also loves working with moms, older adults, and providing pampering spa services with hot stones or bamboo. She has taken continuing education on trauma-informed massage for PTSD and values providing a safe nurturing space for people with all types of bodies and lived experiences.

Alexis has studied a variety of mat-based eastern modalities including Thai yoga massage, Shiatsu, and Fijian Massage. She is offering table Thai which is a blend of rhythmic compressions, assisted stretching, acupressure, and joint mobilizations that is done on a lowered table while the client is fully dressed without any oils. This service does not require the client to be flexible or in shape and will leave you feeling expansive and refreshed.

Her style is flowing, intuitive, and integrative. She is a practiced meditator who loves to dance, and her best massages combine inspiration from both. Taking care of others brings her deep joy and meaningfulness. She is grateful to be able to raise her son in these mountains and is looking forward to serving her new community.

Alexis is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Book an appointment with Alexis

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Business Hours:*

• Mon 9am - 5pm
  
• Tues - Fri 9am - 7pm
• Sat 10am - 5pm
• Sun Closed

* By appointment only.
We are unable to
accommodate walk-ins.