WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING
With Alex’s expert, multi-disciplinary approach to bodywork and her thorough explanations to me, we are untangling primary issues and muscle/fascia sequelae that have restricted my very active lifestyle for the past six weeks or so. I am so thankful, primarily because Alex not only addresses so skillfully the element causing me the most trouble at any given time, she helps me visualize and understand what exercises and moves will speed my healing and why and how. With Alex’s guidance, I can be a full partner in my healing, and that has me feeling very powerful, even when I am struggling. Her deep knowledge and clear explanations have given me “vision” into the inner workings of my joints. I trust Alex completely and we are working together beautifully to speed my healing process. I am so lucky to have found her.
Jennifer P. - Woodworker and avid hiker, Durham, NC (2022)
I suffered from weekly migraines and occipital neuralgia pain. I found Alex after an exhaustive search online. I was impressed with what I read, so I made an appointment. What happened next was just pure magic.
If you are looking for a spa massage, Alex is not your person. Luckily for me, that's not what I wanted. On my first visit, she did an extensive health intake, asked lots of questions and we set up a plan and got to work. In my sessions, she uses a mix of massage, fascial bodywork, trigger point therapy, CranioSacral Therapy, movement, and stretching. Alex cares deeply about her craft and intuitively knows the right modality for each area that needs attention. She shares her knowledge and explains what she's doing and why.
She's fantastically knowledgeable about the body, has deep experience and skills in a variety of bodywork modalities. A few days after each of my sessions, she follows up with emails reviewing what stretches she wanted me to do with video, links to resources she recommended and more. So, while the bodywork session was over days ago, she was still thinking of ways to help and support me as we worked to alleviate my crushing pain.
After consistently seeing Alex, my migraines abated to be almost nonexistent, my occipital neuralgia pain disappeared and I have new stretches and tools I can use at home to keep my neck, jaw and shoulders loose. I had been to many doctors over the years who had prescribed various migraine medicines to alleviate my pain. While the medicines temporarily relieved the pain, they never actually cured the underlying cause. Alex was able to get to the structural root cause of the pain and work her magic. Today, I no longer take any prescription migraine medication!
I continue to see Alex and she's now working on an old orthopedic injury that is causing pain. I'm confident the outcome will be the same - pain free!
Meredith L.
As a carpenter I need to keep my body in good working order. I've been a client with Alex for the last 6 years and her help has been invaluable to me. She has a clear understanding of how the body works and can communicate that to me. She uses her many-disciplined approach to help solve my issues and keep me able to perform my work. She recently helped me overcome a frozen shoulder condition - I can't thank her enough!
Andy Wood - Wood Construction Co., Inc., Chapel Hill, NC
I first went to Alex when I was sitting 10 hours a day for years and had developed some very bad posture habits and resulting physical issues. Even though I was exercising intensely on weekends, the Monday-Friday sitting routine was causing my muscles to compensate as best as they could and I had developed some odd body mechanics. I had 12 KMI Structural Integration sessions with Alex and through her incredible knowledge, listening, and bodywork skills, she was able to 'realign' those parts of my body that had become out of kilter for years. Quite amazing. Since then, I have become much more active on a regular basis, although still quite intensely. I see Alex for minor aches and pains, some old, some new. Alex has an amazing ability to listen, synthesizing my physical history and issues, and then developing and executing the plan to help.
I am constantly amazed of how Alex can work on and isolate both superficial and deeper levels of fascia, muscles, and tendons as necessary. And more impressive is her biomechanical knowledge to tell me to move a certain muscle a few degrees so as to contact the muscle at its optimal position. I feel fortunate to have access to someone with the technical knowledge of the entire physiology of the body, the physical ability to isolate deep tissue effectively, superb listening skills to understand the root cause, good sense of humor, and who provides an overall enjoyable session on all aspects. I always look forward to sessions with Alex and always recommend her to anyone who is looking for bodywork for any reason.
JoAnn F, Durham, NC
I went to Alex Hamer seeking relief for an overworked shoulder; I left with a life-changing bit of new body awareness. Her skills and knowledge of body mechanics run deep--combined with her inquisitive mind and willingness to listen, it's a dream session of bodywork for any performer who asks odd things of his/her body. More plusses--her comfortable studio is close to downtown, and her rates are competitive. Very highly recommended for artists and performers of any type.
Jo Ann Daugherty - Conductor, Jersey Boys 2nd National Tour, 2012
I was in town with the Jersey Boys second National tour for three weeks and was very fortunate to have Alexandra work on me during that time. I had a tendonitis issue, and through her extensive knowledge of how muscle groups and tendons work, she GREATLY helped me with very focused orthopedic massage. I can't recommend Alexandra highly enough. She's a very good listener, and will work closely with you to help with whatever issue you may have.
Ryan Bennett - Drums, Jersey Boys Second National Tour, 2012
I came to Alex for massage as an addition to ongoing chiropractic care and acupuncture for a chronic debilitating condition. I was absolutely blown away by her experience and brilliant touch. As I heal, she shifts her approach to tailor and compliment my rehabilitation. Her massage is not only blissful but both functional and targeted to my needs. After every session, I leave with less pain and more body intelligence than before. Not to mention her studio has a wonderful energy and is conveniently located. I feel extremely grateful to have Alex as a healer here in Durham.
G.L.
I have worked with Alex for various issues including migraine, upper back tightness and muscle spasm, hip and shoulder tightness, and have always been quite amazed at how knowledgeable and technically excellent she is. She’s not your run-of-the-mill massage therapist, but more of a bodywork master. Not only will she provide bodywork, she is more than happy to share references such as articles, books, and names of other providers, embracing a very holistic approach to resolving issues. If you want someone who understands the body and is more than willing to teach you more about your own body while directly addressing your current issues, she’s the therapist for you!
Kim - Durham, NC
For the past 10+ years, I have had the privilege of being a client of Alex Hamer. Spiritually and physically, her care has kept me healthy and helped me to weather some major personal challenges. I tell friends of mine who insist that massage is a ‘luxury’, that I am the physically healthy and spiritually grounded person that I am because I truly believe in the power of massage and that it should be part of every person's ‘self-care’ regimen. Alex helps me achieve that.
BJ - Durham, NC
I completed the KMI 12-series with Alex in 2014-15. Working with Alex was life-changing. She has the kind of expertise that you willingly surrender your being to. She is also kind, and knowledgeable, and pure fun to work with. I do not move or sit or stand the way I used to--not perfect but I am markedly more at ease. The experience opened up new ways of physically being in the world that I continue to work with and explore. I loved in particular our conversations about how KMI overlaps or can work with other kind of movement practices (in my case yoga). I have much gratitude for our work together!
Deborah - Physician, Chapel Hill, NC
I'm feeling pretty good after that treatment. I've noticed that my legs feel like they are a little more "under" me. I also was able to squat a lot more weight at the gym than I ever have before, which felt really nice.
DCW - Durham, NC
The silver lining of my TMJ is that it brought me to Alex. She dealt with my jaw pain and started the long journey with me to try to untangle so many of my other issues.
Cheryl - Durham, NC
I can feel the change in myself through the weeks of Structural Integration work with Alex. I stand taller, I breathe deeper, and I walk, stand and sit more easily.
Linda W. - Cary, NC
I’d be happy to say how wonderful you are! You fixed me. My right shoulder is almost 100%, my left is getting there. I don’t think I would have recovered from frozen shoulder(s) so well if you hadn’t been working on me. Couldn’t have survived the pain if it wasn’t for you.
Nancy - Durham, NC
Since moving to the south two years ago I have been searching for a therapist who can continue to help my body feel the best it can be and to address any acute issues that arise. Most of the therapists I have found in VA where I live offer what I call "cruise ship massages". While this might be fine for some, it is not what I was looking for.
Since I train for my sport in Durham regularly I happened upon Alex's site and figured I would give it a try. I am hooked. First, Alex spends a great deal of time getting to know you. She then makes sure you are comfortable with her technique and is always happy to explain why your body might be reacting to a stressor. She is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about the work she does and encourages you as the client to interact with her in order to obtain maximum results. When you return for the next session she knows exactly where she left off and can compare your body's ability to previous visits. On top of all this she has a very calming presence and is very easy to talk with.
I really look forward to my sessions with her and plan to continue these even for maintenance of my body. I would highly recommend Alex.
BHT
While I have had a great deal of body work over many years, only rarely have I experienced the touch of a great healer. Throughout my career as a modern dancer and choreographer, and subsequently after that career, I have encountered just three such healers. Without a doubt, Alex is one of them. She listens and responds with her hands in a way that defies description.
Most recently I came to see Alex after over 2 months of coughing due to a respiratory illness. I had a sense of being stuck in and around my lungs and knew that if I described this sensation, Alex would be able to help me breathe more fully again. What this means to me is regaining the capacity to breathe in all directions - especially breathing into my back. This is the kind of breathing I learned to do as a dancer/athlete and getting this subtle mobility back means everything to me.
Marj S.