"This is what Doctors would order if they knew about it." Ronit Engel 2014
"I’m new to the area and was looking for someone knowledgeable but also down to earth in the realm of bodywork. I’m a chiropractor and bodyworker myself, so I’m usually a bit picky with who touches me. It’s a certain type of touch that I crave from years of receiving care and I can usually tell from my first visit. Emily is extremely gifted at her craft.
I appreciate her pacing, as my body doesn’t do well with too much force. She didn’t try to “fix” my issues, which I’m aligned with philosophically, thus allowing my body to do the healing. I’m very glad I got referred by a good friend and will be referring a bunch of clients to her in the future."Dr. Omri Sitton, June 2023
"I have been a client of Emily over the past 15 months. Initially, I was skeptical that myofascial release could provide relief from my chronic pain secondary to Parkinson’s Disease. I was amazed how effective and quickly my body responded to the sustained and gentler pressure on the fascial system. Emily’s knowledge and her use of the appropriate release techniques has been extremely effective in treating the rigidity, tightness, and pain associated with my Parkinson’s Disease.
I am now able to ambulate easier and exercise with significant improvements in my flexibility and a reduction in pain and stiffness. Recently, I was experiencing persistent symptoms and so I decided to try a 90 minute guided self-treatment session on line. The next day I did not have spasms in my low back for the first time in two months. Emily is a treasure and a blessing." Dr. Jeffrey Tucker 2018
"Emily provided a routine of exercises, which were easy to remember and required little in the way of equipment except a roller. I have found that if I do the exercises a few times a week, I am able to prevent neck tightness and am no longer in need of muscle relaxers for my neck. Emily really knows the body and how to help it work to its full potential!" Carol Lerner 2017
"Emily’s work is simply the best. I have received regularly, and have taught two different forms of Oriental body work over the course of my adult life. Emily’s work assists the body in achieving that in between wakefulness and sleep [trance] state where it is truly cable of curing itself. Emily’s ability/ gift transcends technique. Her work is focused, pristine and sublime. If one actually wishes to do it, this is the realm in which true healing / a cure can be accomplished." Geo Schiffer, 2022
"I've been working with Emily Smith for Pilates, Functional Movement, and Myofascial Release therapy for over ten years in person and since 2020 on Zoom. Emily is more than my exercise coach; she is my Zen master keeping me calm during stressful times and grounded in my body and mind. Because Emily has expertise in all manner of therapies, she offers a combination of activities that defy labels but are suited to whatever is going on with my body on a particular day. I'm 74 with some severe back issues. For the past two years, working at home through Zoom, using a combination of basic exercise equipment along with the furniture in my living room, Emily and I have been able to have full workout and self myofascial release sessions that have kept me moving during the long isolation. That is quite the achievement. Emily is both highly knowledgeable in her field and compassionate in her work with the individual client. In person or over the distance, I cannot recommend Emily highly enough. She is very special, and I'm grateful to be able to work with her on a regular basis." Cheryl Petersohn 2023
"Locked in but not willing to lose the therapeutic and restorative benefits of my regular Pilates sessions, I've been working with Emily since 2012 and on-line with Emily for a month. Even from a distance, she sees me: what my body needs; what my spirit needs on any given day, using the basic equipment I have around my house, she is able to guide me through a complete workout, After a session, I am rejuvenated by the movement and soothed by her calming presence. It's a gift in these anxious times." Cheryl Petersohn 2020
"What I have learned from Emily and her approach to functional movement has changed the way I view exercise and honestly, even the way in which I live. I, like so many, believed that in order to find a benefit from exercise your heart needs to be pounding, you must be dripping in sweat and most importantly, you must push through any pain to keep going. Emily has helped me trust my awareness to listen to what my body is telling me and to not ignore those signals. Our bodies want to move in harmony and tell us what needs to be done to get there, if we actually take the time to listen. Although she is a John Barnes’ Myofascial Release therapist, her deep knowledge of physiology and anatomy is based on more than just one modality. She has years of experience and wisdom from working as a Myofascial Release Therapist, a Pilates teacher and her own qigong practice from which to draw. As a student of qigong, I am drawn to the way she uses elements from this ancient practice to help guide you through slowly moving through different muscle groups in order to build strength. The simplicity of the movement is deceptive in that we are accustomed to believing that strength comes from force and momentum. What Emily has taught me is that using momentum will never be able to provide what the process of slowly engaging different muscle groups in a succession offers. What she has shown me is that focus, intent and real functional knowledge provides one with the ability to live in harmony with your body. Most of all, she has shown me a pathway to feeling proud of what my body can do, rather than constantly feeling inadequate and disconnected from my own body." Anjali Shaw
"Emily introduced me to Myofascial years ago and it has been life changing. She is an incredible soul who has helped me heal numerous injuries, made me more aware of posture and how the body should be able to move if unrestricted. I can now self treat many flare ups, and help maintain a healthier disposition just through techniques she has taught me. Simply the best!" Raf B, 2022
"It was 10 years ago that I met Emily as an instructor in a weekly Pilates class. I loved her style immediately - she tried new things at every class so I was never bored with the same old routines. I then moved on to individual sessions with her (which I continue to this day) where I was introduced to myofascial release techniques using rollers, balls, chairs and blocks that have helped keep my body limber and in shape. She stresses the need to keep moving, while focusing on proper alignment and customizes workouts and release techniques to your body. I consider her my "movement therapist," someone I rely on to help me if I have a certain area of the body that needs a little extra care. I highly recommend Emily, whether you need whole body workouts, myofascial release, or massage." KDG August 2021
"It is a treat every time I get on Emily's table! She is very positive, warm and welcoming ! She is focused and attentive to your body's needs and listens closely making you feel special in her presence. The work Emily does is unique and powerful and leaves you feeling refreshed and relaxed ! I highly recommend her." Audrey Pierce, 2022
"I was lucky enough to cross paths with Emily at Alter Alchemy at her Myofascial Movement Class. She was a great teacher and clearly had a sound understanding of the human anatomy. I learned how discomfort and imbalances can form and how myofascial release could bring more harmony to the body.
I decided to do a private session with Emily after taking the class and I found myofascial release to be more helpful than massage and craniosacral at providing true relief. Emily really understands the body and subtle energy and will let your unique situation and body talk to her as she does her work. You can tell she really cares about providing relief and helping clients unlock stuck blockages which could have larger benefits than simply physical.
I would recommend Emily’s services if you have some physical blockages you would like to release or check out her class at Alter Alchemy to learn more!" Phil DeFelice, 2022
"I was seeking some relief from chronic stiffness and an overall feeling of my body being stuck. Doing hard physical work for many years left my shoulders, neck, back, and hands aching and stiff. I attended Emily’s Myofascial Movement class in Asheville on a Wednesday night, then followed up with a personal hands on Myofascial Release Therapy session the following night, Thursday. Friday morning I woke up early and was able to bounce out of bed feeling fluid again. My walking was easier and my upper body no longer felt like a stiff statue. That morning, feeling reinvigorated, loose and energized, I launched into a project that I had been procrastinating about for some time. My conclusion is this; Myofascial movement and release therapy can help release stuck feeling body parts and bring fluidity back to the body. It can also help to manifest movement in stuck parts of our lives." Scott Miller 2022
"The care I receive working with Emily is like she's a loving sister. Emily is so knowledgeable that the body exploration and connections in every session can be varied from props, positions and timing, all the while explaining treatment details in both professional and spiritual ways. Emily encourages me to notice, listen to & remember how to move my body between our meetings. Emily is patient kind and asks questions.
I trust her implicitly." Karen Kessler 2022
"I have had the most amazing homecoming to my own body through my work with Emily. Using MFR through zoom we have worked on some lingering symptoms from having had COVID and some other body/mind questions. I have experienced a profound shift in my feeling of being peaceful inside my body and moving from a place of fear to a place of love. The simple body mechanics of MFR make so much sense and I’m so grateful to have found this healing modality! And the gracious warmth of Emily." lovely anonymous human 4/15/21
"Emily thinks about healing in ways that blow your mind & yet are completely known to your body. When you experience bodywork with Emily, you are literally in good hands. She knows her stuff, shares information easily and is a pleasure to spend time with. More importantly, when you end a session you feel more grounded, literally and clear. It is a wonderful partnership" Gari Julius Weilbacher 2021
"I've been taking functional movement classes with Emily Smith through Crowdsourcing Delight. on Tuesdays at 4:30pm. EST. She's deeply knowledgeable about how the body moves- every class I'm learning so much at the same time that I'm getting a work out. You can do as much or as little as you want to your capacity. It's really good." - Etja 2021
"The expansive experience earned through Myofascial Release allows for a clear connection of pathways throughout the networks of windy rivers and roads I visualize as my fascia. I'm a surfer, and I think release feels similar to the energy that propels you along the surface of a wave while surfing. Being able to bring my mind and body closer together has allowed me to explore each wave in life. Now, rather then fighting the daily stress that coincides with human nature, I am able to embrace it, allowing a more homeostatic response." Logan Young 2017
"When I first met Emily and she told me about treating my various pains using Myofascial techniques, I was very skeptical.
After a few treatments, I found I was becoming more flexible, with less pain. At one point, after I had injured myself lifting weights, I could hardly walk. I could have used a walker, almost completely crippled. After receiving one hour hands-on treatment with Emily, I was able to move about with ease within two days. Emily has treated me since as needed. Her treatments are non invasive, painless and a better alternative than surgery or pills.
Emily does more than just treat. Emily cares about her clients. She explains what she is doing and why and gives you appropriate exercises. When I am in pain, she helps me remember I am adaptable. I tell her she fixed me, she says I was never broken.
I recommend her for anyone having pain, needing flexibility, or improving their overall health." Larry 2017
"Emily is one of the most gifted healers I’ve ever worked with - I've been her client both as a body worker and a personal trainer. I particularly appreciate the breadth of her expertise in multiple modalities including myofascial release, qi gong, yoga, pilates, and original strength. What I believe makes her unique, is her drive to get to the heart of the matter. Emily diligently worked with me to identify the root causes of my pain patterns and as she helped my body to unwind, she developed and adapted individualized, targeted treatment plans. What I most appreciate about Emily is how she has helped me to understand my own body, which has allowed me to become my own bodyworker and personal trainer." Alison Deutsch 2018
I highly recommend Emily. She is a gifted, sensitive, highly trained and intuitive healer. I started with body work (myofascial release) and as I started to feel better progressed to add movement as well (personal training). In addition to skills, what I most appreciated about working with her was how she always generously shares her knowledge, educating me so I can improve my own body awareness and continue many of the exercises on my own between sessions accelerating my healing journey." Alison Deutsch 2022
"I met Emily as a student in her class, Evolving Pilates at Main Line School Night and I have been a regular Myofascial Release patient for several years. Emily knows my body so well and is a definite plus in my life. I have I have had great success working with Emily to help neuropathy in my legs and feet as a result of chemotherapy and radiation. She treats areas that need help." Ann Orr 2017
I slipped hiking and before I had even landed on my hip and wrist, I thought, "How will I recover without a chiropractor visit and survive pandemic life without my daily walk and yoga?!" I would never have guessed that something so simple as lying on a pillow and breathing through my nose could help me get moving again. After a couple of days of sitting, lying down, and moving with fairly constant discomfort, Emily serendipitously texted me to check in from Alaska. We scheduled an initial 15-minute session that same day on FaceTime. She had a look to see how I was carrying my body. Then, she guided me through a few simple techniques that provided immediate relief and helped me reclaim mobility. Within 2 days of practice, I experienced release, re-aligned movement and could get through my day with less pain. After 3 more mini-sessions and as my injury felt less acute, we layered on a few more techniques. Within the week, I fully returned to normal activity. I have integrated what I learned into my movement practices, especially when I start to feel restrictions again. Still feeling amazed I could create results like this on my own without ever being touched." Kasey Thompson 2021
"Have always appreciated work with Emily, which became even more game-changing during my recovery from an ACL replacement. A combo of remote work & hands-on sessions with her made a World of difference, looking at the whole body system, when PT only wanted to focus just on my knee." Kasey Thompson 2020
"In these troubling times, it's been a real comfort for me to continue my weekly sessions with Emily via FaceTime. I consider Emily my "movement therapist." Her message and methods are all about keeping the body fluid and in motion, without pain. She has taught me to pay attention to my body and how to heal myself gently when some part of my body is sore, tense or in pain. I truly believe that my work with Emily has been important to my overall physical and mental health. "
Karen Gelman 2020
Emily is comforting, healing and smart. She helps the body and mind heal. She helps me tune in to my body. I address imbalances as she guides me through customized MFR techniques. I experience relieve occasional pain and discomfort and the work I do with her helps keep me feeling young and flexible. Recently, after neglecting my routine, my right shoulder was restricted with limited movement and pain. I returned to the practice I learned from Emily and felt immediate release and less pain. While lying on my back, I placed a soft yellow ball under my right shoulder with a yoga block holding my head . I rested in this position for 15-20 minutes and now the right shoulder restriction is gone! I will not forget how valuable it is to compress the back of the head!
Though our sessions are now online, Emily can access my body and recommend customized techniques to ease tension and help tissues re-hydrate. I have experienced the benefits of compression and decompression on my body from Emily’s skilled teaching and guidance. I feel great! Mindy Glassman 2019
"One of the many challenges to this strange time is missing my in person session each week with Emily - her guiding words, her thoughtful observations and suggestions, her knowledge of my body (and my creaky spots) through years of practice together, and her touch. Save for one of these - I really miss your hands Emily! - I am so appreciative that I still have her to reach out to and to work with. It's surprising how much she can see on that little screen, but she has been able to identify just the work I need to get life into my dormant tissues. Thank you so much!" Betsy H 2020
"When I practice the techniques my sister taught me, I not only relieve the signals that reminded me to listen, I forget about the symptoms I had all together. It is as if my mind and body have amnesia of pain ever existing. Freedom to move is the reminder to keep up my practice to prevent loss of mobility and pain from coming back. With her words and with or without her touch, I continuously help myself move out of debilitating pain." Damian Smith 2016