ayurvedic massage with cassandra
Specialities: Therapeutic Massage, Pre/Postatal Massage, Lymphatic Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy
GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST VISIT WITH CODE: CASSANDRA30
Cassandra Cantu, Licensed Massage Therapist
GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST VISIT WITH CODE: CASSANDRA30
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Cassandra's path to healing has been anything but conventional—and that's precisely what makes her such a valuable presence at The Buddha's Medicine. Her journey began nearly a decade ago in the mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado, where she completed her massage therapy training and opened her first practice. From there, she followed her curiosity to Glacier, Washington, where she deepened her understanding of holistic medicine, human anatomy, and the body's remarkable capacity for healing.
Now rooted in the Portland community, Cassandra is starting here at The Buddha's Medicine in her third year of doctoral studies in Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). This advanced training informs every session she offers—bringing together rigorous anatomical and biochemical knowledge with the intuitive, heart-centered care that has always defined her work.
What sets Cassandra apart is the breadth of her life experience. She has served as a volunteer firefighter, worked as a commercial salmon fisherman in Alaska, studied sustainable engineering, and lived as a Rotary exchange student in Denmark. These experiences have cultivated resilience, presence under pressure, and a deep respect for the body's strength and vulnerability. She brings this grounded, embodied wisdom into her bodywork practice.
Cassandra's heart mission is to create safe, healing, and inclusive spaces for her community. Whether you're an athlete seeking recovery support, someone navigating chronic pain, or simply in need of restoration, she meets you with both clinical precision and genuine care—supporting long-term balance, and not just temporary relief.
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Licensed Massage Therapist with nearly a decade of clinical experience, Oregon (OBMT# 28163)
Doctoral Student in Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine (2023–Present)
Specialized training in Neuromuscular Therapy, Tuina (Chinese Medical Massage), and QiGong
Background in emergency medical response as a Volunteer Firefighter and EMT
Experience across private practice, wellness centers, and community settings
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Massage Therapy & Bodywork Training:
750-Hour Licensed Massage Therapy Program, Mountain Heart School of BodyWork, Crested Butte, CO (2016)
200-Hour Transformational Neuromuscular Therapy, with Craig McLaughlin
100-Hour Tuina (Chinese Medical Massage), with Dr. Yan Lu
200-Hour Jinjing Qi Gong Lineage Training, with Dr. Heiner Fruehauf, Bill Morgan, & Dr. Laurie Regan
100-Hour Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, with Anna Peterson, ND & Thomas Walton, CD
Internal Organ Massage & Balancing
Additional Education:
Doctorate in Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine (in progress), National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR (2023–Present)
Structural Firefighter, Wildland Firefighter & EMT, Whatcom County Fire School (2021)
B.S. Sustainability Studies, Colorado Mountain College (2015–2019)
Sustainable Engineering & Design Studies, Texas State University (2011–2015)
Specialized Modalities:
Myofascial Release
Neuromuscular Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy
Sports & Injury Massage
Pre/Postnatal Massage
Lymphatic Techniques
Tuina (Chinese Medical Massage)
Internal Organ & Meridian Balancing
Qi Gong-Informed Bodywork
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Cassandra is drawn to healing traditions that look beyond symptoms to the deeper patterns of imbalance underneath. Her studies in both Chinese Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine have deepened her understanding that true healing addresses the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—rather than isolated complaints.
Her approach weaves together rigorous anatomical knowledge with intuitive sensitivity. Years of hands-on practice have taught her to listen not only to what clients share verbally, but to what their tissues communicate through tension, restriction, and holding patterns. This dual awareness—scientific and intuitive—allows her to create sessions that are both precisely therapeutic and deeply nurturing.
Cassandra's life experiences have shaped her into a practitioner who is fully present, grounded, and unflappable. Whether responding to emergencies as a firefighter or navigating the physical demands of commercial fishing, she has learned to stay centered under pressure and to trust the body's innate capacity for resilience and repair. She brings this same steady presence to every session.
At The Buddha's Medicine, Cassandra is eager to continue expanding her understanding of Ayurvedic principles—seeing natural alignment between Ayurveda's constitutional approach and the pattern-based thinking of Chinese Medicine. Her presence on our team reflects our commitment to practitioners who honor ancient wisdom while bringing modern clinical rigor to their work.
Cassandra holds sessions that support long-term balance and restoration—not just temporary relief.
“We’ve all had our own experiences with the hard and ugly parts of life, and I find joy in learning about different tools and techniques to reduce pain and limitations. The work I do is largely energetic, which means that I intentionally create a environment where my clients are able to lean into my nervous system and lean into their own nervous system, and it’s a constant dialogue. Through co-regulation, neuroception, and interoception, we naturally attune to one another. For me, the most rewarding part of guiding others is holding that space where a client's body feels safe enough to soften, to regulate, and to find its own rhythm again. Witnessing that shift, a moment where someone drops a layer of tension they've have been carrying is something I really enjoy and it leaves me in a state of total peace and balance too!
Practicing in an Ayurvedic clinic allows me to connect the circle between physical bodywork therapy and honoring whole person care. This means I get to understand each client not just as a body with musculoskeletal imbalances, but as a complete being with their unique constitution, story, and path.”
— Cassandra Cantu, LMT
Get Scheduled
Receive 30% off your first visit using code: CASSANDRA30
Specialties / Services
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
This restorative session focuses on releasing tension and restrictions held within muscles and the fascial web that surrounds them. Cassandra's myofascial work promotes deep relaxation, improved circulation, nervous system regulation, and enhanced immune function. Using sustained pressure and gentle stretching techniques, she helps restore the body's natural fluidity and ease. This session is ideal for those seeking a deeply therapeutic yet nurturing experience—particularly beneficial for stress, chronic tension, and overall restoration.
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
Drawing from her 200 hours of specialized training in Transformational Neuromuscular Therapy, Cassandra offers focused, clinical bodywork designed to address specific muscular dysfunction. This session incorporates trigger point therapy, pin-and-stretch techniques, and range-of-motion work to release adhesions, reduce chronic tension, enhance flexibility, and support recovery from injury. Ideal for athletes, active individuals, and anyone dealing with persistent pain patterns that haven't responded to general massage. Cassandra's anatomical precision ensures targeted, effective treatment.
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
Whether you're training for competition, recovering from an event, or rehabilitating an injury, this session is tailored to meeting your body's specific demands. Cassandra combines neuromuscular techniques, myofascial release, and targeted stretching to address muscle fatigue, prevent injury, and optimize athletic performance. Her background—including the physical rigors of firefighting and commercial fishing—gives her firsthand understanding of what working bodies need. Sessions are goal-oriented and adapted to your sport, training phase, and recovery timeline.
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
Pregnancy brings profound changes to the body, and compassionate, skilled touch can provide meaningful support throughout this journey. Cassandra's prenatal massage offers safe, nurturing care that addresses common discomforts—back pain, hip tension, swelling, and fatigue—while honoring the sacred nature of this transformative time. Postnatal sessions support recovery, help restore alignment, and offer new parents a much-needed space for rest and restoration. Cassandra creates a warm, inclusive environment where you can relax fully and reconnect with your changing body.
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
The lymphatic system plays a vital role in immune function, detoxification, and fluid balance throughout the body. Cassandra's lymphatic work uses gentle, rhythmic techniques to encourage lymph flow, reduce swelling, and support the body's natural cleansing processes. This session is particularly beneficial for those experiencing edema, recovering from surgery or illness, dealing with chronic inflammation, or simply seeking gentle, deeply relaxing bodywork that supports overall vitality.
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
Tuina is a traditional Chinese bodywork modality that Cassandra studied under Dr. Yan Lu. This therapeutic approach uses rhythmic compression, acupressure, and manipulation techniques along the body's meridian pathways to promote the smooth flow of Qi (vital energy), relieve pain, and address both musculoskeletal and internal imbalances. Tuina bridges the gap between massage therapy and Chinese Medicine, offering clinical benefits while honoring ancient healing wisdom. This modality complements our clinic's integrative approach beautifully.
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
This specialized session draws from Cassandra's training in internal organ massage and her ongoing studies in Chinese Medicine. Working gently with the abdomen and along meridian pathways, she helps release restrictions, improve organ function, and restore energetic balance throughout the body. This work is particularly beneficial for digestive concerns, stress held in the belly, and those seeking a deeper level of whole-body integration. Sessions are gentle, meditative, and profoundly restorative.
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60 minutes - $140 | 90 minutes - $210
For those seeking comprehensive care, Cassandra offers integrated sessions that draw fluidly from her full range of training—myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, Tuina, lymphatic techniques, and meridian balancing. This customized approach allows her to respond to what your body needs in the moment, creating a truly personalized healing experience. Whether you arrive with specific therapeutic goals or simply want to feel more balanced and whole, this session offers the time and space for deep, meaningful bodywork.
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Cassandra practices at The Buddha's Medicine in SE Portland, Oregon, where she brings her expertise in myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, Tui Na, lymphatic techniques, and meridian balancing to the Laurelhurst neighborhood. Her integrated bodywork approach draws fluidly from her full range of training, offering Portland clients a truly personalized healing experience.
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Massage therapy appointments are available to both new and established clients of The Buddha's Medicine. You do not need to be Dr. Matt's patient or Jamie's client to book a massage session!
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New clients will complete succinct, electronic intake forms covering massage history, key health information, and care preferences. This helps our LMTs understand your needs and tailor your session accordingly. Please make sure the required forms are completed at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment.
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We do not. Our free consultations are available only for those seeking care with Dr. Matt and/or Jamie. However, if you have questions about whether massage is appropriate for your concerns, you are welcome and encouraged to contact us directly before booking.
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For most sessions, you'll undress to your comfort level and be professionally draped throughout.
For Swedish, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, and most table-based massage, you'll undress to your comfort level and be professionally draped throughout the session.
For Table Thai Massage and Shiatsu, please wear or bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothing (yoga pants or sweat pants and a t-shirt work well) as these modalities are performed fully clothed.
For Tuina, if you prefer to remain clothed, comfortable, loose-fitting clothing works well.
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Avoid heavy meals immediately before your appointment.
Stay well-hydrated. Favor non-carbonated water and herbal teas.
Arrive a few minutes early to settle in, especially if it's your first visit.
Communicate openly with your LMT about your goals, pressure preferences, and any areas to focus on or avoid.
