kim johnson

Growing up in the Upper Peninisula, movement and nature were a part of everyday life. The moment I stepped into the dance studio at Northern Michigan Dance Academy at age 10, it sparked a passion and I have dedicated my career to dance, movement, the body, and one's wellness journey. I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2001. From 2000 to 2023, I was a dance instructor, performer, and administrator in Milwaukee, WI, teaching at Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy and UW-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts Department of Dance. I was blessed to perform with Danceworks Performance Company for 20 seasons, dancing in over 50 concerts, and still teach for Danceworks Studio through a virtual platform.

Desiring a deeper understanding of the body, I enrolled in Medical Intensive Track at Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork. Like the first time I stepped into the dance studio, I fell in love with massage my first class. After becoming licensed in Wisconsin and Michigan, I began my massage therapy career at Invivo PT and Wellness, Cream City PT & Wellnss, and Seva Therapeutic Massage before primarily shifting to my own practice, Koivu Massage & Wellness, LLC, originally located in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. The years of working with a vast variety of clients and mentors showed me how unique every client’s condition is and how rarely there is ever one recipe of treatment. When customizing each session, I use neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, cupping, and Swedish relaxation modalities to help with stress relief, headaches, TMJ Dysfunction, plantar fasciitis, easing chronic tension, and more.

Dance taught me that you can never learn or practice enough. I bring this lesson into my massage practice and have been committed to taking continuing education courses since graduating in hopes of bettering my palpation skills, understanding physical dysfunction, and how to best treat various pathologies. I am a passionate and dedicated student of Precision Neuromuscular Therapy, along with myofascial release approaches. Some sessions can be strictly therapeutic while others are purely relaxation. The majority of my clients request a fusion of relaxation and therapeutic modalities, which I love doing. It’s a beautiful dance of flow and intentional touch, always with the goal of knowing what I am touching and why. I strive to listen to my client, assess their needs, and use clinical reasoning to create an effective treatment plan.

I have a sincere love for connecting people to their bodies, building community, creating safe and inclusive environments, and serving others in hopes of enriching their life through movement, touch, and kinesthetic awarenenss. I'm beyond thrilled to be back in my hometown sharing the gift of massage therapy and dance with the community. I look forward to meeting you!