Ellington

Meeting Erik MacKinnon, 36, and Stephanie Miller, 32, is like crossing paths with the Tasmanian devil and Tinkerbell. A consistent smile and a staccato laughter usually float around Stephanie, especially when she is with her industrious four-year love interest, MacKinnon. The two have dedicated their lives to healing through massage, and though their approaches differ, they are both passionate about the good that massage therapy can do.

MacKinnon, a robust character with sincere eyes, was born in Seattle and worked in the construction field well into his 30s, but ultimately discovered his interest in massage: "My dad was a very intuitive man, and he was able to use those talents for healing. I was always amazed by how well he listened and observed people, and I knew, by age 21, that I was more like him than I ever thought."

MacKinnon moved to Mississippi in 2000 and attended the Mississippi School of Therapeutic Massage in 2002. He is well known for his deep-tissue massage, but recently MacKinnon's been practicing Thai yoga massage, and his clients are getting better, longer lasting results. Kneading muscles, which dominates in Western-style massage, is absent from Thai yoga massage: Energy points are pressed or general pressure is used instead, and there is a lot of stretching involved.

MacKinnon shares bodywork space at Alternative Therapies in Fondren, and the couple just bought a house nearby.

"I have been watching Fondren grow, and I knew that eventually I wanted to work and live here," he says. "I think it is a perfect place to have a healing environment that is relaxing and convenient."

Miller, a petite 5 feet, moved here from Dallas in 2000 to attend the Mississippi School of Therapeutic Massage. Mississippi requires 700 hours of education to become a licensed massage therapist, one of the highest in the nation.

Miller pursues a more technical approach to massage. "I love to learn," she says. "I am always searching for new information on anatomy and physiology and how it pertains to my practice. I am especially pleased with how open Western medicine is becoming about the effectiveness of massage." Stephanie practices at Professional Fitness on Old Canton Road, which offers personal training, Pilates, private yoga classes, physical therapy and a spa.

Watching Erik and Stephanie together is heart-warming—it is obvious that their love for massage therapy is rivaled only by their love for one another. With so much care and goodness exuding from these two therapists, you can only guess how special their massages are.