Healing Through Movement and Inner Wisdom – Exclusive Interview with Kicki Hjortmarker
- May 5
- 8 min read
Kicki Hjortmarker has a solid background in the hands-on healing field treating people with injuries and chronic pain conditions. With a holistic approach she integrates Neuromusclular Massage Thearpy, Craniosacral Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Pilates, and more.
To practice the artistry of mind, bodywork and massage therapy has been Kicki's lifelong passion. It started with the awareness of her own body as a child and ballet dancer, and, later as a gymnast who developed chronic lower back pain whilst on the Swedish National Team in Rhythmic Sports Gymnastics.
Decades later she overcame nerve damage and temporary paralysis in one hand. This taught her to trust the healing power of body and mind, and that the body prefers holistic healing methods over conventional treatments. Her mission is to encourage and inspire others to do the same. To trust the healing power of body, mind, and spirit!
Kicki Katarina Hjortmarker, Holistic Bodyworker
Who is Kicki Hjortmarker both personally and professionally?
I am a passionate person who is an explorer, a teacher, a dancer, and an eternal student of life. I have always loved to express myself through movement and dance, so in my spare time I hike in the mountains, take a stroll on the beach, dance whenever I can, or jog in the white water.
Breathwork, yoga, and Pilates, meditation, or receiving a massage all help me to reset my energy and find equilibrium.
I thrive when working and connecting with people. I have a zest for traveling, and I visit my home country, Sweden, often to hang out with family and good old friends. I settled in LA in 2005 and have found my comfortable spot here. This area has so much to offer with a gorgeous coast and amazing weather. Traffic sucks, but I am lucky to not have to deal with it all that often.
I am an animal lover and used to foster cats. Those who decided to stay with me crack me up every day. They teach me about communication, movement, physiology, and psychology. It’s quite interesting to study their behavior.
I like to feel the ground beneath my feet and kick my shoes off whenever I can, especially indoors. It’s a Swedish thing. I take a nap on the beach when my batteries need to be recharged. It soothes my soul. I strive to bring my best self into my professional self. I like to meet my clients with a vibrant, peaceful, and caring energy while giving them my full attention, presence, and focus.
When facilitating body and mind work, I also aim to be in “the zone.” That’s when my awareness is focused, I have a very strong sense of what my client needs from me, and I follow the guidance of their body. The energy is open and welcoming, immersed, and stable. The room is filled with therapeutic presence and love. Time stands still.
This doesn’t always happen, but when it does, the best work is taking place, and it feels amazing. I thrive when problem solving, and I see difficult cases as a challenge. I am relentless and always do my utmost to find a solution and facilitate healing.
Tell us more about your passion for life. What in life are you passionate about?
The design and function of the human brain, body, and mind fascinate me. Psychology and nutrition science excite me just as much. I am always reading and listening to podcasts, and I am captivated by new studies, evidence, and theories. I am passionate about growing as a human being as I learn about the world, the human condition, and how our body is affected by our thought patterns as well as the environment and people around us. To contemplate all this has truly been a lifelong journey.
A lifelong journey? How old were you when you started this journey and how did it start?
I started paying attention to imbalances in my body at 7 years old. I had just started dancing ballet and remember the time clearly when I became aware of my body. I experienced my body as being separate from my mind, and I observed what happened in my body. Before this moment, I had always thought of myself as “I am my body.”
One day in first grade, I was walking with the other kids to get lunch in the school canteen. As I was walking, I became aware of the arch in my lower back, and my bottom was swaying out more than normal. It felt weird walking that way, but it just happened. I was perplexed by how the body did something that I seemed to have no control over.
Then, somehow, I automatically pulled my pelvis underneath me and it felt better, but I thought, should I really have to think about this? Shouldn’t things in the body just be in one place in a certain way and stay there?
I think this is the moment when I realized that we have an inner wisdom. It took form in body and mind, and I started to cultivate my body and mind awareness.
Would you say that this “inner wisdom” is part of your work?
Yes, absolutely. I would say that it is the foundation of my work. When I work with someone, I pay attention to their inner wisdom, and their body always has something to tell me. The information I receive from the client doesn’t just come from what they say or what they write on the intake form.
Sometimes I am given a tremendous amount of information during the intake. It is good information to have, but I also have to make sure that it doesn’t get in the way of what I feel in the client’s body.
As soon as I center myself and merge my energy with theirs, their body starts to show me where I am needed. Usually, it is in the form of a twitch, an energetic push, pull, or flutter, a temperature change, a contraction, a release, a change in heart rate, or a deep sigh.
What inspired you to become a holistic wellness and massage expert?
It wasn’t one single thing. As I mentioned earlier, it has been a journey. All of what I have experienced in life, the difficult times and my own injuries, has led me to constantly read, practice, figure things out in my own body, attend workshops and seminars, explore, and research new information.
At a young age, I wanted to heal myself and was always striving for perfect health. After years of doing this, I had gathered enough knowledge to guide and facilitate healing for others. I feel like it has come naturally to me, but that certainly doesn’t mean it hasn’t been hard work combined with a never ending thirst for knowledge.
What problems do you solve for your clients most often?
The most common problems are back, hip, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as stress and anxiety. Back and neck pain are the number one complaints, but often this leads to other problems like headaches, jaw pain, TMJ, anxiety, and stress, so I deal with those almost equally as much.
How does your method differ from other therapists or wellness programs?
I don’t have a specific protocol that I follow. Even if two people have similar symptoms, the treatment will never be the same. I see and listen to what is needed in each specific situation and for each individual.
I always take a look at posture first to gather information. However, as I start working hands on, I put this in the back of my mind because I know that the most important information will show up as soon as I start communicating with the body.
I often integrate several modalities and methods to break up scar tissue, release trigger points, calm down or sometimes stimulate the nervous system, reeducate muscular tissues, promote relaxation, facilitate blood, lymph, and energy flow, bring oxygen to deprived areas, and help the body find homeostasis.
When I feel it would be helpful to involve the mind, I integrate hypnotic imagery and Reiki if the client is open to it. If deeper issues arise, I may suggest a full hypnotherapy session. If needed, I also recommend exercises or focused Pilates sessions.
What are the biggest changes clients notice after working with you?
Significant reduction in pain and stress levels. Most clients report pain relief, better range of motion, increased mobility, and better sleep.
Other outcomes include feeling lighter, more positive, and more relaxed. A renewed motivation to take charge of their own healing is also frequently reported.
Which techniques do you rely on the most and why?
I almost always use Neuromuscular Therapy with trigger point release. It is very effective and can provide immediate pain relief. I frequently combine this with Craniosacral Therapy and Reiki to calm the nervous system.
Very sensitive people, or those not used to touch, may not tolerate the pressure of trigger point release. In these cases, it is beneficial to prepare the body with a gentler approach such as Craniosacral Therapy, Swedish massage, and Reiki.
Can you share any stories where you helped clients achieve life changing results?
Sure, to mention a few:
Margo is a fit middle aged woman who had a severely frozen shoulder when I first met her. She had tried physical therapy for a year but was still in pain and couldn’t sleep through the night. After a few 90 minute treatments over a couple of weeks, she improved slightly but felt discouraged. She took a break to rule out underlying illness. All tests came back normal. We resumed treatment, and within weeks, she was sleeping four hours per night instead of one to two. Her range of motion improved. After several more sessions, she fully recovered and now comes in only for maintenance.
Matthew, a teenage boy, had debilitating migraines for a month. He missed school frequently despite trying injections and medication. After one integrated session, he left smiling, with nausea and headaches almost gone. He returned to school the following Monday.
Maria came in with chronic hip pain and expected to need surgery. Imaging confirmed arthritis. I suggested Pilates, and after six months, her strength improved significantly and her pain disappeared.
Corleen was resistant to exercise and extremely sensitive to touch after illness. After a hypnotherapy session, she became motivated, joined a gym, and began training. Three years later, she still works out regularly and feels stronger and more energized.
What are the most common misconceptions about your work?
A common misconception is that if pain moves after treatment, something is wrong. The opposite is true. It shows that the body has started healing.
Another misconception is that if there is little or no immediate relief, treatment isn’t working. Even without immediate results, the body begins adjusting, especially in chronic conditions.
A third misconception is that if pain disappears after one session, no further work is needed. This may be true for recent issues, but chronic conditions require consistency and self work.
Lastly, many believe my work only addresses muscles. In reality, it supports the whole body, including organs, the nervous system, fascia, tendons, lymph, and more. The work is often subtle, but it initiates deep internal changes that help restore balance.
Who can benefit the most from your services and how?
Anyone with myofascial pain such as shoulder, neck, back, leg, hip, wrist, elbow, or knee pain, as well as headaches, TMJ, and fibromyalgia.
Also, anyone experiencing low energy, stress, anxiety, lack of joy, or discomfort in their own body can benefit. My work is especially helpful for those ready to take charge of their healing with the support of a holistic professional who listens to their body. Take care of your health now.
Call or text: Kicki Hjortmarker
Mobile: 1(323) 404 6613
Read more from Kicki Katarina Hjortmarker
