“Why did you decide to become a massage therapist?” I’ve received this question more times than I can count and it is a fair question since I do not have a linear path to this field. While my journey may not be traditional, it guides everything that I do and allows me to serve my clients in unique ways.
My name is Yessenia Tolentino, I am a licensed massage therapist in the state of Delaware and I am the owner of Colibrí Massage & Bodyworks. As the descendant of Indigenous Mexican ancestors, I am proud to celebrate my culture in many ways but perhaps the business name gives it away. In case you were wondering, Colibrí means hummingbird in Spanish. Aside from the name, when you step into my massage room, you might see splashes of color here and there with artesanal decorations, as they are a favorite for me.
I attended the University of Delaware where I majored in Women & Gender studies and minored in Latin American Studies. During my time at the university, I was lucky enough to take introductory courses in Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese. I had also taken French in high school (a shout out to my fellow Colonials!). As a bilingual (Spanish/English) community member, I’ve always been very curious about other languages and cultures so I was excited to have access to more languages in college (just don’t ask me to show off my skills, it’s been a while!!).
After leaving college, I explored many different career fields, each one allowing me to get to know the community better. I’ve always believed that in order to best help your community, you must be open to really knowing people, places, and situations. I’ve worked in food service, grassroots organizing, classroom management, school administration, and even in a hospital setting (before and during the pandemic). The one commonality across all of the spaces I’ve explored is stress. Most people I’ve encountered are dealing with some sort of stress and all of my interactions with the community made me sure that I wanted to do my small part to make people’s lives better.
So, in 2019, I decided to go back to school to study Massage Therapy. In June 2020, I graduated with my diploma from the Academy of Massage & Bodywork in Bear, Delaware, after having completed an intense 600+ hours of coursework. My studies included courses in anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, massage theory and technique, and so much more. After becoming certified, I took and passed the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEX), this exam is governed by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. I then proudly submitted my application, and was approved, to become licensed in massage therapy. In February 2021, Colibrí Massage & Bodyworks was founded with the intention to promote self care and wellness for all.
I invite you to take a look at the modalities and techniques that I have learned so far. I love learning and I am continuously furthering my education in order to add to my practice. While I offer different services, therapeutic massage is a favorite for me, but I’ll save that topic for a different day!
As a massage therapist, I am able to hold space for people to reconnect mind and body, facilitating their healing journey so that they may continue to fulfill the important roles they each play to keep our daily operations going strong. I have come to find that running Colibrí Massage & Bodyworks allows me to have the biggest impact on my community. I love what I do and that I can make people feel a little better after each visit. Whether it is to take a moment away from a busy schedule to relax or to address that neck and shoulder pain from spending long hours in front of a computer, I am here to help and I can’t wait to meet you!