Anders Totten

Anders is a Madison-based Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) who specializes in chronic pain and injury rehabilitation, employing myofascial approaches exclusively since beginning his clinical practice in 2015.

His journey into movement and manual therapy began in 2011, following a significant injury involving a carpal ligament disarticulation and associated nerve damage. This injury was repeatedly misdiagnosed, resulting in chronic pain, neuropathy, and a profound personal crisis—particularly impactful given his lifelong passion as a punk drummer since age nine. Ultimately, Anders found immediate relief through self-applied acupressure discovered during a simple Google Image search. With no other effective treatment in sight, he enrolled in massage therapy school in 2013, driven by the determination to heal himself and others.

Anders has since explored diverse movement and bodywork modalities to manage pain and enhance wellness, including weightlifting, yoga, calisthenics, Pilates, martial arts, and continued drumming. Initially trained in Myofascial Release and Neuromuscular Therapy, he deepened his expertise by achieving formal certification in Structural Integration through the Anatomy Trains Structural Integration (ATSI) program under Thomas Myers in 2021. This rigorous training significantly expanded his knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and the interconnectedness of physical and emotional well-being.

Since his ATSI graduation in 2022, Anders has actively pursued advanced education with Anatomy Trains, participating in cadaver dissections, attaining advanced ATSI certification, and exploring Anatomy Trains in Motion. He maintains professional memberships with the International Association for Structural Integrators, the Fascia Research Society, and Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals.

Beyond bodywork, Anders engages deeply with Astrology, Human Design, poetry, and songwriting, reflecting his broad interest in the complexities of human experience. He is recognized for his empathetic insight into the enduring strength of the human spirit and the innate potential within each individual. Anders prioritizes authenticity and careful listening, creating a therapeutic environment characterized by genuine inquiry and respect.

Anders has extensive experience working with a diverse array of athletes, including swimmers, skiers, yogis, runners, cyclists, and weightlifters. However, he passionately believes everyone is an athlete navigating the demands of daily life—whether competing in sports or simply rising each morning with resilience.

Education and Certifications

Initial Hands-on Program & Tui Na Certification  
 East-West Healing Arts Institute Massage Therapy Program, Madison, WI  
800-hour program, clinic and apprenticeship, August 2014  

Myofascial Release I, Cervical-Thoracic, Rebounding & Unwinding  
 John Barnes & Carol Davis – Spokane, WA; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN  
 2016–2017  

Neuromuscular Therapy for Upper Extremity (American Version, NMT)  
 Donald Kelley – Greensboro, NC  
September 2017  

Certified Structural Integrator: Anatomy Trains Structural Integration (ATSI)
 Thomas Myers, Kelly Chadwick, Lou Benson, Cristy Harper, Wojtek Cackowski – Walpole, ME  
 640-hour program completed June 2022  

6th International Fascia Research Congress  
 Montreal, QC, Canada  
 September 2022  

Anatomy Trains Fascial Dissection (Untreated/Fresh Cadaver Lab)  
 Thomas Myers & Todd Garcia – Boulder, CO  
 40 hours, April 2023  

Manual Neurovascular Release for Structural Integration (Part 1)  
 Kieran Schumaker – Walpole, ME  
 June 2023

Education and Certifications (Continued)

Anatomy Trains ZOGA Face Integration 1  
 Wojtek Cackowski – San Diego, CA  
 July 2023  

Anatomy Trains in Motion, Slings Essentials & Slings in Motion 1 (Fascially-Informed Pilates Variant)  
 Karin Gurtner – Walpole, ME  
 August 2023  

ATSI Advanced Module 3: Centered Reaching – Shoulders & Arms  
 Tom Myers – Walpole, ME  
September 2023  

Sciatica & Disc Issues  
 Til Luchau – Walpole, ME  
 August 2024  

Pelvis, Hip & Sacrum I & II  
 Til Luchau – Walpole, ME  
 August 2024  

ATSI Advanced Module 4: The Upper Pole – Techniques for Skull, Jaw, Neck  
 Tom Myers – Walpole, ME  
 August 2024  

ATSI Advanced Module 1: Deeper Grounding – Legs, Pelvis & Gait  
 Tom Myers – Walpole, ME  
August 2024

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What My Clients Say

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"By the end of the tenth session, I could hardly believe the transformation that took place over time. Only by looking back to session one can I truly appreciate how far I’ve come. The changes were incremental, and minuscule at times, but that’s how lasting change eventuates."

Laura Thomas

"Eleven months ago, at the age of 22, I had a spinal repair of my L5-S1 vertebrae. This was the last resort to continuing back issues from the age of 10.  I am currently pain free and have not felt this good in a very long time.  If bodywork is desired, then Alex is the person to see."

Michael Locasto

"As a licensed therapeutic bodyworker myself, I choose Alex as my bodywork therapist.  It is the focus, self-authenticity, and centered presence that Alex brings to his work that truly makes him a gifted healer."

Courtney Cowie, LMBT

"He works with both confidence and curiosity, and has a special ability to hold space for his clients free from judgement and expectation. As a result of this work I now inhabit my body in new ways."

Annemarie Kalson

"For the last 15+ years I’ve learned to function outside of my body as a method to suppress emotions and also as a protective means in an effort to deal with chronic pain. Not only has Ellen helped me find the ability to listen to my body, but she helped me find my voice and confidence, both of which I was previously greatly lacking. Ellen was a voice of strength when celebrating my success, and she also provided unwavering support when some of the work brought up “old stuff” that felt scary for a short time. To infer that the work we’ve done together has been transformational would truly be an understatement. Not only has my physical pain reduced, my relationships with my family and partner have flourished due to my ability to regulate myself and effectively communicate needs and hold appropriate boundaries. I am so grateful to Ellen for all she has done, and I look forward to continuing our work together as we continue to work on releasing the chronic stress and tension in my body, helping to calm my nervous system, and ultimately move toward an even more comfortable state of embodiment."

"Working with Ellen one-on-one was an incredible deep dive into self-knowledge through experiencing my body. Where Ellen shines is her talent for creating a space for exploration that is gentle, honest, safe, and empowering all at once. Ellen’s knowledge and expertise are clear, but her approach is one of partnership. And it works! I clearly see the physical and emotional results."

"I've always been someone who'd rather be in the library than at the gym. So when I seriously herniated a disc in my lower back, I was completely unprepared for the recovery process. The injury was very bad, and I had to have surgery for pain relief. The surgery was successful, but for many years my core and leg muscles remained incredibly weak and intractable, and I was living with chronic nerve pain in my legs.

Then, after multiple unsuccessful rounds of physical therapy, I met Ellen, and working with her changed my life. She met me where I was with my body and mind-body connection, which felt like rock bottom. She taught me fundamental somatics exercises for recovering command of my body, and radical knowledge for developing my own daily somatics practices. It's not an exaggeration to say her therapy renewed my relationship with myself. Today I feel more cognizant and comfortable in my body than I've ever felt before in my life. My daily life isn't organized around nerve pain anymore, and I'm able to relax and move again. I actually feel more desire to move and grow than ever before. I can't testify to her work and wisdom enthusiastically enough."

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