Lisa Hamilt, Master-Level Sound Healer and International Best-Selling Author
By Jules Lavallee
Lisa Hamilt is a licensed and board certified massage therapist with over 17 years of experience. She graduated from Baltimore School of Massage in 2009 and is a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She currently owns and operates The House of Hamsa in Aurora, Colorado, where she was recently ranked #1 massage therapist in the area. She believes in living more mindfully through wellness and uses trauma-informed techniques to tap into the root cause of her client’s pain and discomfort. She is passionate about treating individuals as a whole and customizing each session accordingly. Lisa is also a master-level sound healer, registered yoga instructor and international best-selling author. When she’s not seeing clients, she can be found spending time with family, enjoying the great outdoors or volunteering at Flatirons Church, where she serves as a leader in the kids’ ministry.
What led you to your health and wellness journey?
I spent a long time pursuing a career in corporate retail, but the long hours and lifestyle took a toll on me. For my birthday one year, I decided to take a trip to visit a friend for a week, and she ended up introducing me to my future husband! When we decided to start a family together, that’s when my wellness journey really began. For the first time in my life, I was paying attention to my diet and exercising regularly. My goal was to become as healthy as possible before getting pregnant. I also wanted the ability to transition into becoming a stay-at-home mom, so financially, that meant finding a flexible part-time job. I started researching all types of trades and positions that would allow me to work opposite of my husband’s schedule. At first, I wasn’t even interested in massage therapy. I was actually more drawn to aesthetics. But after meeting with an encouraging advisor, I was reminded how amazing I felt after getting a massage myself. I thought, if I could do that for someone else, that would be pretty incredible. I had no idea how fulfilling this career path would become or how impactful it would be on my life. The people I’ve had the privilege of meeting and the different settings I’ve honed my skills. Clients ranging in age from 8 to 80 in chiropractic offices, a well-known massage chain, an upscale spa, yoga studios, CrossFit gyms and now my own private practice. I can truly say, I’m blessed beyond measure!
What challenges have you faced?
I think the biggest challenge I faced was being a military spouse. My husband was active duty enlisted for 20 years in the US Air Force. And although it provided a wonderful life for us, there were definitely some sacrifices along the way. Throughout his career, his government orders dictated where we lived, and how long we got to live there. Sometimes we’d have several months notice before having to relocate and others only a few weeks. Picking up your whole life and starting over, again and again is quite difficult. Making new friends, finding work, familiarizing yourself with new surroundings. You learn quickly not to get too comfortable or too attached to anyone or anything. Change was imminent. It became even more difficult as the kids got older, without any family around to lend support and navigating safe neighborhoods and good schools became part of the equation. Then were the times when my husband got called up for deployment. As a military spouse, you know this is always a possibility, but the overwhelming dread and fear that creeps in when it actually happens, is hard to articulate. I was proud of his service, but lonely and scared while he was away. I can definitely say it made me stronger, and I’m more resilient now because of it.
Tell us about the House of Hamsa. How do you use trauma-informed techniques to tap into the root cause of your clients pain?
The House of Hamsa was founded when I started diving deeper into my own healing. I was committed to sharing my gifts through a new lens, and living more mindfully through wellness. That meant prioritizing self-care, choosing chemical-free alternatives, and getting honest about how I was showing up in life. I was done pleasing and working in environments that dictated protocol or techniques to subdue symptoms. I wanted the freedom to treat clients as whole individuals and their bodies as the sum of their life experiences. Suppressed emotions can cause pain, injury and illness, and muscle memory from trauma gets stuck in the tissue. I use this approach when conducting new client intakes and consultation. It helps me get a broader sense of a client’s history and potential holding patterns. I like to discuss referred pain, connective tissue and potential for emotional release during the session. After reviewing the treatment plan and obtaining informed consent, clients are empowered to stop me at any time during their appointment. Especially because certain pressures, techniques or body positions can be triggering for some individuals. Previous victims of abuse of sexual assault may even have difficulty speaking up if they are uncomfortable, so I stay keenly aware of energy shifts, changes in body language or abnormal muscle contraction while working and always get permission before continuing.
What do your sessions look like?
My sessions are peaceful and therapeutic. From the moment clients step into the massage room, they can smell the aroma of relaxing essential oils in the air. The lighting is dim and they can hear ambient music playing softly in the distance. We chat for a few moments about how they are feeling, and the modalities I recommend for the appointment. Then I leave the room to wash my hands and allow them time to disrobe to their level of comfort. They get under the covers and between the sheets which have been warmed to a soothing temperature. I knock before entering and make any adjustments needed to the pillow supports. We take a few deep breaths of lavender to calm the nervous system and prepare for bodywork. I can feel their shoulders soften down away from their ears as I begin compressions over the blanket. These pumping strokes signal the body it’s safe to power down and circulation begins to increase. I’m checking their alignment and comparing where they told me they felt tension, to where I palpate it in the body. Undraping one area at a time, I use slow, deliberate strokes to start. Warming the tissue and allowing the client to get used to my touch. Each session is then customized differently based on client needs and preferences. I’m only talking to monitor pressure or notify them it’s time to turn over. Most people fall asleep. I love this because I know their bodies are in the optimal state for healing and repair. When the session comes to a close, I thank them and remind them to get off the table slowly when I leave the room. I wait for them to come out and greet them with a cup of water so they can start rehydrating immediately. Now when I ask them how they are feeling, it’s so dramatically different, physically, mentally, and emotionally that they eagerly book their next session before leaving the office!
You are an international best-selling author. Tell us about your book and hope for it.
I’m so proud of this accomplishment. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions and an unforgettable experience. I just got back from Times Square last week when the success of our book, The Moment We Rise, was celebrated on a billboard. It’s an anthology of 15 healers from around the world who share stories of trauma and triumph and turning pain into purpose. My chapter is entitled, Innate Wisdom and gives readers an up close account of my own personal suffering and when and where I was, when I discovered the intelligence of the body. Writing it helped me reclaim my voice and sharing it has connected me with a community of women who see themselves in my story. I hope our book continues to reach as many people as possible who are struggling and need reminding that they aren’t alone. That they are unconditionally loved, and what happened to them isn’t their fault, nor does it define them.
What is next?
The sky is the limit! There are so many doors opening and opportunities arising, I’m in a constant state of excitement. Personally, I’ve just partnered up with a local outreach here in Colorado to share my gifts with a community of women who have recently left the sex trafficking industry. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for these women as they rehabilitate and reclaim their identity in Christ. To start, I’ll be facilitating sound healing sessions as part of their recovery. Professionally, I’m looking to expand my practice, both in square footage and services offered. I have a few ideas in mind but until they are fully developed, I’m going to keep them under wraps. You can follow me on social media for updates in the near future, but ultimately, I’d love to take my passion and skill set on the road and grow into a retreat-based business. Combining my love of travel and wellness to see and serve the world would be another dream come true. Until then, I was just encouraged to throw my hat in the ring for the Global Sound Practitioner Alliance healer of the year award, so if you feel inclined to lend your support and vote, I’d be eternally grateful
Get connected with Lisa on social media @thehouseofhamsa or visit her website .
