About LJ Stewart

Lj Stewart, Licensed Massage Therapist

Laurajean "Lj" Stewart has been practicing full time as a Touch for Health Kinesiologist and Licensed Massage Therapist for over 30 years. During this time, Lj has been recognized as a groundbreaker within her profession.

Originally from New York City, Lj attended York College CUNY, then the Swedish Institute for Massage and Allied Sciences where she joined the faculty in 1984. Her first employment in hands-on health care began in a Chiropractic facility in 1979 and Lj became a certified Touch for Health Instructor in 1983.

In the early days, massage professionals were few in number, and Lj found herself in demand by ordinary New Yorkers as well as the "rich and famous". Although for many years Lj worked backstage at major sporting, theatrical and musical venues, she never gave up her private practices, which grew to include both a classy NYC address and a comfy country locale in Ulster County, NY. Lj became involved in her community even back then and, as president of the Kingston Uptown Business Assn, she spearheaded the construction of the Kingston Peace Park which turned a formerly vacant lot into a beautiful meditation garden which is still enjoyed by many today.

For years, Lj was the key hands-on therapist at several world class ultra-distance pedestrian races, and put together groups of complementary healthcare professional volunteers for events such as the NYC Marathon.

At both the 25th and 30th Woodstock Festival Reunions, Lj credentialed a large number of alternative healthcare practitioners to look after the crew, staff and artists. Lj toured with more than one major rock-and-roll band as the Tour Massage Therapist before finally settling down in Vermont.

Lj's willingness to share her skills and to give new practitioners a start in the field won the hearts of her colleagues whom she called upon to offer their expertise to the workers following the 9/11 disaster.

For many years, Lj worked alongside any number of inter-disciplinary practitioners, including, but not limited to: Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Medical Doctors and Physical Therapists. Until 2009, she had been employed in the Outpatient Physical Therapy Department of Northeast Vermont Regional Hospital in St Johnsbury, VT in addition to her private practice at the Barnet Tradepost Wellness Center, built by her in 2005.

Barnet Tradepost Wellness Center is the first Complementary Care facility in the Northeast Kingdom, a tri-county region of Vermont. Lj is joined there by a Breath Coach, a Physical Therapist, a Chiropractor and a Yoga Instructor. Classes taught at BTWC are Touch for Health, Tai Chi, Kyudo, Kenjitsu and Hatha Yoga.