Erin Susan Parks Has "Magic Touch"

What is your business and how long have you been doing it?

I'm a licensed massage therapist. I've had a full time practice for 18 years.

What makes you good at what you do?

I've always been fascinated by language and communication. I'm a former translator and English as a Second Language teacher with a degree in Spanish Linguistics. My massage education taught me a whole new form of non-verbal communication. I combine my clients' stories and assessments of their own bodies with the information that I receive via touch to figure out the best way to help them feel better. I also provide an environment that is relaxed, beautiful and engages all of the senses.

How did you end up in the Roswell area?

I spent several years commuting between my home in Decatur and my practice in Roswell, which was both expensive and draining. One year I decided to walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Northern Spain and I had to train by hiking in all kinds of terrain. I started taking advantage of the many trails and parks in Roswell and really fell in love with the natural amenities Roswell has to offer. Soon after, I decided it was time to take the plunge and move OTP. It was the best decision I've made since moving to Atlanta. My "commute" is now less than five miles and almost entirely enveloped in green.

How do you stay connected to the community?

My practice is in the Plum Tree Yoga Studio in historic Roswell. You cannot work on Canton Street and not be involved in the happenings in Roswell! I'm a regular patron of the many businesses in historic Roswell, the public library, the park system and the historic sites of Roswell, most of which are within walking distance of my office. Also, I tithe ten percent of my income through local donations. One of my areas of specialty is prenatal massage and I donate to many of the schools that my clients' children attend.

What do you do in your free time?

I love to travel and I think one of the best ways to get to know a culture is through volunteer work. I lived in Madrid, Spain in my twenties and was on a teacher's schedule. One summer I heard about a new organization called Volunteers for Peace that arranges international work camps in foreign countries with other international peace organizations for a very reasonable fee. Basically, you pay a base amount to sign up for a work camp and then exchange your labor on a project for food and lodging. I participated in several in my twenties and loved them. One of them, in Barcelona working with spinal injury rehab patients, helped me realize how much I enjoy working directly with people and bodies. When I turned forty, I took a forty day trip back to Spain to celebrate and kicked off with an international work camp in a residence for people living with AIDS. Most camps are geared toward younger people, but several organizations work with all ages. Check them out at www.vfp.org

How can people find you?

My practice is located in the Plum Tree Yoga Center on Canton Street in historic Roswell, but I work by appointment only Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.  You can call me at 404-664-7890 or e-mail me at liberatingeloquence@gmail.com