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My name is Madeyo Darnell (he/him) and I’m a licensed massage therapist here at Fusion Therapeutic Bodywork. My interest in the healing arts began out of a need to reconnect with my own body following a long period of depression and gender dysphoria. I started practicing Daoist qigong shortly after top surgery in 2019 which spurred an exploration of integrative therapies that led to teaching mindfulness and qigong for the University of Arizona. During this time, massage never felt accessible– partly for reasons of safety and partly out of a belief that I had to figure out everything on my own. However, touch had always connected me profoundly to loved ones during times of emotional distress, severe injury, and even end-of-life care.
When I finally received my first massage from a therapist I knew and trusted, it was a transformative experience of my body as a connected whole. I learned that massage wasn’t about handing over my autonomy and letting someone else fix me, but allowing someone else’s intuitive and caring touch to help me access an inner refuge I’d struggled for years to find on my own. Shortly after, I applied to ASIS Massage Education and graduated in May of 2024. I was lucky to begin my mentorship with Kim Rogers at Fusion after graduating, knowing there was so much more to learn. Kim introduced me to her unique style based on 15 years of experience combining neuromuscular, cupping, and stretching techniques. She’s challenged me to refine my understanding of the body to address pain patterns at their source. Alongside this training, I’ve pursued continuing education in connective tissue and biodynamic craniosacral approaches. Qigong is still my foundational meditative practice and a perspective I integrate whenever possible. This eclectic background allows me to offer a spectrum of options for meeting each person where they are. What we need and what’s accessible can change over time– whether it’s the sensory pleasure of traditional massage, a more detailed approach for addressing pain patterns, or the profound stillness and deepening of our somatic awareness. The ability to adapt as needed within a creative and supportive container is what is so special to me about bodywork. I aspire to provide others what I wish I’d had access to early in my transition. When I was most lost, all I wanted was a safe, welcoming space and a collaborator to give insights and help me develop my own tools for healing. I’m extremely lucky to have found Fusion where offering a multidimensional approach is supported and celebrated. I look forward to building this space and engaging in the healing process with my clients. |
Areas of Interest and ModalitiesCare for post gender-affirming top surgery
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapeutic Massage Prenatal massage Myofascial cupping Intra-oral massage Hot & cold stones |
