Maria graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a master's in physical therapy in 1998. She has taken coursework through the Upledger and Barral Institutes in craniosacral, visceral and neural manipulation, and with other instructors in orthobionomy. She has taken Brain Balancing training offered by Dr. Faith Christensen, ND, which provides advanced osteopathic-based techniques to improve fluid flow and connectivity. She recently completed a Visceral Manipulation class through the Hugh Milne Visionary Craniosacral Institute.
Some of her more unusual courses include "Spinning Babies", Introduction to the Arts and Science of Tibetan Medicine (at Bastyr University in 2003), Soaring Crane Qigong levels one through three (at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine), and Jin Shin Do acupressure levels one and two. She is a student of Yang-style Tai Chi and Iyengar yoga as well.
Other education includes:
Outside of physical therapy, Maria is a member of the Symphony Tacoma viola section and Tacoma Opera. She teaches viola, violin and piano through the University Place Presbyterian Church Music and Arts program, and also offers workshops in Baroque performance practice. In the 1980s and 90s, she founded and organized concerts through Virtuosi della Rosa, a chamber music ensemble that featured works by Northwest living composers, African-American composers, and women composers in collaborations with yoga dance, visual arts, actresses, shadow puppets, and Indonesian gamelan instruments.
Some of her more unusual courses include "Spinning Babies", Introduction to the Arts and Science of Tibetan Medicine (at Bastyr University in 2003), Soaring Crane Qigong levels one through three (at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine), and Jin Shin Do acupressure levels one and two. She is a student of Yang-style Tai Chi and Iyengar yoga as well.
Other education includes:
- Jones Strain-Counterstrain for the Extremities and for the Pelvis
- Gary Gray 3D maps functional movement
- Advanced Certification in Comprehensive Movement for the Orthopedic Practitioner, a two year course taught by Gordon Browne, PT and GCFP (Feldenkrais practitioner), 160 hours
- Pelvic Physical Therapy, Level II certificate of achievement (APTA Section on Women's Health)
- Lymphedema coursework in the Foeldi approach covering lower extremities, upper extremities, trunk and face, 10 days of coursework
- Maitland-Australian manual therapy, levels one, two and three
- Janda approach, two-day introductory course
- Sensory Integration and Neurodevelopmental Treatment
- Bobath approach to Neurodevelopmental Treatment
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
- Biofeedback for Incontinence and Strength Rehabilitation
Outside of physical therapy, Maria is a member of the Symphony Tacoma viola section and Tacoma Opera. She teaches viola, violin and piano through the University Place Presbyterian Church Music and Arts program, and also offers workshops in Baroque performance practice. In the 1980s and 90s, she founded and organized concerts through Virtuosi della Rosa, a chamber music ensemble that featured works by Northwest living composers, African-American composers, and women composers in collaborations with yoga dance, visual arts, actresses, shadow puppets, and Indonesian gamelan instruments.