Bodywork in Chicago
Massage and bodywork involve a variety of techniques, gentle to assertive, to address an assortment of physical difficulties. Both branches of work enhance general health by helping reduce stress, decreasing pain in tight parts of the body, and relaxing the nervous system. Massage therapy tends to focus, mostly, on muscles, while bodywork tends to expand hands-on work to other systems, including the fascia, connective tissue, organs, and nerves. An improvement in posture, range of motion in the joints, and in mobility can lead you to an increasingly active, pain free/pain reduced lifestyle.


Fascia, or connective tissue, is the “stuff” holding the body together. Fascia is strong yet flexible and creates an unending tree dimensional web throughout the body. It surrounds every muscle, bone, organ, nerve, blood vessel, and cell. It is the tissue that, literally, binds us, cell to cell to cell.
Restrictions or adhesions are dense areas of fascia caused by stress, strain, inflammation, injury, and misaligned posture. Eventually, the original point of dysfunction translates into restrictions in other areas of the body as the system attempts to compensate.
Accumulation of adhesions results in pain, malfunction, misalignment, and loss of flexibility throughout the body.
This can include the nervous system, keeping us in a chronic state of fight/flight/freeze and unable to downregulate back to a state of calm.
All of this causes us to be exhausted, all over, all the time.
Back, Neck, & Shoulder Pain
Headaches
TMJ & Jaw Strain
Strain from dental treatment
Carpal Tunnel
Fibromyalgia, CPS, & MPS
Bladder Dysfunction
Frozen Joints
Lower Back Pain
Sciatica
Digestive Problems & IBS
Surgical Scars including Top Surgery & Mastectomy
Recovery from knee or hip replacement
Injury Scarring
Women’s Health Issues


Bodywork can improve performance and shorten recovery time after intense workouts, long practice sessions, or injury.
MFR directly addresses the fascial system throughout the body.
Adhesions are located and a low level of direct pressure is applied for an extended period of time, allowing for a softening and realignment of restricted fascia.
Once the fascia is released, bone, muscle, and nerves are able to achieve structural balance resulting in a decrease in chronic and acute pain.
CST directly addresses the connective tissue in the cranium, along the spinal column, and around the sacrum.
CST treatment facilitates proper circulation of the CS fluid throughout the system, enhancing the movement of nutrients and oxygen to the brain and spinal cord.
Extremely gentle techniques are utilized to encourage the body’s own healing mechanisms.
VM is a manual therapy consisting of light, gentle, specifically placed forces that encourage normal mobility, tone, and inherent tissue motion of the viscera (internal organs) and their connective tissues. It can also be described as organ specific fascial release.
VM treatments include an evaluation to determine the greatest specificity possible. Precise gentle pressure is applied to the area of restriction; release of the tissue is rapid and extensive.
Fascia, or connective tissue, is the “stuff” holding the body together.
About Olyvia
Olyvia Norton (formerly Elisabeth) is a licensed massage therapist in Illinois and Wisconsin, in private practice since 1996. She became interested in bodywork after receiving effective treatments for chronic, debilitating injuries resulting from a series of auto wrecks.
Oliva completed a 500 hour program at the Massage Therapy Institute of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. She has attended over 3000 hours of additional training focusing on Myofascial Release with John Barnes, Crainosacral Therapy through The Upledger Institute, and Visceral & Nerve Manipulation with the Barral Institute.
In 2004, Olyvia was a member of the Sports Massage Team for the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. She has provided treatment for the Wisconsin Badgers Athletic Department, Ironman in Florida, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, The Endeavour Games in Oklahoma City, and endless running, biking, and sporting events around the US.
As well, she has provided patient treatment for the Integrative Medicine department of the UW and local Chicago chiropractor offices. Professionally, she is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association.
An anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology instructor at MTIM starting in 1998, Olyvia joined the staff at Lakeside Massage Therapy School in Madison, Wisconsin in 2005. Additionally she taught sciences and hands-on classes at East West Healing Arts in Madison for over a decade. She has been a teaching assistant for both The Upledger Institute and John Barnes courses.
Since relocating to Chicago in 2022, Olyvia has developed a love of being outside on the Lake, in any of the amazing local museums, music venues, & vintage stores, learning fiber arts while connecting with somatic therapy colleagues, baking C-city generated home grown sourdough, and diving full tilt into playing cello for Chicago City Wide Symphony Orchestra.
Testimonials
"Elisabeth was exactly what I needed to kick my business social media up a notch! She quickly assessed my situation and delivered the goods with clarity.
I am not a tech person and needed her to communicate in language I could understand – which she did spot on! Looking for a kick-ass coach who can get the job done – I highly recommend Elisabeth."
Owner, Blissful Adventures, Ltd.
"I can’t say enough about how incredible Elisabeth is at what she does. From our first call, I knew I was talking to the right person to help me get un-stuck. I've moved across the country, created a solid relationship, and thriving at a job I love. Elisabeth is all about action, we've uncovered where I self-sabotage, and she gives me tools to kick ass in my life. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without her. She’s the real deal. And her laugh is amazing."
Writer, Baptiste Yoga Teacher
"I had the great fortune of being one of Elisabeth’s clients for several years. Having worked with several others who provide similar services, I’ve never met one so absolutely dedicated to empowering her clients to live a really big life.
I give her my strongest recommendation and encourage all to explore if she’s the right match for you. Keep up the amazing work, Elisabeth!
Data Scientist
Other ways to work with Olyvia

Business Consulting
Supporting owners, organizational design, service design, and developing your leadership team so that communication challenges don’t become HR issues. We can help you launch from scratch, relaunch from where you are now, and expand into the business of your heart’s desire.

Mentor Coaching
Create your really big self and really big life with personal coaching. We will build the bridge between where you want to be and where you are right now, Happiness, pleasure,, and deep satisfaction are on the menu when your life is designed your way.

A Really Big Year
Want to take a look at every facets of the diamond that is life? We will spend a year together, in group coaching, diving into a specific topic each month. Instead of doing it alone, you’ll get the opportunity to be in community with other women committed to having their really big life.