Josh Straiton is considered by many to be the top massage therapist in Redding. We’re delighted that he decided to pursue certification as a Master Myoskeletal Therapist (MMT). Achieving this certification, one of the highest standards for a massage professional, is not easy. It takes a burning desire to get results for your clients and a great deal of commitment. You can find out more about him below. He can help you resolve pain problems that many other allied health professions struggle with, including back pain, injuries, and headaches. If you’re looking for massage therapy in Redding, give Josh a call.
My passion for physical training began at 13, coaching friends and family in my parents’ garage by 16. Immersed in the CrossFit community, I became a group and personal trainer at 18 and spent years competing in powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting (2010–2018), training under top coaches in the Northeast. I later earned a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Connecticut and became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. From 2014–2016, I co-founded and ran a 5,000-square-foot gym before shifting my focus to one-on-one personal training.
As I worked closely with clients, my interest grew in helping them move freely and live without pain. I began blending strength training with mobility work but noticed some clients needed more than exercise alone. It wasn’t until my weightlifting coach, also a veteran physical therapist, recommended massage therapy for my own training pain that my path became clear. That massage session changed my life and inspired me to study clinical bodywork.
In 2018, I enrolled at the Finger Lakes School of Massage, where my focus shifted to Structural Integration. I went on to complete Anatomy Trains coursework and received mentorship in guiding clients through the Structural Integration 10-Series. Over the next few years, I built a private practice in Danbury, CT, while seeking out some of the best structural bodyworkers in the Northeast to deepen my understanding of creating lasting, functional change.
A mentor eventually pointed me toward Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (MAT), encouraging me to study with those directly connected to Dr. Ida Rolf’s lineage. After receiving bodywork from Sharon Wheeler and Mary Staggs, I took my first MAT workshop with Nate Fay in 2024 and later that year I traveled to Costa Rica to for a workshop with Erik Dalton himself. That experience was transformative. Learning directly from Erik and witnessing his masterful, gentle touch left a lasting impact on my practice and my life. I’m so grateful to have been in the presence of such a master bodyworker like Erik, shortly before he passed.
Today, MAT is at the core of how I work. These techniques provide a clinical, practical approach to assessing pain patterns and improving movement without the pressure of “fixing” anyone. I help clients move better, feel better, and return to the activities they love—often noticing meaningful changes in just one session, with deeper results over time.
If you feel called to study this work, trust that instinct. It’s a path worth following.
Josh Straiton
Redding, Connecticut
2034704765