about niara

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Those of you who are relatively new to Niara may find our history of interest. Niara Healing Arts was founded by Susanrachel Balber-Condon in 1991. At the time, all she had was a company name and a vision.

The chosen name, Niara, is West African and means "a woman of high purpose." Holding motherhood to be among the highest of purposes, the focus of Susanrachel's young massage therapy practice was on pregnant and postpartum women from the start. She joined forces with Shelley McGrew, a colleague at the Swedish Institute, in 1992. Gradually, their practice grew and began to thrive.

Later that year, Susanrachel and Shelley met Richard Condon. Before long, Richard had joined the practice, and Susanrachel and Richard were expecting their first child. Throughout the pregnancy, Shelley, Richard, and Susanrachel explored new ways to relieve the discomforts of pregnancy with bodywork and education. With Shelley and Richard in attendance providing loving hands-on care, Susanrachel gave birth to Hannah, and Niara Healing Arts took a new direction.

Since that day, we have believed fiercely in a woman's inherent strength. We strive to nurture a woman's dignity and individuality throughout the childbearing experience.

Daniel, Susanrachel and Richard's second child, was born in 1995, just weeks before Susanrachel started down the path to becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife and Childbirth Educator. On New Years' Day 2002, Malcolm arrived.

Shelley returned to her native Arizona in 1998. She and her partner Bill have two daughters, Cezanne and Lyra. They both teach in Arizona. Shelley is now a labor and delivery nurse. Shelley and Susanrachel still have occasion to teach together at workshops around the country. Susanrachel and Richard teach together in the New York tri-state area.