Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Thomasberg.
Hi Kris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Bend, Oregon, surrounded by mountains, movement, and freedom. My dad was a professional mountain bike racer, so much of my childhood was spent on the road, living out of a van, exploring nature, and learning that life could be both adventurous and intentional. My parents had a beautiful way of letting us explore who we were. There was no wrong outfit, no bad haircut, and no idea too bold to try. That early permission to express myself shaped everything that came later.
Athletics became my first language. I loved pushing my body, feeling what it could do, and testing my edges. I ran competitively through high school and college, originally studying to become a paramedic with dreams of working in emergency medicine. I earned my Bachelor’s in Health Science and my paramedic degree at the University of Utah, and that experience deeply shaped my sense of presence under pressure, the ability to stay calm, attuned, and decisive in moments that matter.
Massage entered my life almost by accident. During my final year of school, I took an apprentice position to help cover tuition, and something profound happened. I realized that touch carried the same sense of purpose as emergency medicine, but from an entirely different emotional frequency. Both worlds centered around care, human connection, and service. One was rooted in crisis, the other in calm. That contrast completely reframed how I wanted to contribute to people’s lives.
From there, my journey evolved quickly. I worked in a small holistic Japanese spa for several years, immersing myself in the craft, learning from every client, every session, and every quiet moment between breaths. In 2011, I founded Massage Artistry, a mobile company built around the idea that massage could be elevated to a true art form. I wanted therapists to be respected, well-compensated, and free to work with autonomy while offering deeply skilled, emotionally intelligent bodywork to clients in their homes.
Over the years, that vision has expanded beyond what I could have imagined. Massage Artistry now operates across multiple states, serving clients in Salt Lake City, Park City, Jackson Hole, Maui, and New York. Our therapists are world-class, many of them masters in technique and energy, and we have created an environment where presence, precision, and artistry coexist beautifully.
One of the most pivotal chapters of my life began in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was there that I met the love of my life, Karyn, and through her, discovered an entirely new dimension of meaning and growth. Moving to Jackson full time to build a life together and to become a mother to the most incredible 8-year-old, Zoe, has transformed everything about the way I live and lead. We share an amazing tiny home tucked within the wild beauty of the mountains, where nature sets the rhythm for our days. Jackson has also become a global hub for ultra-luxury ski tourism, which has elevated Massage Artistry in ways I could never have imagined.
Becoming a wife and a mother has deepened my sense of presence and purpose in every area of my life. It has reshaped how I show up in my work, in my friendships, and within myself. It is one thing to find a partner who brings stability to a fast-paced and creative mind, but it is another to find someone who ignites that spark even more. Karyn’s intelligence, creativity, and courage to stretch beyond comfort have encouraged me to grow in ways that feel limitless. Together, we are building a life rooted in love, artistry, and adventure.
From that foundation, my work has continued to expand. The Massage Artistry Institute was born to teach licensed therapists how to move beyond mechanical technique and into embodied expression. My goal is to help therapists transform into Massage Artists, practitioners who can listen with their hands, breathe with intention, and express themselves through touch as fluently as any other artist through their medium.
Alongside the business, I also created Healing Forces Foundation, a nonprofit that brings these same healing experiences to people in crisis, from wildfire survivors in Maui to those facing medical or emotional hardship in our communities.
Looking back, my path has always been about the same essence: care, connection, and creation. Whether in an ambulance, a spa room, or our tiny home in the mountains, I have always been drawn to the art of helping people feel more alive in their bodies and at peace in their hearts.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every meaningful path has its texture. The road to creating Massage Artistry and Healing Forces Foundation has been full of learning curves, growth, and evolution. There have been times that felt uncertain, but those moments always carried the most important lessons.
When I started my company, I was driven by pure passion and intuition. I knew I wanted to create a platform for therapists to thrive and to raise the standard for what massage could represent. What I did not fully anticipate was how much structure, communication, and emotional leadership it would take to truly build a brand and a culture. Managing a team across multiple states while maintaining a deep level of care for each therapist and client has required continuous refinement.
I have faced the usual challenges that come with growing any business. Balancing expansion with sustainability, learning how to delegate without losing artistic integrity, and keeping a strong sense of purpose while navigating logistics and finances. Each stage of growth has invited me to redefine what leadership looks like and to practice the same presence I teach my team to bring to their work.
The most humbling experiences have always come from the unexpected. Whether it was rebuilding after transitions, facing burnout, or learning to trust new people in leadership roles, every challenge has invited me to become more grounded and intentional. I have come to see that obstacles are simply opportunities for deeper alignment.
When I reflect on it all, the journey has been anything but smooth, yet it has been perfectly guided. Every twist and turn has shaped my ability to hold space, lead with heart, and stay connected to the reason I began this work in the first place. The road itself has been the teacher, and I feel immense gratitude for every lesson it continues to offer.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Massage Artistry began as a simple idea: that massage could be experienced as art. Over time, it has grown into a living philosophy that guides everything I do. I specialize in transforming the traditional view of massage into a form of expressive communication, where every movement, pause, and breath speaks to the body in a language of presence and care.
My company, Massage Artistry, serves as both a luxury mobile massage brand and a collective of elite therapists who share this same philosophy. We operate in Salt Lake City, Park City, Jackson Hole, Maui, and New York, and our work ranges from private wellness sessions to high-end resort experiences. Each treatment is built around artistry, precision, and emotional connection.
What sets us apart is the intention behind the touch. Every Massage Artist is trained to listen through their hands, to respond to what they feel rather than follow a routine. The massage becomes a conversation rather than a monologue. This creates an experience that feels both technically refined and deeply human.
I am most proud of the culture we have built. The therapists who make up Massage Artistry are extraordinary individuals who care deeply about mastery, presence, and growth. They are not only exceptional technicians but also artists who understand that touch has the power to shift someone’s emotional and physical state in a lasting way.
From that foundation, I created the Massage Artistry Institute, an educational branch that teaches licensed therapists how to move from competence to creative excellence. Our curriculum focuses on the 10 Foundations of Massage Artistry, which integrate anatomy, rhythm, breath, and emotional intelligence into every session. It is designed to help therapists find their voice through their hands and express their own authenticity through their craft.
Parallel to that work, Healing Forces Foundation was born from the same desire to serve. It allows us to bring the gift of healing touch to those who would never otherwise experience it, including survivors of natural disasters and people navigating medical or emotional hardship. Watching my team use their artistry to restore a sense of peace and safety in others has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
What defines my work most is not just the technique but the philosophy that underlies it. Touch is not something we do to someone; it is something we share with them. Through that exchange, healing becomes art, and art becomes connection.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If there is one message I hope people take from my story, it is that purpose often unfolds in unexpected ways. My path was never perfectly planned. It was shaped by curiosity, intuition, and a willingness to listen when life whispered new directions.
Massage has become my medium for connection, but the heart of my work has always been presence. Whether someone expresses their artistry through touch, movement, words, or music, the ability to be fully there with what you create is what transforms skill into meaning.
For anyone who feels called to create something of their own, I encourage you to follow what feels alive inside you. The most powerful work comes when passion and service meet. When you build from that place, the world will always find a way to meet you halfway.
And for those who are simply looking to receive more care in their lives, never underestimate the healing power of human connection. The smallest gestures of kindness, attention, and touch can bring people back to themselves in ways that words often cannot.
I am endlessly grateful for the path that has led here and for every person who has trusted my team and me to be part of their healing journey. The art of massage is, at its core, the art of being human—and that will always be the work I am most honored to do.
Pricing:
- Salt Lake City Mobile Massage | 60min- $144
- Salt Lake City Mobile Massage | 90min- $180
- Park City Mobile Massage | 60min- $180
- Park City Mobile Massage | 90min- $240
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MassageArtistry.org
- Instagram: @massageartistry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/massageartistry.org
