image of a smiling white nonbinary person with long brown hair and a gold nose ring, yellow shirt & silver necklace chain in the foreground, breaking ocean wave and clouds visible in the background

Hello!

My name is Iva Vujčić Dubyak (they/them). I am a licensed massage therapist with diverse somatic experience. I am trained in modalities including: myofascial release, deep tissue, neuromuscular therapy, structural bodywork, craniosacral therapy, intraoral massage, muscle energy techniques, cupping, and gua sha. Depending on your goals & requests, what your body communicates, and the needs of your nervous system — any or most of these techniques may be integrated into a session. I am here to listen directly to your story and tissue to find opportunities for ease, space, and functional change.

I’ve dealt with chronic pain since I was 15, sports and manual work injuries throughout my youth and adult life, auto-immune issues from the age of 7, and generally have a lot of practice at advocating for care based on bodily needs. I share this to provide a little context for my skilled, intuitive, and nerdy relationship to bodywork.

I think the ocean is a wonderful metaphor for the human body. It is vast, changes minute to minute, and evades prescriptive knowing unless we slow down and really pay attention. My bodywork practice is collaborative and led by listening, my role is to facilitate whatever healing work is possible together in the moment. I’m excited to meet you and start our work together.

A green exterior wall of a building with a white door and a large window. There is a tall cactus plant in a beige pot in front of the window. An orange wall clock and a black outdoor light fixture are mounted on the wall. The building has a wooden roof with exposed beams.

the Space

A bedroom with a bed covered in a green checkered blanket, a pillow at the head, and a dark floral area rug on the floor. The left wall is painted blue with two wooden floating shelves holding plants, a candle, and decor. To the right, there is a window with a purple potted plant on the sill, framed by beige curtains. A small wooden corner shelf holds tissue and some small items. A framed picture of red flowers hangs on the beige wall.
A light blue wall decorated with three framed art pieces, a hanging mirror, a wooden shelf with a potted plant, a small bowl, and a decorative item.
Indoor living room with large window, green hanging and potted plants, a dark blue quilted sofa with a round yellow pillow, a wooden side table with a small dish and some objects underneath, and light-colored curtains.

Starling Somatics offers listening-based integrative massage and craniosacral therapy in a plant-filled studio tucked under redwood trees in SE Portland’s Foster Powell neighborhood — a first floor wheelchair-accessible studio full of natural light.

There is a sloped <2 inch threshold to enter the studio, and access through a driveway gate is available for wheelchair users. There is also a smaller gate that enters the property with a 5 inch step into the yard around the studio. A single stall bathroom in the studio with space to turn around for those who use mobility aids is available for clients.

The space is low-scent and can be made close to scent-free upon request. All lubricants used are scent-free. There is an air purifier and many plants in a space filled with natural light.

The massage table has a recommended lift capacity of 650lbs. The table is electric and can be brought very low for access and client ease (ADA Title 3 Compliant Low height Range). The table is 35” wide, 73” long and there are many bolster options available.

Starling Somatics is trauma-informed, and gender and size inclusive.

A decorative hanging ornament with painted orange flowers and hanging crystal-like gems, seen through a window with a green leafy plant, a staircase, and trees in the background.
Sun shining through tall evergreen trees with green leaves, with part of a house roof visible on the left side of the image.
A stained glass humpback whale decoration hanging from a hook on an interior window, seen from the exterior with trees and blue sky reflected in the glass.