Sawyer Smith

Sawyer Smith is a Licensed Massage Therapist at VSI Physical Therapy, where he works alongside our physical therapists and physicians as part of the recovery ecosystem at VSI. He has been practicing since 2017, and he brings one clear belief to every session: massage should help you understand what’s happening in your body, not just make you feel better for an hour.

While coaching a recreational gymnastics class, Sawyer hurt his back and went to see a massage therapist. The session released his back, but what stayed with him was that the therapist explained what he had worked on and showed Sawyer how to avoid dangerous movements so it wouldn’t happen again. About a month later, Sawyer signed up for an intro class at Potomac Massage Training Institute, the same school that therapist had attended. Knowing this was the right fit, he went on to complete the Licensed Massage Therapist program in 2017.

Today, Sawyer looks past the spot that hurts to what might be driving it: posture, daily habits, and the way stress settles into the body. He is passionate about helping people living with chronic pain, people recovering from sports injuries, and athletes getting ready for competition. His training includes medical massage, deep tissue, Swedish, cupping, and geriatric massage.

Before joining VSI, Sawyer spent several years in Northern Virginia chiropractic practices, including one focused on helping athletes recover. That experience of working as one part of a larger care plan is what drew him to VSI. He wanted to be part of a dedicated, multidisciplinary team, and at VSI Physical Therapy he works alongside the physical therapists and physicians guiding each patient’s care. Massage sessions typically allow more hands-on time than a standard visit, and Sawyer uses that time to help patients relax and focus on healing.

Outside the clinic, you’ll usually find Sawyer on a long walk with his dog, Jellybean (Ms. Bean to those who know her). He’s a longtime Capitals and Commanders fan and still practices gymnastics, the sport he competed in as a teen.