At Blue Tiger Massage, we believe every great bodyworker has a story—and Matt Crauder’s is one of those rare, heart-rooted stories that sticks with you. From a childhood shaped by caregiving to a deep intuition for relieving pain, Matt brings a grounded, client-focused approach to massage that is both powerful and deeply personal.

Where It All Began

Matt’s journey into bodywork began at an age when most kids are still learning to ride a bike. He was just six or seven years old when his mom underwent lumbar spine surgery, resulting in scar tissue that affected her nerves and caused chronic pain.

Because she needed regular care, Matt often accompanied her to chiropractic appointments. But instead of zoning out in the waiting room, Matt watched with curiosity—eager to understand what the chiropractor was doing and why.

“I started asking questions,” Matt recalls. “Why was he matching up her legs? What did that adjustment do? What was he feeling for?”

To Matt’s surprise, the chiropractor began inviting him to participate. He taught Matt how to:

  • Palpate muscles to assess texture and tension

  • Perform basic alignment checks—like comparing leg lengths or hip height

  • Use gentle massage techniques at home to help his mom manage migraines and break up scar tissue

These early experiences weren’t just educational—they were deeply meaningful. Matt saw firsthand how touch could reduce pain, and he realized he had a gift for it.

“I got to feel the difference before and after an adjustment,” he says. “And I started to understand what healing felt like.”

This wasn’t just the beginning of Matt’s skillset—it was the moment he began to see his hands as tools for care.

Matt’s massage journey started early—and we mean early.

Hands That Just Knew

By high school, Matt had a decade of experience helping others feel better.

  • Helped friends and teammates loosen up before big games.

  • Supported a softball player with recurring shoulder issues—she only trusted his touch.

  • Developed an intuitive sense of where pain was coming from—even if he didn’t yet know the anatomy terms.

Massage as a Conversation: Listening Beyond the Muscles

For Matt, massage isn’t just about muscle manipulation—it’s about listening to the whole story. He doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatments, because every body—and every life—is different.

That’s why he starts with something simple but powerful: conversation.

During sessions, Matt talks with his clients—not just to build rapport, but to uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface. Often, someone will come in convinced their tension is from work stress or bad posture. But a few minutes into the conversation, a different picture starts to emerge.

  • Maybe they spent five hours gardening in the heat over the weekend.

  • Maybe they just got back from a long flight and haven’t stretched.

  • Maybe they took their dog for a steep mountain hike that left their hips locked up.

These details matter. And they change the approach.

“Sometimes what they really need is lower body work to get the shoulders to drop.”

Matt also pays attention to life patterns—not just physical ones. Over time, he gets to know each client’s rhythms: when they travel for work, when their stress levels spike, even how they react when their in-laws visit. This allows him to plan care proactively, helping clients stay ahead of tension and pain before it builds up.

It’s this whole-person approach—blending anatomy, empathy, and insight—that makes Matt’s work so effective.

Outside the Room: Comic Books, Classic Games, and Sports

Matt is a self-proclaimed hybrid nerd/jock, and it shows.

  • Comic books helped him learn to read as a kid with dyslexia.

  • He’s even been featured in a Wolverine comic.

  • You’ll find him:

    • Browsing local comic conventions

    • Playing retro video games at Next Level Pinball

    • Attending Hops and Winterhawks games

    • Cheering for the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team with his dad

    • Looking forward to the WNBA’s debut in Portland

Born to Teach

If Matt weren’t a massage therapist, there’s a good chance you’d find him in a classroom instead of a treatment room.

Teaching runs deep in his family:

  • His father was a Sports Management professor at Ohio University

  • His sister works in film and education at UBC in Canada

  • Several other family members are high school teachers and substitutes

It’s no surprise that Matt has a natural ability to educate his clients, whether he’s explaining how fascia responds to pressure or why a tight hip can cause shoulder tension. His sessions are equal parts healing and learning—empowering people to better understand their bodies and take ownership of their wellness.

“If I wasn’t an LMT,” Matt says, “I probably would’ve gone into education.”

Fun Facts

  • 🎭 Former Screen Actors Guild member

  • 📖 Featured in a Wolverine comic book

  • 🕹️ Loves retro arcade games and local comic artists

  • ⚽ Devoted supporter of women’s athletics

Book with Matt

Whether you’re in pain, under stress, or just ready to feel better in your body…

🌀 Matt is now accepting new clients in Beaverton, OR.

Book a session and experience the difference of a massage rooted in intuition, story, and genuine care.