Rising Stars: Meet Maria Taame of Denver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Taame.

Hi Maria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey began during my second year as a pharmacy student, when I was completing nursing training at the hospital. At the same time, I was actively practicing martial arts, but an injury left me with a cast on my leg. The recovery process was difficult, and the injury began to affect not only my ability to walk but also my participation in hospital training. As a result, managing long hours in the clinical setting became increasingly challenging.
The hospital staff noticed my difficulty and referred me to the Department of Restorative Medicine for help with my leg. I was truly amazed by the therapy I received there. As a pharmacy student, I was already curious about the causes of pathology and how different treatments could support recovery. The physiotherapy, massage, and other procedures at the restorative medicine department helped me regain my strength, stand again, and move forward after the injury.
This experience shifted my focus in life, helping me realize what could be done to improve people’s health and inspiring me to pursue further training in the Department of Restorative Medicine. As a pharmacy student, I was granted permission to train there on the condition that I obtained a license to practice, and during the summer and fall of 2003, I successfully earned a massage license.
I pursued advanced training in manual therapy, encompassing nursing and medical massage, acupuncture meridians, physical therapy, applied kinesiology, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, and osteopathy. During this period, I was supervised by highly experienced medical doctors who had introduced osteopathic philosophy into Russia. They closely monitored my progress, recognized my strong potential in the field, and recommended that I pursue further professional development.
I applied the techniques I was learning with family and relatives, and within my clinical practice, allowing me to observe the efficacy of osteopathic treatment firsthand. With the support and encouragement of my mentors, colleagues, and family, I advanced my education in osteopathy by enrolling at the European School of Osteopathy (ESO) in Maidstone, UK, in 2011.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are always obstacles along the way, but I view them as guidance and teachers in life. Studying medicine is not an easy path, yet it is both fascinating and essential for helping others. Similarly, pursuing a career in osteopathy is a challenging path, but one that I find deeply rewarding and meaningful.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s degree in public health and Epidemiology from Russia. Additionally, I earned a nursing degree in medical massage. While both my Pharmacy and Public Health degrees were intellectually stimulating and highly rewarding—in fact, I was awarded a scholarship through NIH program to Yale University for one year in Public Health and Epidemiology in 2008 —I continued to seek a deeper understanding of health and holistic healing, particularly in prevention and medical research.
This pursuit led me to a deeper study of osteopathic philosophy, which emphasizes treating the whole person. I realized that true health comes from maintaining balance and connection with nature. Through gentle manual techniques and respect for the body’s natural healing forces, I witnessed how lives can be transformed. These principles resonated deeply with me and became a calling, inspiring me to shift my focus from pharmacy to osteopathy—while still valuing the knowledge and perspective I gained from my pharmacy education.
Concurrently, I have expanded my training in manual and osteopathic therapies. I completed studies at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Clinical Applied Kinesiology, explored Craniosacral Therapy at the Upledger Institute, and studied visceral and neural manipulation at the Barral Institute. In 2009–2010, I assisted in establishing a satellite center for the Upledger and Barral Institutes in Russia, further integrating my clinical and teaching experiences.
One of the challenges I faced was covering the expenses for my osteopathic and manual therapy training, as I financed all of it myself from the beginning. I had to work while simultaneously attending training. The Osteopathic School in the UK required students to travel there and cover their own living and training expenses. The school did provide some support, such as access to more affordable accommodation and transportation, but managing all of this demanded significant amount of time, effort, and dedication to studying, taking exams, and balancing daily life. Nevertheless, I believe there is always light at the end of the tunnel if you remain committed and persistent.
My pursuit of understanding health and prevention extended beyond manual osteopathic manipulation. While completing my master’s degree, I focused on mental health epidemiology, researching prevention methods to support individuals with mental illness. Since fall 2009, I have been teaching part-time in Epidemiology and Public Health at Saint Petersburg State University and occasionally at the University of Eastern Finland.
I continued this exploration as a PhD student at the University of Eastern Finland and traveled to Groningen University in the Netherlands for further studies, in which I am still actively engaged in today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As you can see, I have accumulated several academic degrees along with extensive training in manual therapies, while also continuing to expand my teaching experience. I am currently volunteering as a certified teaching assistant with IAHE (Barral and Upledger Institutes) for Craniosacral and Visceral Manipulation, where I also serve as a presenter and study group leader for students. In addition, I continue to pursue advanced postgraduate training in manual osteopathy, biodynamic osteopathy, manual therapy, and applied kinesiology.
Since 2013, I have expanded my experience by exploring BioAquatic Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy with dolphin assistance, participating in comprehensive water-based programs that integrated therapeutic interaction with dolphins. Later, while living in Saint Petersburg, Russia, I incorporated aquatic therapy into my practice, offering this holistic and life-changing approach to patients who were in need and open to it.
In 2016, I explored an experimental study on the therapeutic and restorative effects of elephants on human health during osteopathic manual treatments and Craniosacral Therapy in Sri Lanka. This work was carried out through the Samanelli Project—an integrative program dedicated to supporting seriously ill children. Witnessing the profound benefits of these therapies for both children and adults was a truly humbling and transformative experience.
I obtained a massage license in Colorado, United States, and practice in the field of manual medicine. As a manual therapist with osteopathic training in the UK, I combine my European medical education with my experience teaching medical students and practicing manual therapies. I use gentle, holistic techniques designed to support overall well-being by addressing the body, mind, and spirit as a whole, rather than focusing only on symptoms.
Disclaimer: I am not a U.S. Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), physician, or chiropractor. Services are provided under my Colorado massage therapy license as bodywork/manual therapy, not medical treatment.

How do you think about luck?
There is no such thing as good or bad luck—life is dynamic and continuously guides us through both easy and challenging lessons. The key is to never give up, as progress is impossible without perseverance. Previously, I worked in several clinics in Russia and, after the COVID-19 pandemic, gradually built my practice in the United States through continuous learning and with the support of my family and close friends.
I am deeply grateful to all my life teachers for guiding me on my personal journey and supporting my clients in their health and well-being. I am also profoundly thankful to my parents for their unwavering support as I continue along this path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.iahp.com/Maria-Taame/
• Other: https://traditionalosteopathyedu.com/practitioners/maria-taame-d-o-eur/

Image Credits
The photographs were taken at my office in Denver, Colorado, as well as during comprehensive water-based programs that included therapeutic interactions with dolphins in the Bahamas, therapeutic interactions with elephants in Sri Lanka, and aquatic manual therapy using a manual osteopathic approach.