Meet The Triangle
Trigger Point Therapy
Team
Terrie Bellairs Wood
Owner B.S., C.N.M.T., L.M.B.T. #0003
In 1980 at the peak of physical fitness as an accomplished ballet dancer and member of a national championship cheerleading squad, Terrie was severely injured in a nearly fatal automobile accident involving a drunk driver. She spent the next two months in the hospital and most of her junior year at home, and then underwent two highly innovative surgeries on her pelvis and femur at Vanderbilt University in 1981. Broken bones led to broken dreams of ever becoming a professional dancer and by the age of nineteen, Terrie had instead become a chronic-pain patient who was dangerously depressed and searching for real answers. She transferred from the University of Alabama in Huntsville to Auburn University in 1984 still suffering with daily migraines, TMJD, hip and lower back pain, sciatica and plantar fasciitis, all of which kept her overly medicated and often unable to attend class. But it was debilitating shin splints that finally led to an “alternative” treatment at a local Neuromuscular Massage Therapy (NMT) clinic called Soft Tissue Therapy. The NMT clinic was the only one in the nation to have secured a contract working with college or university athletic programs and individual athletes. An “inactive” member of the Auburn Dance Theatre, Terrie found herself under their expert care and in only a few short months she was able to obtain narcotic free and lasting pain relief in many of the chronic symptoms she had for the first time in years. Hope was renewed and a new life path was revealed. And that’s how the St. John Method of Neuromuscular Massage Therapy became a first step on what has now been a lifelong journey to greater understanding, deeper knowledge, and real healing, body, mind, and most especially soul. It also began a lifetime of service helping and teaching others how to get better a whole lot faster than she did!
Terrie was born in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Exercise Physiology and Human Movement Studies in 1986. A former ballet dancer, fitness competitor and instructor, her graduate and post graduate work included a four year internship with Soft Tissue Therapy in Opelika, Alabama, certification in the St. John Method of Neuromuscular Massage Therapy (NMT), and membership in the American Massage Therapy Association. Nationally certified in massage and bodywork therapy in 1990, Terrie also became one of the first 3 people to receive a NC state license from the newly established Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy in 1999. CEU (Continuing Education Units) have consisted of courses in advanced Neuromuscular Massage Therapy, cadaver dissections, AIS (Active Isolated Stretching), MR (Myofascial Release), CST (Cranio-Sacral Therapy), NRT (Neural Reset Technique), pre/peri natal massage, nutrition, mental health, the pathology of pain, business operation and massage ethics.
After moving to Raleigh in 1988 and opening Triangle Trigger Point Therapy Inc. in 1989, Terrie initiated the creation of The NC Legislative Task Force and was appointed the first chairperson as well as the third vice-president for the NC state chapter of the AMTA. Spearheading a statewide movement for the regulation of all massage therapists, she and a small team of her peers spent the next decade fighting opposition from the NC Physical Therapy Board for a new law that eventually passed both House and Senate in 1998. In 1999 Terrie was appointed to the newly established NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy by then Governor Mike Easley and served two consecutive three-year terms, as both board member and treasurer. In 1992 the AMTA presented Terrie with a Meritorious Award for her dedication and many contributions. Becoming an international instructor for Paul St. John in 1994 and also sustaining a full-time practice, she spent the next four years teaching, traveling, and studying with some of the best neuromuscular therapists in the world.
Inducted into the Cambridge Society of Who’s Who and receiving the Best of Raleigh award for a Massage Therapy Practice by the US Commerce Association in 2011, Terrie continues to work full-time in her practice, while also serving as a consultant on myofascial pain with several local physicians. Invited to be a contributing member of the Roche Labs and Duke University “Ideation Workshop on Pain Relief” in 1999, Terrie has often been referred to by students and staff as “puzzle master,” though she firmly gives all of that glory to God today for putting all of her many “pain puzzle pieces” together once and for all by 2018 when she began writing therapeutic gospel music all pointing to the Truth who she knows today is the Lord Jesus Christ. Other hobbies include singing, dancing, reading, writing, biking, hiking, and relaxing with her husband Zane. Terrie is a simple country girl at heart.
Leslie Riley
Office Assistant
Leslie was born in Port Hueneme, California, one of three daughters of a career military father. And along with her mother and two sisters, she spent her youth traveling throughout the U.S. and Spain. In 1972 the family settled in Raleigh and Leslie proudly considers herself to be a “True Southerner.” In 1976 she became a full dental assistant/office manager and worked for the same prosthodontist for nearly fifty years until he retired. Talk about dedication! “Or insanity?” wonders Leslie.
In her spare time and for more than 30 years, Leslie has also been known as the local “cat whisperer” where she has rescued many stray cats and has helped to feed, spay, neuter and find homes for these wounded and hungry animals. With a natural gift at building trust and creating a safe and nurturing environment, she considers helping animals to be her greatest passion next to quality time with friends and family.
As a chronic pain patient, Leslie discovered TTPT in 1989 and along with her boss and his family they have been some of TTPT’s longest standing “maintenance” clients, who have continued to work, and stay pain free with routine NMT for more than 30 years. Well, sort of … Leslie has a story about what it took for her to finally end her own recurring pain patterns and she is delighted to share it with anyone who cares to listen. The moral of her story: “Don’t wait til’ it’s almost too late before you do what they tell you!”
With a heart of gold and the ability to deeply empathize with chronic pain patients, Leslie began helping out part-time at TTPT in 1998. And we call her our “Girl Saturday,” because it’s the only day of the week that she can fit us into her busy schedule. Not that we mind. She’s well worth the wait getting more done in one day than many can accomplish in a week.
In summary, Leslie has been Terrie’s “BFF” for more than three decades.
Ed Sansbury, LMBT # 7
Massage Therapist
Ed Sansbury, has been a massage therapist since 1997, working in private practice and as part of a multidisciplinary clinic, that includes acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy and massage therapy. It was here that his love of massage as an integral part of health care took root.
In 2015, Ed moved his practice to work alongside Terrie Bellairs Wood at Triangle Trigger Point Therapy. Ed works with chronic pain patients. He also enjoys working with individuals who are seeking to balance their lives and energy. He combines a variety of massage modalities including deep tissue, trigger point, cervical, TMJ, oncology, pregnancy, reflexology as well as Swedish massage.
Ed has been an active member of the American Massage Therapy Associate (AMTA) his entire career. He is a graduate of Body Therapy Institute; Gardner-Webb University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary who brings his combined education and life skills to treat his patients.
Morgan Corbett
Office Manager
Morgan has been coming to our office with her parents since she was 9 years old and she began working part time at our front desk in 2015 as our office manager and what a joy she is to have around. Morgan brings honesty, integrity, a strong work ethic, a big smile, efficiently, organization, and enough warmth and kindness for everyone around her. We are so grateful to have her here if only part time!
Having grown up in Raleigh, Morgan graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in education. After completing the Masters in Education program at UNC-Chapel Hill she taught kindergarten in Raleigh. After getting married, Morgan continued teaching Kindergarten in Annapolis, MD.
She and her husband, Brian, returned to Raleigh in 2003 and their family grew to include a son, 2 daughters and a Samoyed named Juneau. As a family they enjoy hiking, snow skiing and spending summers at Lake Gaston.
