I'm sitting here on a swampy-hot summer Saturday morning reminiscing over what this work means to me... and figured I would throw some words at the internet in the spirit of oversharing into the abyss.
You know, just in case anyone was curious... 🤣
My first experience with massage therapy was in my early 20's in a conference room in the belly of corporate hell (I kid, it was actually an incredible company with a culture centered around work/life balance far ahead of its time, but I digress). I mostly remember thinking this would probably be the only time it was socially acceptable to strip down to my skivvies in conference room B... but I also recall that the weeks I set aside time to calm my mind and screaming traps were the most productive I would be all week.
When I began training seriously as a runner in 2006, I flung myself face first into Hal Higdon's Novice Plan and hoped for the best. As I neared my first half marathon, a running coach told me that I didn't "respect the distance" and that I would end up injured, if not dead.
Wee dramatic that one was, but he wasn't wrong.
This is when I found ChiRunning, the Pose Method, and started seeing a licensed massage therapist that specialized in musculoskeletal shenanigans related to running. My first Sports Massage was a pivotal point in my training... and career trajectory.
Discipline + Protocol/Method + Intentional Recovery = Not a half bad recipe for success!
Fast forward to 2008... I packed up, moved to ATX, and went to massage school (the first time). I figured I was spending far too much time in the library reading kinesiology books to not monetize my addiction... but my plans were thwarted and the allure of the corporate IT salary lured me back to the dark side...
When I returned to the clutches of 9-5 life, I never really stopped learning and dabbling in kinesiology and bodywork. I went on to finish over 30 half marathons and 2 full marathons all while juggling demanding roles in tech. I immersed myself into different modalities of stretching and recovery, sharing my knowledge and hands on skill with friends, family, and training partners.
It wasn't until I found myself suffering from lower back pain in my poorly appointed 2021 COVID home-office that I returned to the treatment table of another licensed massage therapist... and was once again inspired to return to massage school to become licensed in Michigan.
...and here we are.
Since becoming licensed in 2022, I have dove so much deeper into techniques that work directly with your nervous system to influence lasting results.
I've supported Grandparents in their journeys to keep up with the Grandkids. Unfroze Freezing and Frozen Perimenopausal/Menopausal shoulders. Unwound complex calf/foot/leg issues in several local athletes... which is how I learned my favorite non-monetary form of gratitude is receiving pictures of you on a podium SLAYING your age group category.
My entire career has been centered around the idea that anything is possible when you take an incremental, strategic approach toward implementing changes for the better... Habits make heroes.
If you made it to this point, thank you for reading and I hope to work with you soon!