Having had a successful career both as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Fitness Professional, I guess you could say that I am more than interested in the human body and its response to outside forces and its ability to change and adapt. In fact, you could say that I am very passionate about it! I am, by nature, a giver and a teacher. I love to serve. I believe that education and explanation is a key part of my approach to my patients as a Nurse Practitioner and to my clients as a Fitness Trainer. I clearly recall one of my fitness clients telling other clients that a “session with Libby is not just a fitness class, it is a lesson in science”. I take great pride in that.
Those of us that are givers quickly find that we (the giver) tend to neglect our own needs including taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. A large part of my personal regimen to ensure that I was doing all that I could to take care of myself was massage therapy. Wow! Not only did massage therapy prove to be incredibly beneficial to my physical, emotional and spiritual health but, I found it to be incredibly similar to and, in fact, an adjunct to both of my careers. It’s all connected.
I am approaching the conclusion of my two wonderful and gratifying careers and as I have been contemplating a way to continue to give to others, educate and serve others, massage therapy was first on the list of possibilities. Now that I am enrolled in massage therapy school, I have no doubt that it was the right choice for me.
I am very well connected with the medical community here in my city and plan to network with physicians, physical therapists, PA’s and nurse practitioners who practice in women’s health and sports medicine and develop a strong referral base for their patients and clients. I realize that this will take time to mature into a successful and lucrative business so I will be aggressive but patient during the first year after graduation and massage licensure. I have a well-established relationship with a local physical therapist who is nationally known for his work on spinal issues and sports injuries. We have already discussed the mutual benefits of a semi-partnership.
Having been a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and a nationally certified fitness professional through the American Council on Exercise, I am very familiar with and accustomed to the world of continuing education. I plan to continue that practice throughout my new career as a massage therapist, remaining on the cutting-edge of techniques, trends and research. I truly believe that a diploma, a certificate or the acquisition of a license is not the end of your education; it is, in fact, the beginning! As new modalities are introduced and proven, I plan to advance my learning and skills through courses offered by reputable sites and/or schools and incorporate them into my practice.
I end this essay with a quote that I believe has been the foundation of all that I do and practice. I think it is a great reminder for us all.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around”
Leo Buscaglia
