RMC: What brought you to massage therapy as a career?

Jennifer: I have always been body aware. I studied Pilates right out of high school. I wanted to become a personal trainer. And then I had to take a sports massage course at Truckee Meadows Community College and I thought, "This is awesome."  

RMC: So the sports massage was part of the personal trainer curriculum?

Jennifer: Yes, and I was hooked. It immediately changed my career direction.  

RMC: If there was one thing you would like people to know about massage therapy, what would that be?

Jennifer: That it does not have to be a luxury. For some people, yes, it is a luxury but it is more important for your body than you really think. It is like changing the oil in your car, you've got to give it that extra love and care to make it keep going the extra mile. You can't put out so much energy and expect to get the best results without taking care of yourself.  

RMC: We know everyone who does massage says that they tailor the session to the individual needs of their clients but how exactly do you make that happen?

Jennifer: The most important thing is listening to your client. It sounds so simple but it is the most important thing. When the client says deep pressure on the back but light pressure on the legs, it is very important to follow those requests. I want to know what each client wants from the massage. Do they want to relax, to feel loose or to have the massage get deep into the muscles. I really am willing to listen to everything you have to say in order to get you the best massage possible. I encourage the clients to tell me what is happening in their bodies, what is going on with them.

RMC: So the ongoing communication is important?

Jennifer: Exactly! It is very important and that is how I make my client's massage experience unique, just listening, being mindful about the flow of the session and then using all my knowledge and skills to help them feel better.  

RMC: What do you find most rewarding about your work?

Jennifer: I love to make people feel better. There is nothing better than knowing that the client feels better. Sometimes they will tell you with every stroke because it is just making them feel so good. And there is just nothing better than that, I will probably be doing massage until I am crippled and can't because I just love it so much.  

RMC: Thank you for your time and thoughts today. It's a pleasure to have you here at the Center