May 25, 2025 • 51 mins
Massage therapist Renee shares his journey from pharmacy tech to master therapist and reveals how therapeutic touch can unlock both physical and emotional healing. This conversation explores the science of fascia, the mind-body connection, and practical approaches to incorporating massage therapy into your wellness routine.
• Finding passion through massage therapy after a childhood of receiving healing touch from his grandmother
• Developing technical skills through extensive education including over 1,000 hours of formal training
• Creating safe spaces where clients feel empowered to speak up about their bodies
• Understanding fascia as the connective tissue that holds our body together like an orange peel
• Witnessing emotional releases that instantly dissolve physical tension
• Preparing the body before surgery and supporting healing afterward through therapeutic massage
• Recommending monthly massage sessions as preventative care rather than crisis intervention
• Assigning "homework" between sessions like targeted stretches that take only 5-10 minutes daily
• Practicing self-care through receiving regular massage, counseling, physical therapy and proper nutrition
• Finding the right massage therapist who listens deeply and creates a nurturing environment
If you are interested in Oak Haven Massage, give them a call at (210) 492-0440 or visit them online to see all their locations to find the one closest to you! https://oakhavenmassage.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Hey friends, welcome back to the Plus One Theory
Podcast.
I'm Pam Dwyer, author, speakerand someone who believes that
growth, healing andtransformation don't have to
come from giant leaps.
They come from one small,intentional step at a time.
That's what the Plus One Theoryis all about.
(00:35):
If you're new here, let mebreak it down real quick.
The Plus One Theory is amindset that says you don't need
to do it all at once, just doone more.
One more kind word, one morehealthy choice, one more moment
of clarity.
When we apply that idea to ourhealth, relationships and
(01:00):
mindset, the results arepowerful.
And, by the way, I'm not adoctor or a licensed mental
health professional.
I'm sharing from livedexperience, deep conversations
and a heart for helping othersgrow stronger, one step at a
time.
(01:21):
And speaking of growth, thisepisode is part of our Health
and Wellness Month series, wherewe feature amazing guests who
have dedicated their lives tohelping others feel better, heal
from within and live morebalanced lives.
Of sitting down with Renee, askilled and compassionate
(01:47):
massage therapist at Oak HavenMassage, one of the most trusted
and well-loved massage therapyclinics in Texas.
Oak Haven has several locationsin San Antonio and Austin, and
they are known for theirincredible team of professionals
who truly care about your body,your stress and your healing.
Rene's insight into physicaltension, emotional release and
(02:11):
the power of human touch issomething I know you're going to
love.
He shares not only how massagecan support your physical
well-being, but also how itplays a role in emotional and
mental health.
So, whether you're listening onyour walk, during your commute
or while taking a well-earnedmoment for yourself, settle in,
(02:32):
because this conversation willleave you feeling encouraged,
informed and maybe even ready tobook your own massage.
Let's get into it.
Today I'm honored to welcomesomeone who truly understands
(02:57):
the healing power of touch.
Let's get into it.
Management, pre andpost-surgical care and deep
relaxation therapy, especiallyfor chronic areas like the neck,
back, hips and shoulders.
His belief that the body has aninnate ability to heal itself
is at the heart of everything hedoes.
Clients say they leave hissessions feeling not just
(03:19):
refreshed but restored, and Ican personally attest to that.
Rene, welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I'm so glad you're here, thank you, pam, so good to
be here with you.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Well, why don't we, before we get into all this, why
don't we, why don't you tell usa little bit about yourself,
sure?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I got into massage because of my grandmother.
I've had a low back issue sinceI was in middle school and I'd
get locked up where I couldn'tmove.
So she'd bring me into herbedroom and tell me to lay on
her bed.
And I couldn't because I was solocked up, so she'd knock me
over and I'd fall onto her bedand then she would go ahead and
use her thumbs to roll out thesemarble sides and knots along my
spine and I would just bitedown on her bedspread in pain
(04:02):
and so much pain.
But then I'd get up, I'd feelbetter, I could breathe now.
I was so stiff but I couldbreathe and I could walk and I
can sit and says ah.
So that those experiences overalways stayed with me and as I
was trying to create myselfagain, to figure out what I want
to do next in my life, I was apharmacy tech, specialized in
(04:22):
chemotherapy in my previous life.
Oh wow.
And I decided to take on massageas a part-time job, to go back
to school, to be a middle schoolmath teacher, so that was like
beginning of 2006.
So I decided okay, let me go to, let me try massage first,
because this semester I'dalready started, so let me do
(04:43):
massage.
Do that because I have schoolsdifficult, so I knew I couldn't
have a full-time job.
So I thought massage would beperfect.
I could do part-time and Icould pick my hours and who I
want to work with.
I could do my own thing.
But every day I showed up toclass and, man, I was already
working a 40-hour-a-week job andgoing to night school.
For this I my 40-hour-a-weekjob and going to night school
(05:04):
for this.
I loved it.
Oh gosh, every day I wasexcited to get into class.
If the teacher would let usleave early, I'd be upset Like
what do you mean?
I've got 30 minutes, man, we'vegot 30 more minutes.
Like ugh, yeah.
So my goal in high school wasfor my teachers not to remember
me at the end of the school year.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Not to not remember.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
So going to massage school and going, hey, being the
one asking questions, so manyquestions that the teacher would
tell me I can answer that yetno, no, you're not there yet
Going.
Ah, let's do this.
Um, really changed my view oflearning and being passionate
about something.
So I've been studying massagesince 2006.
(05:47):
I didn't get licensed in 2008.
I did a 300-hour class in SanAntonio, didn't finish my
training.
I finished my training.
I even took an extra 100 hoursof training.
But I didn't like my training.
I didn't feel ready.
So I took off to Boulder,colorado, and I studied there
for another year and a half, butfull time.
So a thousand hour program andthat thousand hours.
(06:10):
I still took another 185 extrahours in that time period.
And then they said, hey, stayanother six months to get an
associate's degree.
I said, okay, I'll stay anothersix months to get an
associate's degree and you kindof get to major in something.
So you do medical massage andyou do all this clinical stuff.
And I chose sports andorthopedic work, very technical
(06:30):
based.
I decided you know thistechnical thing, I want to
develop my sense of touch.
So I double majored and didzenshatsu, which is working
meridians like rivers of energythat run through the body.
Which?
How do you supposed to feel?
These supposed rivers of energyrun through the body, but they
have found them.
Now they actually can tell withred, and people who know this
(06:50):
work can actually tell thedifferent textures of each one.
Fascinating, uh, but I don't.
I didn't leave there wanting tostudy that, but I took those
classes, spent lots of money,lots of time learning it because
I wanted to build my intuition,my sense of touch, and my
teacher was so cool that I toldher all this and she still yes,
you can take my classes.
(07:11):
Yes, so I kind of doublemajored and, yeah, made it back
to San Antonio, worked two yearsand then made it to Oak Haven.
I've been here at Oak Haven 14,going on 15 years.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
That is an incredible story and it's the epitome of
the plus one, because the plusone theory is all about going
above and beyond and takingextra steps, small incremental
steps into making a largerimpact.
So what's really cool is whenyou do find your passion right
and then you're all in.
Yes, Because I've had differentpaths that I've taken, but I
(07:50):
was never as excited as I amabout writing and about helping
people.
But I noticed that was yourgoal on the onset right.
It's just to help people withtouch.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yes, that's it.
Just, my first goal was to havepeople feel better than they
walked in the room.
That was it.
That was my goal, and thenafter that, I was like I don't
know what's come out better.
Can I provide a space for them,then, to feel safe and secure
and listen to and nurture, takencare of?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
So it's like okay, I can create that.
And we kept going from there towhat else this work can become
and how it can be a part ofsomething greater, and the whole
philosophy that you'd mentionedat the beginning of the body
has innate ability to healitself.
I remember hearing aboutChristopher Reeves, so
Christopher Reeves playedSuperman when I was a kid, he
(08:41):
was the Superman I grew up with.
And he had a bad accident wherehe fell off a horse, broke his
neck and was paralyzed from neckdown and they said he wouldn't
ever be able to use his limbs.
But yet he wanted physicaltherapy and, sure enough, I
forgot how many years it took.
Years of time it took heactually got movement in his
(09:03):
fingers and they thought thiswas impossible, this wasn't
going to happen.
Was that from the therapy thatwas, from the therapy that he
got, he was able to get movementin his fingers and he was even
able to use a motorized vehiclebecause he had movement with his
fingers.
That he can move around now,which nobody thought was
possible.
So that idea that hey, no, thebody can heal.
I used to listen to a guy thatgot hit by a truck on a bicycle,
(09:30):
broke his back.
They wouldn't put theseHarrington rods and I've worked
with clients with these rods andit's, yes, you can walk now,
but you're in pain the rest ofyour life.
And they'd come in to see mefor an hour and a half to two
hours just to get a few hours ofrelief.
It wasn't like days, really,just a few hours.
So he decided not to do it,even though he's a chiropractor
(09:52):
knew what was going on and stillwas able to heal himself going.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
There's something greater here going on right,
there's the mental connection,the mental connection to the
physical need.
So you probably see that a lotwith all of your patients.
Let me ask you this how manypatients, how many clients do
you think you have that you workon on a regular basis?
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Oh goodness, that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Just a guesstimate.
Could you say how many in oneday?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Six to eight in one day.
I'm here four days a week.
I'm putting in 32 hours to 36hours a week.
Gosh, yeah, goodness, how muchwould I see 120 people in a
month.
But some of those are recurrentevery week, every other week,
every three weeks, every fourweeks, every other month.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And you still get some new ones every now and then
, I'm sure, every now and thenget some new ones every now and
then.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Every now and then get some new ones and um I I
usually about once every otherweek I'll get a new person that
shows up and there were areferral, or they've been
waiting for a while to get inwith me, or I had a cancellation
.
That happened right in, slammedthem right in and um yeah, and
we, and with the new ones is awhole another reminding myself,
(11:05):
okay, what it's like at thebeginning, because we've built
rapport already.
They're scared.
There is this new environmentfor them.
They got to take off theirclothes there's no room by
themselves in a quiet room andthe dim lights, with this
stranger was about to touch themyes, all over their body all
over their body and to reassurethem that it's going to be okay.
I'm only going to expose thebody parts.
(11:26):
We're going to work To check inwith the pressure, to tell them
that they have the power totell me it's too deep, it's not
deep enough, I'm in the wrongspot.
Yeah, I'm going to refersomewhere else.
They don't like the techniqueI'm doing.
They have the ability to saysomething and speak up for their
bodies, and I love it when wego from that, from somebody who
(11:47):
doesn't know their body or isuncomfortable in the room,
asking me like, is it tightthere?
Well, they can't feel this.
Yeah, this is crazy tight, orno, it's not, but they can't
feel this either and thenworking with them so that they
start learning their body,feeling their body, and then
they're the ones coming goinghey, yeah, I yeah, I've got the
shoulder pain, but I think it'scoming from my hip Like, okay,
(12:09):
we go to the hip.
And 99% of the time they'reright.
And if they're a woman, it's99.999999% of the time they're
right.
And it's wonderful to see thattransition of them empowering
themselves to speak up like no,I do know my body, I do know
what I'm feeling.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yes, and helping them see that they know their body
better than they think they do.
I remember the first time Icame to you I was very nervous,
especially being a woman that'sgoing to a man to massage me,
yes.
But I was in a lot of pain,very uncomfortable, and I had
tried all the doctors out there,all the specialists, and I just
(12:49):
I was at my wits end andeveryone kept saying, well,
maybe it's mental.
I'm like, well, it could be,but I want to know.
And so everyone kept sayingfind a guy, because their hands
are stronger, because I knew Ineeded some really deep tissue
Get in there.
(13:10):
And so I remember the first timeI came and I was nervous about
it, but man, it was probablyabout 10, 15 minutes in and I
was already comfortable andrelaxed Because you're so
professional, even when we haveto flip the way you do your
sheets what did you call it?
Speaker 2 (13:24):
You all have to learn how to do the sheets, I'll do
draping.
Draping, that's right.
Proper draping.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Where we feel like, okay, you're not going to watch
the girls flap all around there.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Exactly.
No breeze coming through.
Everything's nice and tightyeah.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, yeah, and just getting someone comfortable too
on their stomach.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yeah, especially on your stomach, and you don't know
where the therapist is.
What are they doing?
What are they doing back there?
What are they touching?
What's?
Speaker 1 (13:50):
going on?
Yes, so how long do you thinkit is, on an average, for a new
client to start feelingcomfortable?
Is it usually 10, 15 minutes in, or is it just different every
time?
Yeah, 10, 15 minutes.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
You got those first few minutes.
It all starts when you sayhello.
Yeah, it starts at thebeginning when they say hello.
When someone comes up to youand sees you, yeah, not just
yelling your name across thehall, but comes up to find you
and like, oh hey, they see youtake a moment to introduce
themselves.
Then you go back into the room,then you share their story, but
(14:23):
not the entire story when youget on the table already.
So it's just like give meenough to get started so I'll
guide people through that.
So people have an idea in theirhead Most people have an idea
in their head of what they want,but they don't know how to
express it.
So that's my job and to figureout what is that massage, that
perfect massage, that reason whythey're here today, and help
find that and then deliver thatfor them.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Well, and at what level?
I mean, like some people havethe misconception that massage
is just all about a foo-foothing.
I call it foo-foo, like aSwedish massage, where you go in
and it's just a feel good thing.
There's no therapy involved,except maybe mentally.
You know it's relaxing, yes,but you know, know therapy.
Okay, let me ask you thatwhat's the difference between
(15:07):
massage therapy and just what doyou call the other type of
massage?
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Just a relaxing massage.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, just a relaxing massage.
So do?
People sometimes come see youand they don't know the
difference.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Yes, because in every industry there's what my boss,
dr Shilak, used to say there'sjargon.
So what's a Swedish massage?
What's a deep tissue massage?
What's a sports massage?
What's a shatsu massage?
What's everything there is.
What's myofascial release,what's trigger point, what's
lymph?
Everyone has their own way ofdefining everything.
(15:40):
So when a client comes insaying, hey, I do tissue massage
, so I want sports massage going, great, what does that look
like?
What does that mean?
It's gonna happen today'ssession.
So my my goal and walk in iswith our focus.
From there I get to figure outwhere we're gonna go what are
the issues?
yeah, we want to relax today.
Mm-hmm, do you want toconcentrate on some specific?
(16:02):
And is this some specific?
Something that bothers you,that keeps you up at night, that
keeps you from playing with thekids or being at work?
So I know the degree of howintense I'm going today, and
then, once I know that, yes,we're gonna focus on something,
or we're gonna focus onsomething but still do a full
body, then I'm going okay, doyou want me to guide those
muscles so you don't feel anypain it's a little uncomfortable
(16:24):
but it's not painful or you'relike no, I want let's do this,
drop some elbows in there andlet's get to work.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Okay, because everyone's different.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Everyone's different.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
But I know I've heard you say so many times when
you're working on me that thebody can heal itself, but you
have to just open things up orallow things to flow.
You've said that many times tome.
But have you seen that actuallycome to be?
I mean come to fruition?
I mean, have you seen it happenwith people?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
yeah, so um, for, for , or if you let me break down on
the physical, just simple thingof the fascia that surrounds
the body.
So to give you an idea of whatthe fascia, people can hear us
out.
It's imagine an orange, and ifyou would take that orange, peel
(17:14):
off and all that follows aroundthat orange, that's our fascia,
it surrounds our entire body.
This fascia has moreproprioceptors on it than our
muscles, so it knows where weare in space.
This fascia has moreproprioceptors on it than our
muscles, so it knows where weare in space.
It's the reason why we cantouch our finger to our nose
with our eyes closed.
It can tell us when a fly haslanded on us.
(17:34):
And the fascia also allows thebody to relax, contract, to move
.
So if you would then take just aslice of that orange out, you
notice you didn't have to cut itout like apple or pear, it's
already pre-packaged.
Every muscle is pre-packaged inits fascia, not just entire
(17:54):
body, head to toe, but eachmuscle is wrapped up in the
fascia.
Now take a bite out of thatslice and you notice there's no
juice.
Doesn't just start pouring outof it, right, but the juice is
in there.
It's also pre-packaged,pre-wrapped, so our body isn't
like droplets, like inside theorange, it's fibers within
(18:18):
fibers, like a rope or a cable,and each piece is wrapped in
fascia.
So if we can get that fascia tounravel, unwind, then, wow, you
have range of motion.
Now, wow, the pain goes away.
Yes, just with that, everythingflows, everything flows.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
But what do a lot of people want to know?
What caused it to wrap up likethat?
Yes, that's a really goodquestion.
I know I always ask you, that'sreally another question.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
They're like what did I do to cause this?
Yeah, what's usually the case?
My wish is to get to that pointthat I can answer that question
, but it's everything.
It's because it could bedehydration, nutrition not the
right electrolytes in the body.
It's been overworked, it's themost been so overworked.
It's shutting down Trauma, it'sjust pretty much you name it.
(19:05):
The body's going to feel it.
A memory, a memory simple asokay.
I remember working on someonethe other day couldn't get this
knot to go away, so finally Iwent back three times.
It wouldn't go away.
I had a little bit of time.
At the end I went back.
I just rested on it just tofeel this for a moment, feel
what it's like.
And I guided her through the.
(19:26):
What kind of pain was it?
Sharp, burning, achy, sore,just trying to help her focus in
, focus in.
And then we were just quiet fora moment and then they just let
go.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
I was like whoa, it just released.
It just released.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Evaporated, that wasn't me, just released,
evaporated, that wasn't me.
I'm just leaning on it.
So I ask her what just happened.
She says my mom took over mywedding and I just got back from
my honeymoon and I just decidedto let her like.
It's okay, I got married, thewedding was good, the honeymoon
was fantastic.
I can let that go and then notdisappear.
(20:03):
And I've had things like thishappen a lot, from a boss, from
a spouse, from a situation thatpeople are holding onto and you
can feel it, and all of a suddenthey have a memory of something
and they acknowledge thatmemory, they let it go, they
forgive, and it just softens andgoes away.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
See, that is the miracle of the mind, I think,
because stress, stress is thenumber one reason people are
sick.
It will literally cause yourbody to be sick in every way.
Every way yes, and if you don'tlearn how to mentally release
the stress, then it startswrapping things up tight doesn't
it, it does.
Yeah, so I bet you can tell ifa person's more stressed than
(20:47):
the other person by theirmuscles and their tendons and
their whole body.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Most of the time, yes , oh gosh, yes, yes.
And women tend to have a littlemore stress on their body,
because I think women are theglue of the family.
The man, just hey, I'm going todo this, there's a roof over
their head, there's food on thetable, hey, bills are paid.
But the mom, she's the onethat's the emotional well-being
(21:14):
of everybody in the house.
Does everybody get along?
They're worried about thesituation each kid's going to go
to.
Next, what they're going toexperience at school, what's
happening.
They're caring so much morethan I don't think men realize.
I don't think they've askedtheir wives how much more is
going on, because now doing thiswork, oh my God.
(21:35):
I'm so humbled by what moms cando, oh my gosh, and how they
take care of all of us.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Well, just the fact that you recognize that is huge,
because you're a dude, you're aguy and you see that that women
do.
I remember my big fat Greekwedding.
Did you ever watch that movie?
Oh yeah, I saw the first one yes, and so how the mom and the dad
and the dad she goes.
Your father is the head of thefamily, she goes, but the woman
is the neck yes, she's turningthe head, she's guiding the way
(22:11):
it goes.
But I personally have had a lotof surgeries and I know that
the last one I had, you workedwith me beforehand, pre-surgery
to get my stomach area ready forit, and so you worked with the
muscles and you worked with allof that and I'm telling you
post-surgery was so much betterthan all the other surgeries
because you helped me with that.
(22:31):
Do you do that a lot?
Work with trauma andpre-surgery, post-surgery?
I mean, do you work with that alot in people?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yes, when they know about it.
So if it's someone I'm workingon already, I can suggest this
to them and because we have arelationship, they'll come in.
Usually I want two to foursessions before this procedure
and we start unraveling thetissue.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Yes, getting it ready for the protrusion.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Exactly when they go in there and slice it.
Nice thing that surgeries aregetting less and less invasive,
but still invasive.
So we're prepping the body forall that.
Make sure everything is ironedout it's loose, it's functional,
it's supposed to.
There isn't really adysfunction going in besides the
injury or whatever is happening, then we can.
It just helps the healingprocess that much more
(23:20):
afterwards.
And then a couple, a few moresessions after the procedure
were great.
I've even gone to the hospitalto see clients in hospitals.
They're like let's do thisright away, as soon as you get
out of the hospital.
Yeah, you're all bandaged up,but we can still touch.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
It's therapy at its best because you're taking the
area that was.
I mean I've had so manysurgeries that I without that
and then I've had it.
You helped me with it pre andpost and man, it's a huge
difference.
You help me with it pre andpost and man, it's a huge
difference.
So anyone listening, go to atherapist, a massage therapist,
and then get some therapeuticwork done before and after any
(23:55):
surgeries you might be having.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yes, and it helps also when the person's combining
the massage with the clientdoing their homework whatever it
is hydration, stretching,muscle connection, light weights
, whatever it is physicaltherapy with the massage I see a
faster increase.
And for clients who are like no, no, no, I don't want to see
(24:21):
other physical therapists, no,I'm not doing this, we're just
going to do this, it's like okay.
Well, now I need like twosessions a week.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
So we can get the job done better.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Well, that's where we're going next.
So how do you explain to aperson that they need to get
consistent therapy instead ofjust a one time?
I'm in crisis, yikes, I can'tmove my shoulder.
Save me, you know.
Instead coming in and doing alittle pre-maintenance work so
that we prevent that.
Preventative care, preventativecare, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Okay, so preventative care for people will vary.
People are highly stressedevery week, every other week,
and they know what, at the levelthat they want to perform their
day-to-day tasks, whether ifit's family life, is it
corporate life, their ownbusiness, whatever it is, they
(25:11):
know they have a certainexpectation of how they expect
to show up at work and perform.
So I want to meet them at thatlevel, like, okay, you wouldn't
perform at this level, let'sfigure out what it takes on the
massage part to keep your bodykeeping up with you.
Yeah, but then on a generalbasis.
For most people I say once amonth, that's my general
(25:32):
guideline, just once a month.
And that one month it's notjust hey, I got a massage, I'm
leaving Either an hour, hour anda half.
However people schedule theirsessions, it's okay.
We checked into that body.
Right now, at the end of thesession I'm looking at
expressing to the client orduring the session Okay, there's
tension in the leg today.
(25:54):
We didn't have this last time.
So your homework for these nextfour weeks is and I may give
some stretches, or, if they'reseeing a trainer or physical,
there's somebody else like, hey,I'd have to know about this
muscle and this is your homework.
Maybe you're going to roll thisout, maybe you're going to do
some extra stretches, maybeyou're going to do some
hydrotherapy, maybe, whatever itis, I'd ask them if they would
(26:15):
give 10 minutes a day to justlook at this.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Yes, and it can be 10 minutes.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yes, it can do for 10 to 5 minutes a day and it
places your mind, reminds youlike, hey, I have this
dysfunction or I have somethingoff right now.
Let me take care of this beforeit comes something.
So, okay, let's see how wellyou did after that month.
We got you again in four weeks.
Let's check in.
Oh, did that heal?
Did that open up?
Did you spend enough time there?
(26:42):
Is there something else goingon now?
So I use the monthly as a checkin so people can see where are
they at now.
Where are they holding?
Are they a little more stressedthan usual?
They're more active than usual.
Where's that problem?
Address that problem, give theminformation of how to help with
that, with that particularproblem, and then send them on
the way.
But they walk away withhopefully being a little more
(27:04):
empowered about their body.
Oh, I, I know what's going on.
I know what I need to work on.
Okay, I only have five minutesa day.
I know exactly what I need todo.
I don't have my full 50 minuteshour to do my workouts.
I've got 10 minutes.
What do I need to pay attentionto?
And they can target that.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
That is exactly what we try to teach people and
that's why we've named it theplus one theory, because you
take small incremental steps andmassage therapy is is the
epitome of that.
You know you can't.
It's not just a one and donething, it's something that you
need to constantly make, monitorand maintain and if there are
(27:41):
issues you can take, likestepping stones right, take
steps to get better, to make adifference, and then it empowers
your clients.
It empowers me, I know, whenI'm trying to figure something
out about why do I limp, whydoes it hurt when I take my
three mile walk?
Why does my left leg startkilling me?
Or my hip?
(28:01):
You know, and you'll see.
When I come see you, you'll sitme down and say, okay, what's
been happening, and I'll tellyou and you'll be like you make
a mental note.
I can so see it in your eyes.
I'm so going to that shoulder,but it makes a big difference to
come in on a consistent basis.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Like anything else in life.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
I know right.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Consistency is the key right.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
And just being mentally aware?
And do you notice that whenyou're living your passion this
is so I love asking this whenyou're living your passion and
what you think your purpose ison this earth, which I think you
feel that way, right, itcompletes you inside?
Oh yeah, you know, but I'm sureyou still have bad days and
(28:47):
good days, when you're tired.
But that's how you do thesehours, I'm sure of it, because
you love it.
I love it, you know, and eachand every client is a different
case.
You learn something, probablyevery time.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Yes, but you're applying yourself to something
you love, yeah, and I get to beof service and I love it yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
And not everyone loves service, and that's okay,
yeah.
You know, everybody has their,their, one fuzzy, um, but I just
want people to appreciate thatin a, in a therapist like
yourself, how much heart andsoul goes into what you do.
So it's not just getting on thetable and having someone rub
(29:25):
you in the right all the sorespots, it's someone that really
cares about your health and yourmental well-being.
So we should take time toappreciate that in a person, I
mean, that does that for people.
Oh yeah, that's the kindnessthat I try to talk about.
Take three seconds to recognizethat that person is living
(29:47):
their life to help you be better, you know.
For sure I know, and that's thekindness that we need in this
world is to take a moment, takea deep breath first, evaluate
ourselves, yeah, but thenappreciate the person that's
helping you overcome it, whetherit's mental, physical or
whatever it is.
(30:08):
Yeah, I, I see, and that.
So what is your take?
Is that your take, too?
The plus one theory?
Does it apply to your line ofwork?
Do you agree?
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, not just my line of work, but for people
also that when you feel good,when you do something for
yourself, you have more patiencefor others.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
You do something that's right for you, that
you're speaking your truth,you're living your truth, you
have more patience than othersand you give that kindness back
to the rest of the world.
So if I get to help somebody insession where I remember a
gentleman came in so irate, somad red red red.
He's like I don't know if I canget a massage, I'm too upset,
(30:46):
I'm too mad.
He was so upset at his boss ohgosh, he didn't.
He's like I don't know if I canget a massage, I'm too upset,
I'm too mad.
He was so upset at his loss.
Oh gosh.
He says okay, in a perfectworld, if I can help you get off
all this stress, what would youlike to feel at the end of it,
bernie?
Speaker 1 (30:59):
I'd like to feel like a fluffy bunny oh like, yeah,
man, red angry man saying hewants to feel like a fluffy
bunny, let's do it.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Let's do it so.
And then when he left there, Iasked hey, so fluffy bunny, Like
I'm in that direction, I'm notgoing to hurt anybody.
Going home, like I feel muchcalmer now, I was like good, do
you want to send him out intraffic?
Oh, irate already, who knowswhat he's going to get into.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
So these moments that we could do for ourselves, Well
, I do want to take anotherbrief moment just to brag on you
, because all the hours youspend it's not just in physical
therapy, you also spiritually,you know mentally.
I know that you do a lot ofresearch, a lot of study, a lot
of self exploration in that area.
(31:47):
So talk to me a little bitabout that.
How important is the spiritualaspect of massage?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Okay.
So, as a therapist, you startseeing enough things happen in
session that you start seeinglike, wow, there's something
greater than myself working here, because how did I know to go
there?
What gave me an idea to gocheck that out?
I've never done that movebefore.
I've never done that before.
What?
You're just observing yourselfwork, all of a sudden, like your
(32:17):
hands are being taken over.
You're like how interesting,because they do that again.
Like I don't know what.
I just did something, justwhich move was it?
I don't know what happened.
I was, I'm just observing andflowing, um, and the stillness
that this work brings there's,there's.
Sometimes we don't.
I don't talk for two, threehours with people, not in a
(32:37):
three-hour session, but I dothose sessions well, not when
I'm on the table.
Yeah, we're conversing, we'reconnecting, we're seeing where,
um, where your life is taken,and for anybody, it's a moment
to check in with oneself.
What's happening on Wednesday?
Where's life taking us?
Where's the kids taking us?
Where's the job taking us?
(32:57):
What are we carrying?
What are we building on?
Are you carrying 100 pounds ofextra load on your shoulders?
How can we lighten that load?
What do you need to talk aboutto get off your chest?
What ideas do you have aboutyour life and about your future?
What ideas do you have aboutthe person you want to become?
Next?
Let's talk about and explorethat, and as we're working
(33:19):
through the body, so as we startfinding someone's truth and
their light starts shining, it'slike yeah, stuff starts
unraveling.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Yes, it's meditative as well.
It is and, as you find, the zoneit's hard for me to sit in
silence, but I try to.
I try to work on that withmeditation myself.
But I, I, you and I are alikewhere we want to please, we want
to help, we want to heal, wewant to do it.
My, we want to heal, we want todo it.
I use words for that, but youuse your hands and you use touch
(33:50):
, but there is a mentaltelepathy between people that
want that and for no otherreason except just to provide
peace in the world, right andbalance.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Balance is so critical, and I'm sure balance
is all very important in massagetherapy, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yes, I've been doing this 19 years now.
So just to show what I do formyself to stay sane, to stay
healthy during this is I give mymassages at least every other
week.
Most of the time I'm trying forevery week, so that's why I end
(34:33):
up doing every other week.
It's still I get it.
I see a counselor that I'veseen regularly for 14 years,
every month to check in with themental aspect of everything.
I have a physical therapistthat's a personal trainer,
physical therapy.
I always see him as my physicaltherapist because the knowledge
he has and what we're doingit's to make sure that my body's
functioning, because I'm such ajust like someone who's at a
desk all day long and they'restuck in that position.
They need to do the opposite.
(34:54):
I'm stuck doing certainmovements all day long and I
need to make sure the rest of mybody is moving the way it's
supposed to, right, so I canstay healthy.
And then you keep trackingnutrition, because I want to be
alert and awake and I realizedthat for me, having a frozen
pizza before going up to workdoesn't help me the next day,
(35:15):
it's like the brain's too foggy.
So I know what I need to eat tomaintain, and because I work
long hours in one day sometimesnine to 12 hours going at it
that I need to make sure thehydration is there, the
nutrition when I do eat.
That it is something that'sgoing to fuel me for what I'm
doing.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Yeah, For the next client Exactly.
But if you don't take care ofyourself, if you're not eating
good, clean food and moving yourbody and paying attention to
your mental and physical healthand I think that's with any job-
right, exactly.
So we have to take care.
If we find our purpose, we findour passion, we have to go
(35:57):
above and beyond to take care ofourselves so we can continue to
do it.
Yes, Right.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Yes, this job has helped me take care of myself,
because I will want to be 100%.
I want to be ready and beavailable for people, definitely
.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
Man guys, if you need any type of help, physical
therapy of any sort, a greatstarting place would be O'Kaven
Massage in San Antonio.
Renee, I will say I have tobook like a year in advance
every month for the year,because everyone loves Renee,
Even the girls at the front desk.
(36:33):
They're just like how was yourmassage the last week?
I'm like, well, it was Renee,so sweet.
He cares immensely.
He is the kindest soul I'veever known, he does amazing work
, he knows his stuff and hecontinues to educate himself and
learn how to help you healmentally, physically.
(36:54):
And that that is the plus onetheory at its best.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
So thank you, renee for that it's.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
It's not common, you know, but we're trying to make
it be for the world.
I just want people tounderstand how much better they
will feel if they heal all thethings shame, anger, you know,
fear, all those things that liveinside of them.
And massage can help with that.
(37:24):
Yes, it can help heal that inyourself.
It's not the only thing you cando besides journaling, because
I gave you a journal.
I can't wait.
Yes, you share your feelings.
You may not even know that youhave an issue, but it takes, you
know, journaling so that youcan look two or three weeks back
and say, wow, I see a patternhere.
(37:44):
Yep, or maybe even, just if youdo go get massage therapy, make
notes about each time you go,because I do realize when I come
see you a month later I kind ofdon't remember what we did.
You know, I remember thetrouble areas, because usually
there are trouble again, but Itry to remember.
(38:04):
So I journal every conversation.
We have everything that Ithought that would be so cool if
I tried this, like the fasciarelease.
You told me about the tools Ican use.
Oh yeah, fascial blasters.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
Yes, those hurt.
Scraping, cupping bone rollers,yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
It's not comfortable, but it does get easier as you
do it more.
Yes, I'm finding, and so youcould even feel a difference
when I started.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, there's a shift.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Yeah, yeah.
So anyway, it's you helping meand me helping you.
We're just all loving on eachother.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
It is just, oh, it's wonderful.
And then that's why you can goat it for so long, because it's
just flowing.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
Well for so long, because it's just flowing Well
and everyone's applying theirown plus one and healing their
journey.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Yeah, and their clients are on their own.
Plus one Is this pressure toomuch?
No, I know I need it.
It's like they're right there.
They're going to go a littlebit farther.
I'm going to take a little morepain right now so I can feel
better later.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Well, and then describing the pain, because I
do want to note that, becausemassage therapy it's a lot of
pressure and it can beuncomfortable at times, but not
unbearable.
And so Renee will ask is that aburning pain or is it a sore
and achy?
He wants me to describe thediscomfort as he's still doing
(39:27):
it by the way.
Maybe that's your tricky way, Idon't know, but I do find that
if I relaxed and lean intowhatever it is you're doing, it
subsides.
It's not as uncomfortable.
If I fight it and tense up,then it's going to continue to
hurt.
You can't get into the layersthat you need to get into
(39:47):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
So it's not always about taking the most pressure
possible.
It's what can I take today?
Today might be a sensitiveToday might be only the weight
of my arm, that a person cantake, and that's it.
I was like that's fine, we'regoing to do some change with
that.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
And one more thing before we go.
What do you recommend?
30 minutes, an hour, hour and ahalf?
Speaker 2 (40:11):
My go-to for everybody would be an hour and a
half.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
An hour and a half.
An hour and a half Because thiscan examine the whole entire
body.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
We're going to look at the whole body and go at it
from there.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Okay.
So if you're going to gift thisto someone you think is very
stressed and could use the help,and they're just never going to
do it on their own.
I've bought so many gift cards,you know, for people, but I
always get an hour and a halffor them because that's going to
allow the therapist time toestablish Okay, we've been over
(40:41):
the entire body and these areyour areas that I'm concerned
about.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Yes, right, yes, and once I know the person's body, I
say, hey, 25 minutes, you don'thave time to come in the next
week, let's just do a 25-minutesession.
Just to knock it out, gostraight to the problem, open it
up, send it in the way you canhave the rest of your day to
keep going.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
Small incremental steps.
I know I sound like a brokenrecord y'all, but it's true.
Anything you want to try to doto improve your life, you don't
have to do it all at once.
You know you can do it in smallsteps, stepping stones to the
goal.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Yeah, and if you don't know what that goal is,
just start talking about it,start journaling it.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
And all of a sudden it starts appearing.
You start getting more clarityof wow, where am I going with
this?
What is unraveling here, oreven allow it to show you.
You know, that's the otherthing too.
You know, I thought at firstwhen I started massage therapy,
I thought I can't afford to dothis every month.
But then I realized how usefulit is, how it makes me a better
person in all aspects, and so Idon't eat out as much, maybe
(41:47):
twice, right, and then I can goget my therapy from Renee.
Oh, yeah.
You know so.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
And for people also, it's there when they find their
therapist for them.
It's, it's, it's find the rightfit for you.
It's does this person listen tome?
They touch me in a way that isnurturing, healing, um, and it's
what you feel is your need atthe time.
You need someone moreprofessional.
(42:13):
Even myself, when I get workdone, I'll work with someone the
most amazing therapist in texas.
We have a place here in sanantonio and in austin and I'm
always blown away with thesepeople of like wow, I know
nothing, yet it's like well,how'd they do that?
Speaker 1 (42:27):
It's hard for me to believe anybody's better than
you are.
I mean really.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
It's amazing.
So, and depending what I'mfeeling, what I want to feel, I
need someone who specializes inshoulder.
No, I need a safe place.
I'm stressed out and I needsomeone who's just going to help
me sink into my body so I canlook over my stresses, so I can
make some choices in my life.
My brain's going too fast.
I need to slow down so I knowwho to go to for whatever I need
.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Well, and you train new massage therapists, right,
don't you train them?
New licensed therapists, newlylicensed therapists you them New
licensed.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
They're newly licensed, I work with them, I do
some education training as wellhere for Oak Haven, and it's
another way I've learned how Ican continue to be of service.
You can't hold on to all theknowledge.
You got to share it, and manyyears ago I learned that if you
want to learn something, we'llteach it to somebody else.
That has helped me tremendously.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
I can attest to that because doing this podcast and
writing the Plus One Theory bookwhich is not published yet but
I'm working towards that buteven writing my first book from
the Piney Woods, I was healingmyself by writing that story,
sharing my journal entries, andthen I started talking to people
(43:43):
about it and I was learning somuch more by sharing my story.
It's infectious.
It is, and you're sharing yourstory and your passion.
Who knows, someone could be outthere that wants to be a
massage therapist now, becausethey have always thought about
it but they never really thoughtabout pursuing it.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
Right.
Even when I have massagetherapists here that they don't
even know if they really want todo this work, learn the
practice of mastery.
It says, okay, it's, why areyou here?
Okay, so you figure out whatyou want to do, then why are you
doing massage?
Okay, so you figure out whatyou want to do, then why are you
doing a massage?
Try to master this and in doingso, if you decide to change
(44:25):
your mind no, I'm going to go tophysical therapy.
No, I'm going to go be aphysical therapy assistant.
No, I'm going to go do anythingelse what more am I going to do
?
She just wanted to be a home.
She didn't adjust, she wantedto have a family.
It's just perfect.
Master this because you try totrain yourself, whatever you're
doing now, how to master this.
Whenever you switch tosomething else, another job away
(44:48):
from corporate, that you aremastering.
That you already set yourselfthe tools needed to excel and
learn and push yourself.
That, no matter where you go tonext, you already know how to
do all that work.
It doesn't matter what you takeup, what the topic is, what the
job title is.
You've already been doing ityour whole life or this whole
(45:11):
time.
That when you switch over, it'slike no big deal.
You already know how to do thehard work, so you're going to
blend into whatever.
It is that much easier.
Speaker 1 (45:24):
Well, and it's just like I say use pain for purpose,
but also the education thatyou're giving yourself with life
experiences, different jobs.
You're still not happy, you'renot content.
Never stop looking, just keeplooking for that, the thing,
your passion, because then it'sno longer work.
Some people tell me all thetime I could because, then it's
no longer work, right?
Some people tell me all the timeI could never write a book.
I'm like well, have you lived alife?
(45:46):
You've got a story.
Why don't you tell me the storyand I'll write it?
Because I can't wait to write.
It's very therapeutic for me,but it's not for everyone.
Speaker 2 (45:56):
But maybe telling stories you know I like what you
said on your podcast, thateveryone's a storyteller.
Speaker 1 (46:01):
Yes, everyone has a story and how we get it out
there isn't?
It's important to get it outbecause it's going to help
someone else learn something youknow, or they'll be able to
relate to it and not feel so set, so isolated in their in their
lives, and quit beatingthemselves up with shame and
guilt.
It just it touches all theplaces, all the things, and so
(46:25):
just lean into whatever'shappened in your life, just lean
into it and use it.
That's what I say and I say weend on that note.
Renee, thank you so much, andplease call Oak Haven Massage,
like you said.
They have several locations inSan Antonio and Austin and all
of their therapists are, youknow, specially trained and have
(46:48):
been with this company for many, many years.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
Yeah, average lifetime massage therapist is
like five to seven years.
I think the average life timefor average therapist here has
at least eight years, which is ahuge sign this is a great place
to work.
Speaker 1 (47:04):
It is a great place for you to learn and better your
skill set and your craft, andthey care, and that is the
biggest thing.
Thank you, renee.
Thanks for being with us.
Wow, what a powerfulconversation with Renee from Oak
Haven Massage.
I hope his insights gave younot just a better understanding
(47:25):
of massage therapy, but alsoreminded you of how important it
is to slow down, listen to yourbody and take those small steps
that lead to big changes overtime.
That's the essence of the PlusOne Theory to big changes over
time.
That's the essence of the plusone theory.
Just one more step, one morehealthy habit and one more
(47:50):
moment of self-care.
Now, before we wrap up today'sepisode, I want to talk about
something very personalbariatric regain.
Many of you know, and some ofyou don't, that I had bariatric
surgery five years ago and itcompletely changed my life.
But here's what people don'talways talk about what happens
after the weight loss?
The mental battle, the fear ofregain, the shame when the scale
(48:13):
creeps back up, the feeling offailure, even after you've
worked so hard.
I'm here to tell you thatyou're not alone and you haven't
failed.
We all have setbacks.
What matters is how we respond.
That's where the plus onetheory comes in again.
You don't need to do everythingtoday.
(48:35):
Just do one thing Make one goodchoice, speak one kind word to
yourself, take one more breath,move forward not perfectly, but
intentionally Monday, june 2nd,where I'll be presenting my talk
(49:02):
.
The Plus One Theory how toFinish Stronger Than you Started
and the Three Ms of BariatricSuccess Mindset, motivation and
Maintenance.
This message isn't just forthose who've had bariatric
surgery.
It's for anyone on a weightloss or wellness journey,
because, no matter how faryou've come or how many times
you've stumbled, you are stillin the game, you still have what
(49:24):
it takes and you're never toofar gone to come back stronger
than ever.
So, whether you're navigatingregain burnout, self-doubt or
just trying to figure out yournext step, know that I am here
for you and I'm cheering you onalways.
If this episode inspired you,encouraged you or made you feel
(49:46):
just a little more hopeful,please subscribe, leave a review
and share it with someone whomight need it.
And don't forget to head topambwirespeakercom to join my
email list, check out my booksand follow along for more
speaking.
Thank you, yes, it's live now.
If this podcast has everencouraged you, challenged you
(50:07):
or made you feel seen.
This is your chance to supportthe next chapter.
It only takes $5, $10, or $20to show your support and help
(50:31):
bring this movement to life, anddon't miss the reward tiers.
I've created some amazingoptions that are perfect for
team building, staff developmentor gifting someone who needs a
little inspiration in their life.
Head to PamDwyerSpeakercom orPamDwyercom for all the details.
Let's do this together, onesmall step at a time.
(50:56):
Until next time, keep going,keep growing and always add just
a little.
Hey friends, welcome back to the Plus One Theory
Podcast.
I'm Pam Dwyer, author, speakerand someone who believes that
growth, healing andtransformation don't have to
come from giant leaps.
They come from one small,intentional step at a time.
That's what the Plus One Theoryis all about.
(00:35):
If you're new here, let mebreak it down real quick.
The Plus One Theory is amindset that says you don't need
to do it all at once, just doone more.
One more kind word, one morehealthy choice, one more moment
of clarity.
When we apply that idea to ourhealth, relationships and
(01:00):
mindset, the results arepowerful.
And, by the way, I'm not adoctor or a licensed mental
health professional.
I'm sharing from livedexperience, deep conversations
and a heart for helping othersgrow stronger, one step at a
time.
(01:21):
And speaking of growth, thisepisode is part of our Health
and Wellness Month series, wherewe feature amazing guests who
have dedicated their lives tohelping others feel better, heal
from within and live morebalanced lives.
Of sitting down with Renee, askilled and compassionate
(01:47):
massage therapist at Oak HavenMassage, one of the most trusted
and well-loved massage therapyclinics in Texas.
Oak Haven has several locationsin San Antonio and Austin, and
they are known for theirincredible team of professionals
who truly care about your body,your stress and your healing.
Rene's insight into physicaltension, emotional release and
(02:11):
the power of human touch issomething I know you're going to
love.
He shares not only how massagecan support your physical
well-being, but also how itplays a role in emotional and
mental health.
So, whether you're listening onyour walk, during your commute
or while taking a well-earnedmoment for yourself, settle in,
(02:32):
because this conversation willleave you feeling encouraged,
informed and maybe even ready tobook your own massage.
Let's get into it.
Today I'm honored to welcomesomeone who truly understands
(02:57):
the healing power of touch.
Let's get into it.
Management, pre andpost-surgical care and deep
relaxation therapy, especiallyfor chronic areas like the neck,
back, hips and shoulders.
His belief that the body has aninnate ability to heal itself
is at the heart of everything hedoes.
Clients say they leave hissessions feeling not just
(03:19):
refreshed but restored, and Ican personally attest to that.
Rene, welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I'm so glad you're here, thank you, pam, so good to
be here with you.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Well, why don't we, before we get into all this, why
don't we, why don't you tell usa little bit about yourself,
sure?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I got into massage because of my grandmother.
I've had a low back issue sinceI was in middle school and I'd
get locked up where I couldn'tmove.
So she'd bring me into herbedroom and tell me to lay on
her bed.
And I couldn't because I was solocked up, so she'd knock me
over and I'd fall onto her bedand then she would go ahead and
use her thumbs to roll out thesemarble sides and knots along my
spine and I would just bitedown on her bedspread in pain
(04:02):
and so much pain.
But then I'd get up, I'd feelbetter, I could breathe now.
I was so stiff but I couldbreathe and I could walk and I
can sit and says ah.
So that those experiences overalways stayed with me and as I
was trying to create myselfagain, to figure out what I want
to do next in my life, I was apharmacy tech, specialized in
(04:22):
chemotherapy in my previous life.
Oh wow.
And I decided to take on massageas a part-time job, to go back
to school, to be a middle schoolmath teacher, so that was like
beginning of 2006.
So I decided okay, let me go to, let me try massage first,
because this semester I'dalready started, so let me do
(04:43):
massage.
Do that because I have schoolsdifficult, so I knew I couldn't
have a full-time job.
So I thought massage would beperfect.
I could do part-time and Icould pick my hours and who I
want to work with.
I could do my own thing.
But every day I showed up toclass and, man, I was already
working a 40-hour-a-week job andgoing to night school.
For this I my 40-hour-a-weekjob and going to night school
(05:04):
for this.
I loved it.
Oh gosh, every day I wasexcited to get into class.
If the teacher would let usleave early, I'd be upset Like
what do you mean?
I've got 30 minutes, man, we'vegot 30 more minutes.
Like ugh, yeah.
So my goal in high school wasfor my teachers not to remember
me at the end of the school year.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Not to not remember.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
So going to massage school and going, hey, being the
one asking questions, so manyquestions that the teacher would
tell me I can answer that yetno, no, you're not there yet
Going.
Ah, let's do this.
Um, really changed my view oflearning and being passionate
about something.
So I've been studying massagesince 2006.
(05:47):
I didn't get licensed in 2008.
I did a 300-hour class in SanAntonio, didn't finish my
training.
I finished my training.
I even took an extra 100 hoursof training.
But I didn't like my training.
I didn't feel ready.
So I took off to Boulder,colorado, and I studied there
for another year and a half, butfull time.
So a thousand hour program andthat thousand hours.
(06:10):
I still took another 185 extrahours in that time period.
And then they said, hey, stayanother six months to get an
associate's degree.
I said, okay, I'll stay anothersix months to get an
associate's degree and you kindof get to major in something.
So you do medical massage andyou do all this clinical stuff.
And I chose sports andorthopedic work, very technical
(06:30):
based.
I decided you know thistechnical thing, I want to
develop my sense of touch.
So I double majored and didzenshatsu, which is working
meridians like rivers of energythat run through the body.
Which?
How do you supposed to feel?
These supposed rivers of energyrun through the body, but they
have found them.
Now they actually can tell withred, and people who know this
(06:50):
work can actually tell thedifferent textures of each one.
Fascinating, uh, but I don't.
I didn't leave there wanting tostudy that, but I took those
classes, spent lots of money,lots of time learning it because
I wanted to build my intuition,my sense of touch, and my
teacher was so cool that I toldher all this and she still yes,
you can take my classes.
(07:11):
Yes, so I kind of doublemajored and, yeah, made it back
to San Antonio, worked two yearsand then made it to Oak Haven.
I've been here at Oak Haven 14,going on 15 years.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
That is an incredible story and it's the epitome of
the plus one, because the plusone theory is all about going
above and beyond and takingextra steps, small incremental
steps into making a largerimpact.
So what's really cool is whenyou do find your passion right
and then you're all in.
Yes, Because I've had differentpaths that I've taken, but I
(07:50):
was never as excited as I amabout writing and about helping
people.
But I noticed that was yourgoal on the onset right.
It's just to help people withtouch.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yes, that's it.
Just, my first goal was to havepeople feel better than they
walked in the room.
That was it.
That was my goal, and thenafter that, I was like I don't
know what's come out better.
Can I provide a space for them,then, to feel safe and secure
and listen to and nurture, takencare of?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
So it's like okay, I can create that.
And we kept going from there towhat else this work can become
and how it can be a part ofsomething greater, and the whole
philosophy that you'd mentionedat the beginning of the body
has innate ability to healitself.
I remember hearing aboutChristopher Reeves, so
Christopher Reeves playedSuperman when I was a kid, he
(08:41):
was the Superman I grew up with.
And he had a bad accident wherehe fell off a horse, broke his
neck and was paralyzed from neckdown and they said he wouldn't
ever be able to use his limbs.
But yet he wanted physicaltherapy and, sure enough, I
forgot how many years it took.
Years of time it took heactually got movement in his
(09:03):
fingers and they thought thiswas impossible, this wasn't
going to happen.
Was that from the therapy thatwas, from the therapy that he
got, he was able to get movementin his fingers and he was even
able to use a motorized vehiclebecause he had movement with his
fingers.
That he can move around now,which nobody thought was
possible.
So that idea that hey, no, thebody can heal.
I used to listen to a guy thatgot hit by a truck on a bicycle,
(09:30):
broke his back.
They wouldn't put theseHarrington rods and I've worked
with clients with these rods andit's, yes, you can walk now,
but you're in pain the rest ofyour life.
And they'd come in to see mefor an hour and a half to two
hours just to get a few hours ofrelief.
It wasn't like days, really,just a few hours.
So he decided not to do it,even though he's a chiropractor
(09:52):
knew what was going on and stillwas able to heal himself going.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
There's something greater here going on right,
there's the mental connection,the mental connection to the
physical need.
So you probably see that a lotwith all of your patients.
Let me ask you this how manypatients, how many clients do
you think you have that you workon on a regular basis?
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Oh goodness, that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Just a guesstimate.
Could you say how many in oneday?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Six to eight in one day.
I'm here four days a week.
I'm putting in 32 hours to 36hours a week.
Gosh, yeah, goodness, how muchwould I see 120 people in a
month.
But some of those are recurrentevery week, every other week,
every three weeks, every fourweeks, every other month.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And you still get some new ones every now and then
, I'm sure, every now and thenget some new ones every now and
then.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Every now and then get some new ones and um I I
usually about once every otherweek I'll get a new person that
shows up and there were areferral, or they've been
waiting for a while to get inwith me, or I had a cancellation
.
That happened right in, slammedthem right in and um yeah, and
we, and with the new ones is awhole another reminding myself,
(11:05):
okay, what it's like at thebeginning, because we've built
rapport already.
They're scared.
There is this new environmentfor them.
They got to take off theirclothes there's no room by
themselves in a quiet room andthe dim lights, with this
stranger was about to touch themyes, all over their body all
over their body and to reassurethem that it's going to be okay.
I'm only going to expose thebody parts.
(11:26):
We're going to work To check inwith the pressure, to tell them
that they have the power totell me it's too deep, it's not
deep enough, I'm in the wrongspot.
Yeah, I'm going to refersomewhere else.
They don't like the techniqueI'm doing.
They have the ability to saysomething and speak up for their
bodies, and I love it when wego from that, from somebody who
(11:47):
doesn't know their body or isuncomfortable in the room,
asking me like, is it tightthere?
Well, they can't feel this.
Yeah, this is crazy tight, orno, it's not, but they can't
feel this either and thenworking with them so that they
start learning their body,feeling their body, and then
they're the ones coming goinghey, yeah, I yeah, I've got the
shoulder pain, but I think it'scoming from my hip Like, okay,
(12:09):
we go to the hip.
And 99% of the time they'reright.
And if they're a woman, it's99.999999% of the time they're
right.
And it's wonderful to see thattransition of them empowering
themselves to speak up like no,I do know my body, I do know
what I'm feeling.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yes, and helping them see that they know their body
better than they think they do.
I remember the first time Icame to you I was very nervous,
especially being a woman that'sgoing to a man to massage me,
yes.
But I was in a lot of pain,very uncomfortable, and I had
tried all the doctors out there,all the specialists, and I just
(12:49):
I was at my wits end andeveryone kept saying, well,
maybe it's mental.
I'm like, well, it could be,but I want to know.
And so everyone kept sayingfind a guy, because their hands
are stronger, because I knew Ineeded some really deep tissue
Get in there.
(13:10):
And so I remember the first timeI came and I was nervous about
it, but man, it was probablyabout 10, 15 minutes in and I
was already comfortable andrelaxed Because you're so
professional, even when we haveto flip the way you do your
sheets what did you call it?
Speaker 2 (13:24):
You all have to learn how to do the sheets, I'll do
draping.
Draping, that's right.
Proper draping.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Where we feel like, okay, you're not going to watch
the girls flap all around there.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Exactly.
No breeze coming through.
Everything's nice and tightyeah.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, yeah, and just getting someone comfortable too
on their stomach.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yeah, especially on your stomach, and you don't know
where the therapist is.
What are they doing?
What are they doing back there?
What are they touching?
What's?
Speaker 1 (13:50):
going on?
Yes, so how long do you thinkit is, on an average, for a new
client to start feelingcomfortable?
Is it usually 10, 15 minutes in, or is it just different every
time?
Yeah, 10, 15 minutes.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
You got those first few minutes.
It all starts when you sayhello.
Yeah, it starts at thebeginning when they say hello.
When someone comes up to youand sees you, yeah, not just
yelling your name across thehall, but comes up to find you
and like, oh hey, they see youtake a moment to introduce
themselves.
Then you go back into the room,then you share their story, but
(14:23):
not the entire story when youget on the table already.
So it's just like give meenough to get started so I'll
guide people through that.
So people have an idea in theirhead Most people have an idea
in their head of what they want,but they don't know how to
express it.
So that's my job and to figureout what is that massage, that
perfect massage, that reason whythey're here today, and help
find that and then deliver thatfor them.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Well, and at what level?
I mean, like some people havethe misconception that massage
is just all about a foo-foothing.
I call it foo-foo, like aSwedish massage, where you go in
and it's just a feel good thing.
There's no therapy involved,except maybe mentally.
You know it's relaxing, yes,but you know, know therapy.
Okay, let me ask you thatwhat's the difference between
(15:07):
massage therapy and just what doyou call the other type of
massage?
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Just a relaxing massage.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, just a relaxing massage.
So do?
People sometimes come see youand they don't know the
difference.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Yes, because in every industry there's what my boss,
dr Shilak, used to say there'sjargon.
So what's a Swedish massage?
What's a deep tissue massage?
What's a sports massage?
What's a shatsu massage?
What's everything there is.
What's myofascial release,what's trigger point, what's
lymph?
Everyone has their own way ofdefining everything.
(15:40):
So when a client comes insaying, hey, I do tissue massage
, so I want sports massage going, great, what does that look
like?
What does that mean?
It's gonna happen today'ssession.
So my my goal and walk in iswith our focus.
From there I get to figure outwhere we're gonna go what are
the issues?
yeah, we want to relax today.
Mm-hmm, do you want toconcentrate on some specific?
(16:02):
And is this some specific?
Something that bothers you,that keeps you up at night, that
keeps you from playing with thekids or being at work?
So I know the degree of howintense I'm going today, and
then, once I know that, yes,we're gonna focus on something,
or we're gonna focus onsomething but still do a full
body, then I'm going okay, doyou want me to guide those
muscles so you don't feel anypain it's a little uncomfortable
(16:24):
but it's not painful or you'relike no, I want let's do this,
drop some elbows in there andlet's get to work.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Okay, because everyone's different.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Everyone's different.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
But I know I've heard you say so many times when
you're working on me that thebody can heal itself, but you
have to just open things up orallow things to flow.
You've said that many times tome.
But have you seen that actuallycome to be?
I mean come to fruition?
I mean, have you seen it happenwith people?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
yeah, so um, for, for , or if you let me break down on
the physical, just simple thingof the fascia that surrounds
the body.
So to give you an idea of whatthe fascia, people can hear us
out.
It's imagine an orange, and ifyou would take that orange, peel
(17:14):
off and all that follows aroundthat orange, that's our fascia,
it surrounds our entire body.
This fascia has moreproprioceptors on it than our
muscles, so it knows where weare in space.
This fascia has moreproprioceptors on it than our
muscles, so it knows where weare in space.
It's the reason why we cantouch our finger to our nose
with our eyes closed.
It can tell us when a fly haslanded on us.
(17:34):
And the fascia also allows thebody to relax, contract, to move
.
So if you would then take just aslice of that orange out, you
notice you didn't have to cut itout like apple or pear, it's
already pre-packaged.
Every muscle is pre-packaged inits fascia, not just entire
(17:54):
body, head to toe, but eachmuscle is wrapped up in the
fascia.
Now take a bite out of thatslice and you notice there's no
juice.
Doesn't just start pouring outof it, right, but the juice is
in there.
It's also pre-packaged,pre-wrapped, so our body isn't
like droplets, like inside theorange, it's fibers within
(18:18):
fibers, like a rope or a cable,and each piece is wrapped in
fascia.
So if we can get that fascia tounravel, unwind, then, wow, you
have range of motion.
Now, wow, the pain goes away.
Yes, just with that, everythingflows, everything flows.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
But what do a lot of people want to know?
What caused it to wrap up likethat?
Yes, that's a really goodquestion.
I know I always ask you, that'sreally another question.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
They're like what did I do to cause this?
Yeah, what's usually the case?
My wish is to get to that pointthat I can answer that question
, but it's everything.
It's because it could bedehydration, nutrition not the
right electrolytes in the body.
It's been overworked, it's themost been so overworked.
It's shutting down Trauma, it'sjust pretty much you name it.
(19:05):
The body's going to feel it.
A memory, a memory simple asokay.
I remember working on someonethe other day couldn't get this
knot to go away, so finally Iwent back three times.
It wouldn't go away.
I had a little bit of time.
At the end I went back.
I just rested on it just tofeel this for a moment, feel
what it's like.
And I guided her through the.
(19:26):
What kind of pain was it?
Sharp, burning, achy, sore,just trying to help her focus in
, focus in.
And then we were just quiet fora moment and then they just let
go.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
I was like whoa, it just released.
It just released.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Evaporated, that wasn't me, just released,
evaporated, that wasn't me.
I'm just leaning on it.
So I ask her what just happened.
She says my mom took over mywedding and I just got back from
my honeymoon and I just decidedto let her like.
It's okay, I got married, thewedding was good, the honeymoon
was fantastic.
I can let that go and then notdisappear.
(20:03):
And I've had things like thishappen a lot, from a boss, from
a spouse, from a situation thatpeople are holding onto and you
can feel it, and all of a suddenthey have a memory of something
and they acknowledge thatmemory, they let it go, they
forgive, and it just softens andgoes away.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
See, that is the miracle of the mind, I think,
because stress, stress is thenumber one reason people are
sick.
It will literally cause yourbody to be sick in every way.
Every way yes, and if you don'tlearn how to mentally release
the stress, then it startswrapping things up tight doesn't
it, it does.
Yeah, so I bet you can tell ifa person's more stressed than
(20:47):
the other person by theirmuscles and their tendons and
their whole body.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Most of the time, yes , oh gosh, yes, yes.
And women tend to have a littlemore stress on their body,
because I think women are theglue of the family.
The man, just hey, I'm going todo this, there's a roof over
their head, there's food on thetable, hey, bills are paid.
But the mom, she's the onethat's the emotional well-being
(21:14):
of everybody in the house.
Does everybody get along?
They're worried about thesituation each kid's going to go
to.
Next, what they're going toexperience at school, what's
happening.
They're caring so much morethan I don't think men realize.
I don't think they've askedtheir wives how much more is
going on, because now doing thiswork, oh my God.
(21:35):
I'm so humbled by what moms cando, oh my gosh, and how they
take care of all of us.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Well, just the fact that you recognize that is huge,
because you're a dude, you're aguy and you see that that women
do.
I remember my big fat Greekwedding.
Did you ever watch that movie?
Oh yeah, I saw the first one yes, and so how the mom and the dad
and the dad she goes.
Your father is the head of thefamily, she goes, but the woman
is the neck yes, she's turningthe head, she's guiding the way
(22:11):
it goes.
But I personally have had a lotof surgeries and I know that
the last one I had, you workedwith me beforehand, pre-surgery
to get my stomach area ready forit, and so you worked with the
muscles and you worked with allof that and I'm telling you
post-surgery was so much betterthan all the other surgeries
because you helped me with that.
(22:31):
Do you do that a lot?
Work with trauma andpre-surgery, post-surgery?
I mean, do you work with that alot in people?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yes, when they know about it.
So if it's someone I'm workingon already, I can suggest this
to them and because we have arelationship, they'll come in.
Usually I want two to foursessions before this procedure
and we start unraveling thetissue.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Yes, getting it ready for the protrusion.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Exactly when they go in there and slice it.
Nice thing that surgeries aregetting less and less invasive,
but still invasive.
So we're prepping the body forall that.
Make sure everything is ironedout it's loose, it's functional,
it's supposed to.
There isn't really adysfunction going in besides the
injury or whatever is happening, then we can.
It just helps the healingprocess that much more
(23:20):
afterwards.
And then a couple, a few moresessions after the procedure
were great.
I've even gone to the hospitalto see clients in hospitals.
They're like let's do thisright away, as soon as you get
out of the hospital.
Yeah, you're all bandaged up,but we can still touch.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
It's therapy at its best because you're taking the
area that was.
I mean I've had so manysurgeries that I without that
and then I've had it.
You helped me with it pre andpost and man, it's a huge
difference.
You help me with it pre andpost and man, it's a huge
difference.
So anyone listening, go to atherapist, a massage therapist,
and then get some therapeuticwork done before and after any
(23:55):
surgeries you might be having.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yes, and it helps also when the person's combining
the massage with the clientdoing their homework whatever it
is hydration, stretching,muscle connection, light weights
, whatever it is physicaltherapy with the massage I see a
faster increase.
And for clients who are like no, no, no, I don't want to see
(24:21):
other physical therapists, no,I'm not doing this, we're just
going to do this, it's like okay.
Well, now I need like twosessions a week.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
So we can get the job done better.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Well, that's where we're going next.
So how do you explain to aperson that they need to get
consistent therapy instead ofjust a one time?
I'm in crisis, yikes, I can'tmove my shoulder.
Save me, you know.
Instead coming in and doing alittle pre-maintenance work so
that we prevent that.
Preventative care, preventativecare, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Okay, so preventative care for people will vary.
People are highly stressedevery week, every other week,
and they know what, at the levelthat they want to perform their
day-to-day tasks, whether ifit's family life, is it
corporate life, their ownbusiness, whatever it is, they
(25:11):
know they have a certainexpectation of how they expect
to show up at work and perform.
So I want to meet them at thatlevel, like, okay, you wouldn't
perform at this level, let'sfigure out what it takes on the
massage part to keep your bodykeeping up with you.
Yeah, but then on a generalbasis.
For most people I say once amonth, that's my general
(25:32):
guideline, just once a month.
And that one month it's notjust hey, I got a massage, I'm
leaving Either an hour, hour anda half.
However people schedule theirsessions, it's okay.
We checked into that body.
Right now, at the end of thesession I'm looking at
expressing to the client orduring the session Okay, there's
tension in the leg today.
(25:54):
We didn't have this last time.
So your homework for these nextfour weeks is and I may give
some stretches, or, if they'reseeing a trainer or physical,
there's somebody else like, hey,I'd have to know about this
muscle and this is your homework.
Maybe you're going to roll thisout, maybe you're going to do
some extra stretches, maybeyou're going to do some
hydrotherapy, maybe, whatever itis, I'd ask them if they would
(26:15):
give 10 minutes a day to justlook at this.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Yes, and it can be 10 minutes.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yes, it can do for 10 to 5 minutes a day and it
places your mind, reminds youlike, hey, I have this
dysfunction or I have somethingoff right now.
Let me take care of this beforeit comes something.
So, okay, let's see how wellyou did after that month.
We got you again in four weeks.
Let's check in.
Oh, did that heal?
Did that open up?
Did you spend enough time there?
(26:42):
Is there something else goingon now?
So I use the monthly as a checkin so people can see where are
they at now.
Where are they holding?
Are they a little more stressedthan usual?
They're more active than usual.
Where's that problem?
Address that problem, give theminformation of how to help with
that, with that particularproblem, and then send them on
the way.
But they walk away withhopefully being a little more
(27:04):
empowered about their body.
Oh, I, I know what's going on.
I know what I need to work on.
Okay, I only have five minutesa day.
I know exactly what I need todo.
I don't have my full 50 minuteshour to do my workouts.
I've got 10 minutes.
What do I need to pay attentionto?
And they can target that.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
That is exactly what we try to teach people and
that's why we've named it theplus one theory, because you
take small incremental steps andmassage therapy is is the
epitome of that.
You know you can't.
It's not just a one and donething, it's something that you
need to constantly make, monitorand maintain and if there are
(27:41):
issues you can take, likestepping stones right, take
steps to get better, to make adifference, and then it empowers
your clients.
It empowers me, I know, whenI'm trying to figure something
out about why do I limp, whydoes it hurt when I take my
three mile walk?
Why does my left leg startkilling me?
Or my hip?
(28:01):
You know, and you'll see.
When I come see you, you'll sitme down and say, okay, what's
been happening, and I'll tellyou and you'll be like you make
a mental note.
I can so see it in your eyes.
I'm so going to that shoulder,but it makes a big difference to
come in on a consistent basis.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Like anything else in life.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
I know right.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Consistency is the key right.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
And just being mentally aware?
And do you notice that whenyou're living your passion this
is so I love asking this whenyou're living your passion and
what you think your purpose ison this earth, which I think you
feel that way, right, itcompletes you inside?
Oh yeah, you know, but I'm sureyou still have bad days and
(28:47):
good days, when you're tired.
But that's how you do thesehours, I'm sure of it, because
you love it.
I love it, you know, and eachand every client is a different
case.
You learn something, probablyevery time.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Yes, but you're applying yourself to something
you love, yeah, and I get to beof service and I love it yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
And not everyone loves service, and that's okay,
yeah.
You know, everybody has their,their, one fuzzy, um, but I just
want people to appreciate thatin a, in a therapist like
yourself, how much heart andsoul goes into what you do.
So it's not just getting on thetable and having someone rub
(29:25):
you in the right all the sorespots, it's someone that really
cares about your health and yourmental well-being.
So we should take time toappreciate that in a person, I
mean, that does that for people.
Oh yeah, that's the kindnessthat I try to talk about.
Take three seconds to recognizethat that person is living
(29:47):
their life to help you be better, you know.
For sure I know, and that's thekindness that we need in this
world is to take a moment, takea deep breath first, evaluate
ourselves, yeah, but thenappreciate the person that's
helping you overcome it, whetherit's mental, physical or
whatever it is.
(30:08):
Yeah, I, I see, and that.
So what is your take?
Is that your take, too?
The plus one theory?
Does it apply to your line ofwork?
Do you agree?
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, not just my line of work, but for people
also that when you feel good,when you do something for
yourself, you have more patiencefor others.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
You do something that's right for you, that
you're speaking your truth,you're living your truth, you
have more patience than othersand you give that kindness back
to the rest of the world.
So if I get to help somebody insession where I remember a
gentleman came in so irate, somad red red red.
He's like I don't know if I canget a massage, I'm too upset,
(30:46):
I'm too mad.
He was so upset at his boss ohgosh, he didn't.
He's like I don't know if I canget a massage, I'm too upset,
I'm too mad.
He was so upset at his loss.
Oh gosh.
He says okay, in a perfectworld, if I can help you get off
all this stress, what would youlike to feel at the end of it,
bernie?
Speaker 1 (30:59):
I'd like to feel like a fluffy bunny oh like, yeah,
man, red angry man saying hewants to feel like a fluffy
bunny, let's do it.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Let's do it so.
And then when he left there, Iasked hey, so fluffy bunny, Like
I'm in that direction, I'm notgoing to hurt anybody.
Going home, like I feel muchcalmer now, I was like good, do
you want to send him out intraffic?
Oh, irate already, who knowswhat he's going to get into.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
So these moments that we could do for ourselves, Well
, I do want to take anotherbrief moment just to brag on you
, because all the hours youspend it's not just in physical
therapy, you also spiritually,you know mentally.
I know that you do a lot ofresearch, a lot of study, a lot
of self exploration in that area.
(31:47):
So talk to me a little bitabout that.
How important is the spiritualaspect of massage?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Okay.
So, as a therapist, you startseeing enough things happen in
session that you start seeinglike, wow, there's something
greater than myself working here, because how did I know to go
there?
What gave me an idea to gocheck that out?
I've never done that movebefore.
I've never done that before.
What?
You're just observing yourselfwork, all of a sudden, like your
(32:17):
hands are being taken over.
You're like how interesting,because they do that again.
Like I don't know what.
I just did something, justwhich move was it?
I don't know what happened.
I was, I'm just observing andflowing, um, and the stillness
that this work brings there's,there's.
Sometimes we don't.
I don't talk for two, threehours with people, not in a
(32:37):
three-hour session, but I dothose sessions well, not when
I'm on the table.
Yeah, we're conversing, we'reconnecting, we're seeing where,
um, where your life is taken,and for anybody, it's a moment
to check in with oneself.
What's happening on Wednesday?
Where's life taking us?
Where's the kids taking us?
Where's the job taking us?
(32:57):
What are we carrying?
What are we building on?
Are you carrying 100 pounds ofextra load on your shoulders?
How can we lighten that load?
What do you need to talk aboutto get off your chest?
What ideas do you have aboutyour life and about your future?
What ideas do you have aboutthe person you want to become?
Next?
Let's talk about and explorethat, and as we're working
(33:19):
through the body, so as we startfinding someone's truth and
their light starts shining, it'slike yeah, stuff starts
unraveling.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Yes, it's meditative as well.
It is and, as you find, the zoneit's hard for me to sit in
silence, but I try to.
I try to work on that withmeditation myself.
But I, I, you and I are alikewhere we want to please, we want
to help, we want to heal, wewant to do it.
My, we want to heal, we want todo it.
I use words for that, but youuse your hands and you use touch
(33:50):
, but there is a mentaltelepathy between people that
want that and for no otherreason except just to provide
peace in the world, right andbalance.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Balance is so critical, and I'm sure balance
is all very important in massagetherapy, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yes, I've been doing this 19 years now.
So just to show what I do formyself to stay sane, to stay
healthy during this is I give mymassages at least every other
week.
Most of the time I'm trying forevery week, so that's why I end
(34:33):
up doing every other week.
It's still I get it.
I see a counselor that I'veseen regularly for 14 years,
every month to check in with themental aspect of everything.
I have a physical therapistthat's a personal trainer,
physical therapy.
I always see him as my physicaltherapist because the knowledge
he has and what we're doingit's to make sure that my body's
functioning, because I'm such ajust like someone who's at a
desk all day long and they'restuck in that position.
They need to do the opposite.
(34:54):
I'm stuck doing certainmovements all day long and I
need to make sure the rest of mybody is moving the way it's
supposed to, right, so I canstay healthy.
And then you keep trackingnutrition, because I want to be
alert and awake and I realizedthat for me, having a frozen
pizza before going up to workdoesn't help me the next day,
(35:15):
it's like the brain's too foggy.
So I know what I need to eat tomaintain, and because I work
long hours in one day sometimesnine to 12 hours going at it
that I need to make sure thehydration is there, the
nutrition when I do eat.
That it is something that'sgoing to fuel me for what I'm
doing.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Yeah, For the next client Exactly.
But if you don't take care ofyourself, if you're not eating
good, clean food and moving yourbody and paying attention to
your mental and physical healthand I think that's with any job-
right, exactly.
So we have to take care.
If we find our purpose, we findour passion, we have to go
(35:57):
above and beyond to take care ofourselves so we can continue to
do it.
Yes, Right.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Yes, this job has helped me take care of myself,
because I will want to be 100%.
I want to be ready and beavailable for people, definitely
.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
Man guys, if you need any type of help, physical
therapy of any sort, a greatstarting place would be O'Kaven
Massage in San Antonio.
Renee, I will say I have tobook like a year in advance
every month for the year,because everyone loves Renee,
Even the girls at the front desk.
(36:33):
They're just like how was yourmassage the last week?
I'm like, well, it was Renee,so sweet.
He cares immensely.
He is the kindest soul I'veever known, he does amazing work
, he knows his stuff and hecontinues to educate himself and
learn how to help you healmentally, physically.
(36:54):
And that that is the plus onetheory at its best.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
So thank you, renee for that it's.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
It's not common, you know, but we're trying to make
it be for the world.
I just want people tounderstand how much better they
will feel if they heal all thethings shame, anger, you know,
fear, all those things that liveinside of them.
And massage can help with that.
(37:24):
Yes, it can help heal that inyourself.
It's not the only thing you cando besides journaling, because
I gave you a journal.
I can't wait.
Yes, you share your feelings.
You may not even know that youhave an issue, but it takes, you
know, journaling so that youcan look two or three weeks back
and say, wow, I see a patternhere.
(37:44):
Yep, or maybe even, just if youdo go get massage therapy, make
notes about each time you go,because I do realize when I come
see you a month later I kind ofdon't remember what we did.
You know, I remember thetrouble areas, because usually
there are trouble again, but Itry to remember.
(38:04):
So I journal every conversation.
We have everything that Ithought that would be so cool if
I tried this, like the fasciarelease.
You told me about the tools Ican use.
Oh yeah, fascial blasters.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
Yes, those hurt.
Scraping, cupping bone rollers,yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
It's not comfortable, but it does get easier as you
do it more.
Yes, I'm finding, and so youcould even feel a difference
when I started.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, there's a shift.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Yeah, yeah.
So anyway, it's you helping meand me helping you.
We're just all loving on eachother.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
It is just, oh, it's wonderful.
And then that's why you can goat it for so long, because it's
just flowing.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
Well for so long, because it's just flowing Well
and everyone's applying theirown plus one and healing their
journey.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Yeah, and their clients are on their own.
Plus one Is this pressure toomuch?
No, I know I need it.
It's like they're right there.
They're going to go a littlebit farther.
I'm going to take a little morepain right now so I can feel
better later.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Well, and then describing the pain, because I
do want to note that, becausemassage therapy it's a lot of
pressure and it can beuncomfortable at times, but not
unbearable.
And so Renee will ask is that aburning pain or is it a sore
and achy?
He wants me to describe thediscomfort as he's still doing
(39:27):
it by the way.
Maybe that's your tricky way, Idon't know, but I do find that
if I relaxed and lean intowhatever it is you're doing, it
subsides.
It's not as uncomfortable.
If I fight it and tense up,then it's going to continue to
hurt.
You can't get into the layersthat you need to get into
(39:47):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
So it's not always about taking the most pressure
possible.
It's what can I take today?
Today might be a sensitiveToday might be only the weight
of my arm, that a person cantake, and that's it.
I was like that's fine, we'regoing to do some change with
that.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
And one more thing before we go.
What do you recommend?
30 minutes, an hour, hour and ahalf?
Speaker 2 (40:11):
My go-to for everybody would be an hour and a
half.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
An hour and a half.
An hour and a half Because thiscan examine the whole entire
body.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
We're going to look at the whole body and go at it
from there.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Okay.
So if you're going to gift thisto someone you think is very
stressed and could use the help,and they're just never going to
do it on their own.
I've bought so many gift cards,you know, for people, but I
always get an hour and a halffor them because that's going to
allow the therapist time toestablish Okay, we've been over
(40:41):
the entire body and these areyour areas that I'm concerned
about.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Yes, right, yes, and once I know the person's body, I
say, hey, 25 minutes, you don'thave time to come in the next
week, let's just do a 25-minutesession.
Just to knock it out, gostraight to the problem, open it
up, send it in the way you canhave the rest of your day to
keep going.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
Small incremental steps.
I know I sound like a brokenrecord y'all, but it's true.
Anything you want to try to doto improve your life, you don't
have to do it all at once.
You know you can do it in smallsteps, stepping stones to the
goal.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Yeah, and if you don't know what that goal is,
just start talking about it,start journaling it.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
And all of a sudden it starts appearing.
You start getting more clarityof wow, where am I going with
this?
What is unraveling here, oreven allow it to show you.
You know, that's the otherthing too.
You know, I thought at firstwhen I started massage therapy,
I thought I can't afford to dothis every month.
But then I realized how usefulit is, how it makes me a better
person in all aspects, and so Idon't eat out as much, maybe
(41:47):
twice, right, and then I can goget my therapy from Renee.
Oh, yeah.
You know so.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
And for people also, it's there when they find their
therapist for them.
It's, it's, it's find the rightfit for you.
It's does this person listen tome?
They touch me in a way that isnurturing, healing, um, and it's
what you feel is your need atthe time.
You need someone moreprofessional.
(42:13):
Even myself, when I get workdone, I'll work with someone the
most amazing therapist in texas.
We have a place here in sanantonio and in austin and I'm
always blown away with thesepeople of like wow, I know
nothing, yet it's like well,how'd they do that?
Speaker 1 (42:27):
It's hard for me to believe anybody's better than
you are.
I mean really.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
It's amazing.
So, and depending what I'mfeeling, what I want to feel, I
need someone who specializes inshoulder.
No, I need a safe place.
I'm stressed out and I needsomeone who's just going to help
me sink into my body so I canlook over my stresses, so I can
make some choices in my life.
My brain's going too fast.
I need to slow down so I knowwho to go to for whatever I need
.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Well, and you train new massage therapists, right,
don't you train them?
New licensed therapists, newlylicensed therapists you them New
licensed.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
They're newly licensed, I work with them, I do
some education training as wellhere for Oak Haven, and it's
another way I've learned how Ican continue to be of service.
You can't hold on to all theknowledge.
You got to share it, and manyyears ago I learned that if you
want to learn something, we'llteach it to somebody else.
That has helped me tremendously.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
I can attest to that because doing this podcast and
writing the Plus One Theory bookwhich is not published yet but
I'm working towards that buteven writing my first book from
the Piney Woods, I was healingmyself by writing that story,
sharing my journal entries, andthen I started talking to people
(43:43):
about it and I was learning somuch more by sharing my story.
It's infectious.
It is, and you're sharing yourstory and your passion.
Who knows, someone could be outthere that wants to be a
massage therapist now, becausethey have always thought about
it but they never really thoughtabout pursuing it.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
Right.
Even when I have massagetherapists here that they don't
even know if they really want todo this work, learn the
practice of mastery.
It says, okay, it's, why areyou here?
Okay, so you figure out whatyou want to do, then why are you
doing massage?
Okay, so you figure out whatyou want to do, then why are you
doing a massage?
Try to master this and in doingso, if you decide to change
(44:25):
your mind no, I'm going to go tophysical therapy.
No, I'm going to go be aphysical therapy assistant.
No, I'm going to go do anythingelse what more am I going to do
?
She just wanted to be a home.
She didn't adjust, she wantedto have a family.
It's just perfect.
Master this because you try totrain yourself, whatever you're
doing now, how to master this.
Whenever you switch tosomething else, another job away
(44:48):
from corporate, that you aremastering.
That you already set yourselfthe tools needed to excel and
learn and push yourself.
That, no matter where you go tonext, you already know how to
do all that work.
It doesn't matter what you takeup, what the topic is, what the
job title is.
You've already been doing ityour whole life or this whole
(45:11):
time.
That when you switch over, it'slike no big deal.
You already know how to do thehard work, so you're going to
blend into whatever.
It is that much easier.
Speaker 1 (45:24):
Well, and it's just like I say use pain for purpose,
but also the education thatyou're giving yourself with life
experiences, different jobs.
You're still not happy, you'renot content.
Never stop looking, just keeplooking for that, the thing,
your passion, because then it'sno longer work.
Some people tell me all thetime I could because, then it's
no longer work, right?
Some people tell me all the timeI could never write a book.
I'm like well, have you lived alife?
(45:46):
You've got a story.
Why don't you tell me the storyand I'll write it?
Because I can't wait to write.
It's very therapeutic for me,but it's not for everyone.
Speaker 2 (45:56):
But maybe telling stories you know I like what you
said on your podcast, thateveryone's a storyteller.
Speaker 1 (46:01):
Yes, everyone has a story and how we get it out
there isn't?
It's important to get it outbecause it's going to help
someone else learn something youknow, or they'll be able to
relate to it and not feel so set, so isolated in their in their
lives, and quit beatingthemselves up with shame and
guilt.
It just it touches all theplaces, all the things, and so
(46:25):
just lean into whatever'shappened in your life, just lean
into it and use it.
That's what I say and I say weend on that note.
Renee, thank you so much, andplease call Oak Haven Massage,
like you said.
They have several locations inSan Antonio and Austin and all
of their therapists are, youknow, specially trained and have
(46:48):
been with this company for many, many years.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
Yeah, average lifetime massage therapist is
like five to seven years.
I think the average life timefor average therapist here has
at least eight years, which is ahuge sign this is a great place
to work.
Speaker 1 (47:04):
It is a great place for you to learn and better your
skill set and your craft, andthey care, and that is the
biggest thing.
Thank you, renee.
Thanks for being with us.
Wow, what a powerfulconversation with Renee from Oak
Haven Massage.
I hope his insights gave younot just a better understanding
(47:25):
of massage therapy, but alsoreminded you of how important it
is to slow down, listen to yourbody and take those small steps
that lead to big changes overtime.
That's the essence of the PlusOne Theory to big changes over
time.
That's the essence of the plusone theory.
Just one more step, one morehealthy habit and one more
(47:50):
moment of self-care.
Now, before we wrap up today'sepisode, I want to talk about
something very personalbariatric regain.
Many of you know, and some ofyou don't, that I had bariatric
surgery five years ago and itcompletely changed my life.
But here's what people don'talways talk about what happens
after the weight loss?
The mental battle, the fear ofregain, the shame when the scale
(48:13):
creeps back up, the feeling offailure, even after you've
worked so hard.
I'm here to tell you thatyou're not alone and you haven't
failed.
We all have setbacks.
What matters is how we respond.
That's where the plus onetheory comes in again.
You don't need to do everythingtoday.
(48:35):
Just do one thing Make one goodchoice, speak one kind word to
yourself, take one more breath,move forward not perfectly, but
intentionally Monday, june 2nd,where I'll be presenting my talk
(49:02):
.
The Plus One Theory how toFinish Stronger Than you Started
and the Three Ms of BariatricSuccess Mindset, motivation and
Maintenance.
This message isn't just forthose who've had bariatric
surgery.
It's for anyone on a weightloss or wellness journey,
because, no matter how faryou've come or how many times
you've stumbled, you are stillin the game, you still have what
(49:24):
it takes and you're never toofar gone to come back stronger
than ever.
So, whether you're navigatingregain burnout, self-doubt or
just trying to figure out yournext step, know that I am here
for you and I'm cheering you onalways.
If this episode inspired you,encouraged you or made you feel
(49:46):
just a little more hopeful,please subscribe, leave a review
and share it with someone whomight need it.
And don't forget to head topambwirespeakercom to join my
email list, check out my booksand follow along for more
speaking.
Thank you, yes, it's live now.
If this podcast has everencouraged you, challenged you
(50:07):
or made you feel seen.
This is your chance to supportthe next chapter.
It only takes $5, $10, or $20to show your support and help
(50:31):
bring this movement to life, anddon't miss the reward tiers.
I've created some amazingoptions that are perfect for
team building, staff developmentor gifting someone who needs a
little inspiration in their life.
Head to PamDwyerSpeakercom orPamDwyercom for all the details.
Let's do this together, onesmall step at a time.
(50:56):
Until next time, keep going,keep growing and always add just
a little.
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