Paula Kent

How did I become a massage therapist? A question I have been asked and have answered many times. I grew up a fish out of water. I swam competitively through my formative years and found I was the one being saught after to give a massage to before or after a race. Hmm was that the beginning?

After completing college I took a course in Reflexology for interests sake as well as for my own healing. You see for years I struggled with skin issues, exzema, psoriasis and very dry skin.

After years of many doctors, tests, studies and diagnosis I was searching for something to help me. Reflexology was the beginning of that help. My condition improved slightly and the course gave me a drive to learn more and to be able to treat more than just feet!

I journeyed from home in Thunder Bay ON to London ON to attend school for massage therapy.

Yes I found my calling. I began my work with big intentions to get into sports massage. I did well working with the Canadian Tug of War Team (who knew?), UWO womens rugby teams, and local hockey teams.

From London I made my way up to Barrie ON, working with chiropractors, physiotherapists, wellness clinics and even in the spa environment and eventually opening up my own clinic.

When in Barrie I continued my own healing journey by seeking out a Naturopathic Doctor. Through that we discovered I had Dermatitis Herpetiformis, a type of Celiac disease. Yay I was healed, well after removing all forms of gluten and to say I had just begun my healing journey.

Recognizing after a lifetime of malnutrition, pain, mental anguish and disruption I realized I was missing something. Something that I was also feeling I was missing in working with my clients. Something more than the physical. Something I couldn't put my finger on.

Then I found Reiki. Universal Life Force Energy. It was a gift. Finding reiki allowed me to open up parts of my being I didn't even know existed or were closed.

I'm now a Reiki Master. Adding another dimension to my work, I felt that I was able to give a more wholistic treatment to my clients.

A couple years later I discovered through further education yet another amazing way of melding spirit and physical through Myofascial Release, John F. Barnes method.(www.myofascialrelease.com)

My own experience of this approach encouraged me to make