ABOUT
VALERIE
I enrolled at Sunstate Academy in Clearwater, FL in 2009 for my massage therapy certification. I quickly discovered I loved the science of massage. Learning about each bone, muscle and attachment amazed me and I was awed by the body and what it could do. I graduated in July of 2009, passed the federal and state exam, and received my license.
I started out working in spas and quickly realized that my passion is therapeutic massage. This led me to working at chiropractic offices and injury centers and in 2014 I decided to start my own business and go out on my own and Balance Therapeutic Massage was born!
Patients come to me hunched over, limping, and hurting and I love the look on their face after the massage when they are standing upright, walking normally.
Massage to me is like a connect-the-dots mystery. So often I will work with a patient to get rid of their knee pain, only to uncover a deeper pain in their low back. We discover that this pain is actually coming from their hip and once we set that right the whole body is in alignment and agreement again.
I also love the relaxation and meditation element of massage therapy. Massage allows you to become in tune with your whole body. As you relax, you can realize the tension you were holding in your hand, and the stress that was pulling your shoulder up. Massage creates an opportunity for you to feel and release tension that you may not have realized you were holding and I strive to facilitate that as much as possible.
As I have explored the many techniques in Massage Therapy I have found cupping therapy to be incredibly effective and it has become my passion. I have taken extensive classes and am now certified in MediCupping, Modern Cupping Therapy, Neuromuscular Cupping Therapy, and basic Traditional Cupping Therapy. I am also certified in Myoskeletal Techniques for the upper body, and SMRT (Spontaneous Muscle Release Techniques) for the head and neck.
Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to meeting you soon.
Valerie
Hello! I want to tell you a little about myself. I grew up on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. I love the outdoors, and grew up boating and fishing on the lake.
I was given a gift certificate for a massage for my daughter's first birthday and I had never had a massage before! During that massage the therapist was kind enough to share with me her journey and her passion for what she does. I was inspired by her love of massage and her eagerness to come to work each day - even after more than 10 years of practice. I wanted that in my life.