We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessy Vendegnia-Nelson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jessy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

When I told my chronic pain client that I wanted him to begin keeping a “pain journal” he was skeptical. I mean, why talk about the thing that gives him anxiety? Pain is often a taboo subject. Those that have it don’t feel validated when they tell others about it, athletes avoid talking about it out of fear of getting on injury reserve, and many just flat-out ignore it in hopes that it goes away. But, just like I told my client, we shouldn’t sweep pain under the rug! Pain is a message from the brain asking for help! When we pay attention to our pain we can start fixing the issues and our brain/body can begin to regulate.

Not even 3 weeks into the pain journal challenge my client began to have more proprioception (body awareness), less anxiety about his pain, and more pain-free hours per day. By week four he was standing up straight, telling me how many pain free hours– and then days– he was having, and giving me a full run-down of how his discomfort would rise or fall related to his daily activities. Note–this was a huge breakthrough because when he first came into my office all he could tell me was that his back hurt. He had generalized pain that he could not identify.

Paired with massage and a new found freedom to discuss pain in an empowering manner, he was able to begin talking about his pain and finding solutions. Now he’s attending sporting events, living a more active life, and having more pain-free days!

Jessy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jessy and I am a licensed massage therapist in Greeley, Colorado. I specialize in integrative therapeutic massage and sports massage, and spend most of my time working with individuals who have chronic pain or are or were athletes. My massage incorporates techniques from a variety of modalities and includes cupping therapy, assisted soft tissue mobilization, stretches, and muscle activation techniques.

My husband had chronic pain that was dramatically improved by massage, and I was a competitive athlete who experienced a steep decline of injury once I began incorporating massage into my training and competition seasons. I believe massage is a powerful way to give voice to the mind and body, and I believe that massage therapy can help people pursue higher performance in life and sport.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

With a degree in International Affairs and a background in Geographic Information Science and working with at-risk and high-risk youth, it might be surprising that I choose to pivot into a career in massage therapy– but I would have it no other way! My background in international business and data analysis helped me develop the critical thinking and analysis skills to enjoy the kinesiology and body analysis needed in massage, and the influence of trauma informed care for young people has impacted the way I interact with all of my clients, whether they are young people or adults. Helping people feel safe and comfortable to grow is a cornerstone to my practice and I love that my experiences have led me to today.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Find mentors. Seek out mentors at the top of their game and surround yourself with the people you aspire to be like. I wouldn’t be the massage therapist I am without the shared experience and knowledge that has graciously been shared with me from my mentors. Asking for help from others is what supersedes all personal qualities a person has at being a master in their industry, at least in my opinion. If you can honor the mastery that came before you and dedicate to learning from those who have paved the way, you will have a more fulfilling journey into a long and effective career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tikvaperformancemassage.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tikva.performance.massage/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tikva.performance.massage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSFePopQneYlEDM1L8ihhHA

Image Credits

Paul Grimes