We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Schultz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I love this question, Radicle Healing came to be the name of my business because I really wanted to “get to the root” of the problem with clients. ‘Radicle’ is the primary root that develops from the seed. In my work, and previous to my career within the massage field I was always fascinated by the connection to our childhood, our emotional well being and how it relates to our present life.

I think knowing I wanted to have the word ‘root’ in my business was a good start, but when I found the word Radicle, it felt like an immediate ping. I knew right then and there that it was the name I wanted to go with. Although Radicle didn’t initially mean radical in my eyes, I love the play on words and eventually loved the idea that getting to the root of our pain was not easy, and was a RADICAL act.

When clients work with me, we do focus on the tissue and the body, but deeper than that, where has there been any sort of emotional or spiritual connection with the presenting issue. Although this topic could seem ‘woo woo’ to the average Joe, I like to describe to my clients a scenario that, I think most of us can understand. If there were multiple people from all over the world, and they all were expressing a similar emotion at the same time, (ie sad, mad, happy) even in the most general way, we could typically identify said emotion based on body language alone. Compile decades of said physical responses to the world around us, and there has to be some sort of patterning in there. My goal is to allow for the client to explore what that may be in relation to their body and the physical space they take up. Allowing for them to be active participants in their own healing and feel empowered about embodying their truth.

I could really dive in deep on this topic but hope that sums it up. Radicle Healing – Healing from the roots. Thank you for this opportunity to share with you all.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into massage because I wanted to get out of Connecticut, and my cousins lived in Arizona. I was talking with her on the phone saying I wanted to move out there and her response was “go to massage therapy school out here, there is an awesome program and you are always massaging people”. So that was that, I trusted her and moved out to AZ to attend massage therapy school.

I attended Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe Arizona, and feel lucky to say that I had some incredible teachers. I was mostly influenced by my Craniosacral Therapy teacher Gary Strauss. Although I took a one thousand hour course for massage, I specialized in CST. I currently offer sessions locally here in Bridgeport, and my go to session I offer is deep tissue with an emphasize on slow moving, long connected strokes. Most of my clients fall asleep, which is an ideal amount of relaxation for deeper bodywork, Although I offer lighter work, as well as Craniosacral therapy, deep tissue (which I have named ‘deep sleep’ on my website) is my go to.

Two years ago I went back to Arizona and took a Somatic Breathwork training and have been facilitating monthly group sessions since. This work has transformed my life and has rippled into the small community where I live. I would describe Somatic Breathwork as an embodiment experience, it is an inward journey that employs a circular connected breathing, paired with rhythmic music, to evoke a cathartic experience. This may be a release in the form of moving, shaking, yelling, crying or laughing. Using your breath will engage your innate ability to heal and clear any old defenses, blockages restrictions or pains through hyper- ventilation and movement.

Although these defenses once served as a protective mechanism, they can restrict ones freedom to choose differently, in the present moment. By utilizing this Breathwork, it allows our bodies to complete the cycle, and move forward from old patterns.

This Breathwork is beginner friendly as I guide clients using Neuro Linguistic Programming, and light touch. I do my best to create a safe neutral space for clients to fully be themselves.

I think what sets me apart from others was the trials and tribulations I experienced within my life. They’ve helped me to access the less desirable parts of myself and get curious about how I can alchemize those parts in order to give back to the community. I love teaching and have always seemed to be drawn to analogies, as well as finding different means of communicating the same concept. A huge part of my practice within massage and Breathwork is the communication with clients, and the facilitating the deeper work.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I was working for the state, in a Juvenile Matters Superior Court, as a paralegal, and although I did enjoy it, I could not see myself working anywhere 40 hours a week, doing the same thing, for 30 years. I was scared to make a move, had already been practicing massage on the side, and was feeling like I was able to make the leap, but wasn’t sure. I spoke with a friend and she said “leap, and the net will appear”. So I did just that, I gave my two weeks, bought a new car, got a puppy all in the same month and let into my new life with fervor. I am happy to say that for me, in my experience, it wouldn’t have worked any other way.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth, as well as instagram. Most of my clients are on the more tech savvy side as well as having access to my instagram videos, which I think helped them get clarity around what I offer and who I am. A lot of clients are so excited about my work that they send me friends, buy gift certificates and share on socials. I feel lucky to have had such a pop in my business as of recent but am still looking forward to further growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.radiclehealing.com
• Instagram: @radiclehealing

Image Credits
Alex Torres – Park City Studios