my story

I have been a massage therapist professionally since 2011, but believe that this has always been my calling. When I was a kid, adults would always ask me to rub their shoulders or back because I could “find the knots.” Early in my career I noticed that my clients were returning over and over again with the same complaints. This observation led me to believe that I was missing something. Treating the dysfunction at a surface level was just that, surface work. A natural problem solver, this led me down a path of why. Why were the same trigger points appearing in everyone’s neck and shoulders, when they were just released last week? And so, my journey into neuro-muscular therapy began.

While massage has its place, it did not have the desired outcome I had for my clients. Even within the systems of neuro muscular therapy I learned and implemented, there was still something missing. Now I was able to help create deeper change, but it still wasn’t enough. Just as quickly as it was released, clients would return to their old patterns of dysfunction, and that neck and shoulder would knot right back up. Then, through what feels like divine intervention, I sprained my ankle.

I sought out help from a chiropractor with similar accolades to mine, and while we worked we chatted. He made mention of Douglas Heel. “Oh, you’ve never heard of him? I use his stuff a lot!“ I went home that day and did a google search. His website came up and there was a link to a video he had put out for clients during Covid of self activations. I tried them and in a few minutes my upper back and neck pain had seemed to just get better. I continued to play around with these techniques and continue to feel the benefits. My curiosity was piqued! Doug is from South Africa, and teaches all over the world, and I was forced to wait for him to make his way back to the states to learn more. I signed up for his newsletter and anxiously awaited dates for classes to be announced. I checked his website weekly, just in case I had missed the info somewhere in my inbox. Within a few months, my prayers had been answered! Well, sort of. Doug had released an integration series for students to refer back to online after they have taken his class. He introduces some brain bending concepts and there is a lot of information, so to remember everything, is impossible. I read the description and it did say, “It is also a very good place to start when learning the work for the first time” so I bought it! I was so excited and began my journey with Be Activated.

The immersive experience I got from watching the videos was amazing. Because of my background in neuromuscular therapy, I was able to very easily follow the concepts and it blew me away. I had found that missing piece. I began to ask friends to let me work on them, and began to explore more self-activation. Both my friends and myself were having major shifts. I personally experienced deep states of relaxation, instantly. Also what I can only describe as feeling these intense rushes of energy, communication, body talking, whatever you want to call it… It was so powerful. After I would do these activations on myself, moving just felt easier. I felt light and happy. I had to share. A friend experienced her field of vision expanding. It actually freaked her out a bit because she could see so much more than before, and it took her some time to adjust. Another friend, had a groin strain and was about to start physical therapy. By the end of our session, not only did she no longer have groin pain, but she reported feeling powerful, and the crazy thing was I could see it. It was like we flipped a switch and she became a super-version of herself. I was convinced that this is the way. I started activating with my clients and continued to get more and more stories like these.

A few months after going through the online courses I was able to take my first hands-on course with Doug. It was transformative. Life-changing. I met an entire group of people that really wanted to help others. This loving group of people guided me as I fumbled my way through the course. Then, I got lucky enough to be called up by Doug to be a demonstration. The work that we did that day has forever changed me, and it took me days to process. Immediately, I physically got taller, my arms got longer, and I felt like a was floating on top of my feet. My mind was so light and clear. My eyes felt strange. I honestly felt like I was tripping. Then I just started balling. Smiling ear to ear and balling in front of all of my classmates as they walked up one by one to hug me (as this was part of the testing). I felt free. Freedom in a way that is hard to describe. As I write this, and feel that memory I have tears forming. Once I was home and settled back into life, I knew. I knew this is the work I’m meant to do. The body is amazing, just amazing, and when we give it what it wants, it responds immediately. I can’t wait to activate with you!

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