Kathy Gruver of Healing Circle Massage has over 15 years
of experience, specializing in medical massage. By building strong
relationships with her clients and colleagues, she is able to keep her business
going strong, creating many satisfied customers. Her affordable prices,
efficiency, and availability to the community make her this week’s local
expert!
Occupation: Medical and therapeutic massage, business
owner, and student (about to finish up Doctorate of Traditional Naturopathy and
then pursuing a MS and PhD in Natural Health).
Resident of Santa Barbara
since: Oct. 2000
Favorite Local Restaurant: My favorite lunch place, that has the BEST sushi, is Ahi,
and I also love Opal and Holdren’s.
Favorite Sports/Hobbies: Go Steelers!!!!!
Football is an obsession! I read a lot and have a secret love of video
games that shoot things like Hogan’s Alley.
I also love to play pretty much any sport. I’m the first one at the picnic ready to play
volleyball, bocce, softball… you name it!
How I spend a typical Sunday: My husband and I normally have breakfast at Cody’s
and then errands, some homework, perhaps wine tasting or a wine event. Sundays are “have friends for dinner and
games” night, but it’s not been too consistent this year.
Where I see myself in ten years:
Of course, I never know where the future will take me. By then I’ll be done with my PhD and would
like to do some writing, lecturing, workshops, that sort of thing. I also envision a healing center where people
come for all aspects of their health in one location: massage, chiropractic,
acupuncture, yoga, hiking, meditation.
One-stop shopping for Complementary Medicine.
My definition of “healthy”:
Balance. Most people view health
as simply not being sick, but it’s more than that. It’s everything working in harmony: body,
mind and spirit.
How I first got involved with the industry: I’ve been massaging people
forever. I was the one everyone turned
to in high school for a backrub. I
apprenticed in college with a woman who would show up for free and work on all
the actors (I was a theatre major) and one day she was overwhelmed and asked if
I could help her. She told me I knew what I was doing and to just do it. So I did, and I was hooked.
Why I chose Santa Barbara
as the place to establish and run a business: When I moved up here it was in a
completely different industry and I had actually quit massage. I sold
everything before I left Los Angeles
and swore that that part of my life was behind me. When I got here my job ended
up falling through. After a few weeks of
soul searching and an ache to get my hands on someone, I turned back to
massage. It’s been going strong ever
since.
How Healing Circle
Massage differs from other massage businesses: It’s tough,
I’m not a stand alone therapist, I’m not a spa, I’m not a physical therapist
and I think that confuses people. I have
highly trained therapists that work for me with little or no turn around. I try to have same day appointments
available, which is tough but I do my best.
I really go that extra mile to make sure my clients are happy; I return
calls quickly, show up on time and do what I can to make people feel
better. Since we specialize in medical
massage, I keep learning. I’ve read so
many massage and medical books. I have a
lending library of 400 books and almost 2000 articles that clients can browse
and research. And I love what I do and
you can really feel that.
Why it's important for people to get massages: It’s great maintenance, especially for the fitness community. It’s like
changing the oil in your car and checking the tires. You wouldn’t go years without doing
that. It’s good for circulation, moves
lymph, and improves muscle tone, all the stuff that every massage therapist
will tell you. It’s also great before
and after an event for injury prevention.
How I would like to see the fitness community of Santa Barbara evolve over the next ten years:
I think it’s pretty darn good right now.
There is a lot of camaraderie, lots of events, some great practitioners
and a really good support system for athletes.
I would like to see it continue and grow from where it already is.
To learn more about Kathy or to
make an appointment, call 805-680-1984 or visit her website www.healingcirclemassage.com.