Meet Len!

Why did you decide to become a massage therapist?

I decided to leave corporate America in the mid-nineties. I’d always been interested in working with horses and I discovered that there was a massage therapy program for horses. Long story short, I ended up taking a training class and I spent about 8 years working on racehorses. At around the same time, I was in school in Chicago studying to be a massage therapist for people.

I took classes at night and worked during the day so it took me about two years to finish the program. I then went on to work on both four-legged animals and two-legged animals!

I took a break from massage to pursue real estate in ’04 and then came back to full-time massage in ’08.

Outside of massage I also enjoy acting. I began pursuing acting in the 80s and find it to be a great outlet.

 

What do you enjoy about massage?

Getting people back to being able to function and recommending things that they can do to improve their daily living—whether it’s moving more, exercising more, sitting at their desk properly—and for them to come back to me and tell me that it has worked for them. I really enjoy those results when they occur and they occur quite frequently.

 

What do you enjoy outside of work?

Since I moved to the pacific northwest from the Chicago area, I’ve really enjoyed getting out and walking basic trails. I love to go fishing when I get a chance. Every now and then I like doing yard work as well.

 

What do you look forward to each day?

I look forward to going to work. I enjoy being able to do my job and sometimes I’m able to influence other seniors that they shouldn’t be sitting in the La-Z-Boy 12 hours a day. You need to get up and move! And I think I have been able to influence others because I am active and I don’t act my age.

I believe that we were made to move and even just the act of standing, getting up from a seated position, can extend your life 3-5 years.

How do you stay healthy?

I’ve been a gym rat for the last 45 years and I never participated in organized sports which is part of the reason why I think I function so well. I often get youngsters on the table who are beat up, whether they play soccer, baseball, football, or track, and those injuries tend to creep up on you later in life. I think going to the gym has helped keep me functioning better than most in my age range. I’m also always doing something.

Anything else you’d like people to know about massage?

Try it; you’ll like it!

Schedule an appointment with Len here!