StressLess Body Therapy: Kathy Millspaw My Personal Experiences

I worked for about 20 years in the financial industry, and during that time I learned a lot about how people interact and about balancing family and work. But some of my most important lessons came from my personal life. In 1998, my husband, at the age of 41, had a major heart attack. He survived, but only to learn a year later that he had lung cancer. Then in 2001, I watched Marty die after 3 years of fighting heart disease and cancer. I was filled with sorrow and pain, but I learned that our life here on earth is but only a moment in time and I could not be afraid to live it.

After Marty’s death, I looked at myself and decided I had to make some changes. I could see in my daughters’ eyes their fear of losing me as well, so I began with my health. I weighed 199 lbs and wore a size 18W/20W in clothes. I did not want to weigh 200 lbs. I started taking taekwondo and kickboxing. The first thing I noticed was how much anger I had stored up inside of me; the exercise was very stress relieving. It amazed me how the process of taking care of my body was, at the same time, taking care of my stress. My mind began to clear, and so did my weight. Today I still work on my weight but I wear a size 12/14 Misses, and I have maintained that for a couple of years.

In 1994 I had begun taking classes to pursue a career in social work or mental health counseling, but after my husband's death I realized that I really only wanted to work with people who were stressed and needing some help managing their lifestyle. It was suggested to me that I could do this work without becoming a mental health counselor. My interest in the body/mind connection, led me to massage therapy. Now combining my knowledge of stress management techniques, background in customer service, education in business and psychology, and certification/licensure in personal training and massage therapy, I have created a business that supports the needs of both men and women seeking a balanced lifestyle through body/mind awareness.

I have overcome a lot of obstacles in the past 10 years, but one of the most important things I have accomplished is that now I am able to recognize when I am stressed and not enjoying life. Now I make different choices when I feel overwhelmed and out of control. I am better able to recognize when I am choosing bad habits to manage stress, which reminds me I am not making time for exercise, fun and relaxation. So when I feel stressed, I look for ways to get the negative energy out and the positive energy in. I go to the gym, I take a walk on the beach, I see an entertaining movie, I visit with a friend, I meditate and I get massages regularly! Most importantly, I try to find a way to see the good side of life, because there is always a good side!

Massage, meditation and exercise are my primary tools for staying calm and at peace. It is my wish to help others discover stress relieving techniques that work for them.

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