Joan Mower
Joan Mower graduated from the Salt Lake City campus of the Utah
College of Massage Therapy in June of 1996. She now is the owner
of a very successful massage business, Body Kneads Sports Massage
in Orem, Utah. Interestingly enough, Joan had never had any intention
of becoming a massage therapist. It was actually Joan’s own
massage therapist who convinced Joan that she herself should look
into the opportunity of becoming a bodyworker.
"I had a job that I liked and made good money doing. But,
my massage therapist kept telling me that I should attend an Introduction
to Massage Therapy course being held at the Utah College of Massage
Therapy. She was so adamant about it that she even offered to pay.
I enrolled in the course and after the third night I called her
excited. I told her that this was definitely something I was interested
in."
Not long after enrolling in the Professional Massage Therapy Program,
Joan learned that her massage therapist, Dawna was planning on leaving
her practice and wanted Joan to take over the clientele. Shortly
after graduating, Joan took over and now runs the thriving Orem-based
massage business.
Joan attributes her successful practice to dedication, hard work
and a love for the art of massage therapy. She explained that this
love of massage was not innate, rather a learned love that developed
through several experiences she encountered while attending UCMT.
One of these experiences profoundly affected Joan. In fact, she
states that is was "life altering."
Joan and her husband had been trying unsuccessfully to have children
for many years. This was becoming more and more of an emotional
strain for Joan. She felt like she was becoming more "closed
and shut down." While studying at UCMT, Joan began to experience
the profound healing power of massage, both physically and emotionally.
"For the first time I was able to work through all of that."
Through the use of massage, Joan was not only becoming more aware
of healing and helping others, but also learning to help heal her
own physical and emotional pain.
Due to her own emotional/physical healing, Joan has made the commitment
to "help" her own clients. She has made it a point to
not only give a massage, but to also "give in the massage."
When asked how she did this she simply replied, "I use my intuition.
When I am working on a client I am focused on the needs of my client
and how I can help them. I leave my problems at the door. It is
not about me, it’s about them."
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