Start with "Why"

"When your why is big enough you will find your how." - Les Brown

I am officially one month into launching Wild Soul Therapeutics and I felt like it was time to share my "why" behind this wild ride. I am a firm believer in the why - the motivator, the reason, the driving force behind the passion - so here's mine.

Prior to my concussion and infertility journey, manual therapies were just that - manual therapies. I had experienced physiotherapy and massage therapy numerous times for sports related injuries growing up, and while it helped me recovery from various injuries and return to sports, I didn't appreciate how our body keeps the score - until 2011 turned my life upside down.

At 22 years old, I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis after battling the invisible disease for 10 years. The harsh reality is that this disease is widely misunderstood and difficult to manage resulting in infertility, chronic pain, and other awful symptoms. I endured multiple surgeries to manage the endometriosis but ultimately I was never a parent to a natural child. Thankfully, I am lucky enough to help raise a not-so-tiny human who calls me Mama.

Enter 2011.

I vividly remember the moment I suffered the concussion and the doctor telling me it was only a mild concussion, I should recover in a week to ten days. I was off work for six full months before returning to modified duties, and then it took years before I regained optimal health. This injury resulted in post-concussion migraines, TMJ pain and dysfunction, whiplash, and a decline in my mental and physical health.

Enter the holistic therapies that changed my life.

While I was recovering from the concussion I tried every treatment option prescribed without any lasting success. Eventually I was referred to a chronic pain clinic and informed I should learn to live with the pain, well if you know me, you know that I am incredibly stubborn and that truly wasn't an option. I began seeking alternative treatments and that's when I found yoga and craniosacral therapy - I was HOOKED.

This is when I really started to connect the dots and understand better how the body, mind and soul are all connected. How our body keeps the score, it's tells our story - the test is if we are listening. I became aware of what was going on with my body and I felt truly heard when I shared my story with the different therapists - when they met me where I was at in my journey the healing started.

I learned to manage the concussion, migraines, endometriosis and chronic pain through diet and holistic modalities such as yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, Bowen therapy, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, pelvic floor physiotherapy and reiki - all practices that changed the trajectory of my life. I learned to balance the benefits of western medicine with a holistic whole-body approach to healing.

I wanted to create an intentional wellness business built on the foundations of holding space, being present, seeing and connecting with the person in front of me and offering a whole person approach to a client's overall well-being. While the plan wasn't to launch my own wellness business for another five years, I am excited to say I have officially survived the first month as a small business with a big dream. So what have I learned in the past month? Here's a quick recap:

1. Our Mazda 3 hatchback is like Mary Poppins purse - it holds ALL my gear and then some. I am happy to report that I have changed my gear bag three times and finally found what seems to be the perfect solution. I tend to be a prop heavy therapist so didn't want to be without accessories when I launched a mobile business and I am thrilled to say that I can offer the same treatment as a mobile therapist as I could when I worked in a clinic setting.

2. Ziplock bags are life savers - I have learned quickly that every liquid needs to be stored in a sealed ziplock bag. I have discovered with the heat and being tossed around in transport that massage lotion and hand sanitizer is messy to clean up when not secured in a ziplock bag.

3. Fur-babies make every treatment better - I am lucky enough that majority of my clients have pets at home and I have loved getting to know them, snuggle them, and have them present during treatments. Side note - dog toys under the table can be a potential hazard if you aren't looking for them!

4. I resonate with connection and flexibility - I am loving the ability to connect with clients on a deeper level and truly offer client-centred care, while running a business that offers flexibility for both the clients and my family needs. This flexibility has created more time between appointments to slow down and truly work with the clients to empower them in working towards their treatment goals.

5. I value a sense of community - I value the connection I have with other like-minded colleagues and mentors, creating a safe space to learn and grow as a therapist, but also a network of incredible professionals I can refer friends, family and/or clients based on treatment needs.

6. Structure is an outline - This came up at my last reiki session and it couldn't resonate more with me. I am truly thriving with the ability to go with the flow of what is needed to support the vision of this business. Let's be honest - I am still learning some of the business side of things. The other day a client contacted me to purchase a gift certificate, prior to that message gift certificates weren't a consideration (oops), but now I have those created and ready to offer in the future. I am keeping my mind open to how this journey will continue to unfold, keeping my "why" as the driving force.

So as I transition into the next month I am humbled, excited and grateful. I am humbled for the opportunity to be trusted and welcomed into client's homes and work together in a therapeutic capacity. I am excited about all the future possibilities and doors this business might open and things I will continue to learn along the way. And lastly, I am grateful for all the support from friends, family and clients as I continue to trust the process of this wild ride.

Cheers, Shanda