Enhance Magazine | Page 32

cover story
Photo by Paul A . Emerson
32 HACHEALTHCLUB . COM
Top : Katie with her roller skating “ family ;” Bottom : Katie practicing aerial yoga ber a single word they said or what the topic was about .”
Through all this , Katie ’ s best friend barely spoke to her . “ When she did , it seemed very forced .” As a fairly introverted person , Katie keeps a small group of friends , and she ’ d known her best friend for ten years . “ It was always [ her and me ]; we were a package deal and I really let that define me . In the past couple years , she was becoming distant and I was fighting to keep things normal , but it just wasn ’ t the same .” She was unwaveringly and unexplainably detached even after Katie lost her mom and grandmother , and ultimately Katie decided to end their friendship . “ That was the lowest I had been ,” she says . “ I had never felt that lonely or lost before .”
KATIE BECOMING KATIE AGAIN
Such loss prompted Katie to reevaluate her life and start making strides to move in the direction of happiness again . Even during her toughest moments , she made it her priority to not let her struggles affect those around her . After more than a year of struggling personally , Katie is finally on the path to reestablishing who she is and is making progress each day . “ My head is finally in a place that is stable enough to start creating my own identity again ,” she says . “ I crashed and now I ’ m starting over . I ’ m finding things to throw myself into and focus on to give me a sense of purpose . Every day that I work out and accomplish something positive , I feel like I ’ m becoming me again . Progress is the best motivation .”
True to her nature , Katie ’ s workouts are wild and challenge-seeking . Along with the occasional white water rafting , surfing , or skydiving trip , she ’ s recently taken up aerial yoga , and it ’ s a rare week that passes by without her roller skating . “ My mom was a skater , so I grew up in the roller rink ,” Katie says . “ That ’ s something that I always go back to . That ’ s where my big quads come from . It ’ s not from lifting , it ’ s from roller skating ,” she laughs . Roller skating has always kept her sane . “ It ’ s my getaway . It ’ s very physically challenging , and I think that ’ s why I enjoy it so much .”
KEEPING UP WITH HER PASSIONS
Katie extends her challenges to herself in her professional life , too , as a massage therapist at HAC of three and a half years .
Every day that I work out and accomplish something positive , I feel like I ’ m becoming me again . Progress is the best motivation .
After ten years as a stay-at-home mom and a car accident that put her in HAC Massage Therapist Zee ’ s hands , she committed herself to massage therapy . She loves the challenge of adapting to meet each individual ’ s needs . “ I like helping people , and I know that seems generic , but it ’ s coupled with the satisfaction of knowing that I ’ m able to see a challenge , meet that challenge , and have good results at the end . After her massage , one woman told me she felt human again . It ’ s a very good feeling .”
Since she became a therapist , Katie has taken , as she puts it , a ridiculous number of continuing education classes because she loves learning new things . She ’ s even working toward becoming certified in ashiatsu massage , which is a type of barefoot massage where the therapist applies pressure by standing on top of the client . “ That to me is a challenge to be the best I can . I am always looking to learn . I want to learn everything I can possibly get my hands on .”
Katie ’ s also keeping up with jiu jitsu and teaching HAC ’ s Women ’ s Self Defense with her good friend , Jay . “ I consider Katie one of my absolute best friends ,” Jay said . “ If you listen to us bicker , you would agree ,” he laughed . “ She has sacrificed both time and financials to insure all who attend get as much as possible out of the workshop , and I have been extremely fortunate to have her work by my side .” When asked about Katie ’ s character , Jay said , “ you will find very few people who devote themselves to what they are doing more intensely than Katie . The fact that she is so critical of herself makes her work that much harder at being the best . Whether it be massage , figure competition , jiu jitsu , or being a mom , you can guarantee you ’ ll get the best as her client , friend , or family . Or a complete nightmare to compete against ,” he added .
Others close to Katie say she ’ s the first to make fun of herself and find joy in every situation . The first to give tips and advice and make you feel at ease . The first to make a crippling move in jiu jitsu , but also the first to
After her massage , one woman told me she felt human again . It ’ s a very good feeling .