At Ove, Rounsavall offers various forms of massage including therapeutic, Swedish detox and maternity. She also incorporates polarity therapy, hydro-therapy in the form of foot soaks and hot towels, neuromuscular re-education and myofascial release, all of which are explained on her website (www.ovebodytherapy.com), and all of which offer deep release and relaxation. But more than simply relaxing the muscles of the body, Rounsavall believes massage can be a transformative experience which helps to heal not only the body but the mind as well. Indeed, Rounsavall found herself going through this process during her coursework at Spa Tech in Westbrook where she received her training.
Prior to attending massage school, Rounsavall found herself at a crossroads. She’d been offered a sous chef position at one of the restaurants where she was cooking and she knew it was a great opportunity for advancement. At the same time, however, she felt “paralyzed and bored” with her work and wasn’t sure it was a career path she wanted to continue following. The frenetic energy inherent in busy gourmet kitchens didn’t sit well with her, and though she sometimes felt a buzz from being so busy, she didn’t want to be “addicted to stress.”
It was during this time that a friend who had attended massage school suggested to Rounsavall that she would be very good at it and should consider it as a career. Something about the idea rang true for Rounsavall and she began saving her money with an eye on attending Spa Tech’s Holistic Massage program as soon as she could raise the funds.
Once enrolled in the course, Rounsavall, who had been feeling spiritually and mentally unhealthy, began to sense a change in her mind-set. “I thought to myself, even if I don’t make a career out of this, it will be totally worth the tuition just to learn to take care of myself.” She began to understand how the food she put in her body and the way she lived her life affected her moods, her energy and her overall sense of well-being. And she also began to remember that as far back as early childhood she’d had a desire to help others and a sense of her ability to heal.
“Even in elementary school, I remember that when other kids felt sad I always wanted to help, and — this may be one of the cheesiest things I’ve ever said — but I always thought that if I could just put my hands on them I could make it better.” This memory was lost to Rounsavall until she began her massage training. It came back to her and seemed to confirm that she was on the right path.
Today, Rounsavall is bright-eyed and kind, with positivity and peace emanating from her wide smile. She loves her work and is thrilled to be sharing her knowledge and healing energy with others. In addition to her massage training, Rounsavall is pursuing certificates in both weight training and craniosacral therapy, two areas that she believes will increase her ability to help her clients in a holistic manner. As her website states, she believes in treating the cause behind a person’s pain or discomfort, not just the part or the symptom. “One of my favorite things,” she says, “is when my clients start coming not for therapy, but for maintenance.”
For her own health, Rounsavall watches the food she puts in her body, with particular attention to her levels of caffeine and sugar. She also swims and takes yoga classes at the YMCA, but most of all, she derives positive energy and a sense of satisfaction from the work she does with clients every day.
For Rounsavall it seems that finding the right path was half the battle, and having the courage to follow it constitutes the balance.
— Belinda Ray