Meet Courtney Greth | Licensed Massage Therapist & Reiki Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Greth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
You cannot take a risk without being vulnerable, and being vulnerable is the spice of life. One of my mentors from afar, Dr. Brene Brown, defines vulnerability as “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.” With life and career, I’ve learned how taking risks is not only extremely important; the act of taking risks is a necessary part of the human experience so we can learn, expand, and love more fully, authentically, and wholeheartedly. Taking risks brings us back to ourselves and our true essence. From making the decision to leave a 6-year long relationship that was no longer feeling 100% right, to taking the leap to move from the northeast to Colorado for massage therapy school in 2016, I wouldn’t be who I am today without taking chances. Making big changes sure can be uncomfy. At the same time, it sure is beautiful to discover what’s on the other side of taking action on important things in your life. Taking risks has intentionally and serendipitously led to me new friendships, new love, new opportunities to help others, and new levels of appreciation for life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the proud owner of Recenter Therapeutic Massage where adults in Denver have a safe space to achieve relief from their pain, stress, and anxiety with individualized massage therapy sessions and group Yomassage classes. I’m not your average massage therapist. I specialize in ashiatsu massage, the most effective massage modality where the therapist uses their bare feet to massage. The client receives deep, broad, consistent pressure the whole time. Drawing from professional and personal experience, I believe that ashiatsu was made for people with anxiety because of how slow, intentful, and connected it is. During sessions, I include cupping, aromatherapy, and reflexology. If appropriate, I interweave calming energy work techniques like reiki, chakra balancing, crystal therapy, and sound healing to help the client recharge mentally and emotionally. I am certified in prenatal massage to support pregnant mommas and those who are preparing to grow their family. I teach Yomassage classes, as well. Yomassage creates the opportunity for people to have access to safe, therapeutic touch in a comfortable group setting. During class, we practice breathing techniques, mindfulness, and self-massage. Each participant relaxes in restorative positions while I come around and massage each person to deepen the practive. Yomassage classes take place at select yoga studios in Denver and local parks in the summertime with a maximum of 5 people. Business-wise, my journey to start Recenter Therapeutic Massage was not as easy as I expected it to be. For the first 2 months after opening Recenter, I experienced daily panic attacks, right on the dot at 6 a.m. Throughout the day, my baseline was a constant hum of anxiety and fear. Looking back, I was trying to be a massage therapist that I thought other people wanted me to be, and I wasn’t listening to my gut in various business decisions. It felt like I was swimming upstream with a blindfold on. My friends and clients could not tell that I was really struggling. I realized that being a massage therapist and a business owner required very different skill sets. Also, I needed to take much better care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally so I can better support my current and future clients. Through diving deep into regular therapy, journaling, breathing, listening to insightful podcasts, taking the appropriate medication with the support of my primary care, working with coaches, and confiding in like-minded professionals all helped me escort my Inner Critic, Negative Self-Talk, and People Pleaser out of the metaphorical driver’s seat in my brain. Those humbling moments in the beginning have brought me to where I am now – constantly learning, listening to my heart, and focusing on being a force of good for the community. The work of massage therapy is needed now more than ever. Although Recenter Therapeutic Massage is centered around the effective work of massage and Yomassage, it supports the opportunity for you to free up space in your body so you can free up space in your mind. I lovingly hold the space to support what is there for you in the moment, and you are free to be exactly who you are physically, mentally, and emotionally. I’ve had my fair share of mental health issues over the years, specifically anxiety and depression. Although it has taken a lot of work to overcome the challenging times through a multitude of tools, massage therapy and energy work have been tremendously profound tools that have helped me get out of intense physical pain, release tension, return to myself, and reconnect with my heart. This work can do the same for you. The message I hope people take away from this work is: You may feel lonely sometimes, but you’re never alone. You are important. You bring things to this world that no one else can. You CAN live a fulfilling life with less pain, mental chaos, and emotional distress and more joy, peace, and freedom. Because you’re worth it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In the winter, we’d head straight for the mountains and stay at a cozy house with a fireplace and a hot tub, cook nourishing food, play games, get in some turns on the slopes, and explore the mountain town. In the summer, it’d look a bit different. A Red Rocks show, a show at Cervantes, or an outdoor festival with live music would be in order. Some amount of nature time at the hot springs, the Great Sand Dunes, Rocky Mountain National Park, on a hiking trail in Boulder, or camping on the western slope would also happen. We could spend a night in Salida to check out the art galleries or in Leadville to see what Melanzana has to offer. The week would include an ongoing food and beverage tour around the city. Postino in the Highlands, Denver Biscuit Co., Fusion Tacos, Avanti, South Pearl Street Farmer’s Market, Sweet Action Ice Cream, Bruz Beers, Platt Park Brewing, Cerebral Brewing, Finn’s Manor, Improper City, Mercury Cafe. We’d take a yoga class at the Urban Sanctuary or I’d throw a Yomassage class in the park. We’d have a charcuterie and champagne picnic in City Park or Wash Park and take a stroll with friends. For the cannabis lovers, I’d take them to High Level Health. We’d make sure to fit in plenty of time for resting and relaxing, lying on hammocks in a backyard and sitting around BBQing with local friends.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ohhh, the gratitude is endless! To my family, my Springfield support system, my Colorado people, local colleagues inside and outside of the health and wellness world, and those I have leaned on during the entrepreneurial journey, thank you, thank you, thank you. (Annie Vail of Annie Vail Counseling, Elisa Brossard of StreamDreams Coaching, and Leilani Bush the Joyful Medium have been some of my rocks.) Each of these folks have helped me on my path to get out of my own way, fully embrace who I am, and do what I’m here on Earth to do.

Website: www.recentertherapeuticmassage.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/recenterdenver

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-greth-bs-lmt-57075366/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/recentertherapeuticmassage

Other: https://freshchalk.com/recenter-therapeutic-massage-denver

Image Credits
Lindsey Eden Bartell, Twyla Ellis, Katie Torres