Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Gentry.
Natalie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I know this sounds cliche but I’ve always been on a quest to figure out “who am I?” I’m intrigued by the human condition and by what makes us tick. I’ve always been curious and have often been willing to allow my intuition to guide me in my life. That’s what led me to love literature, especially Romantic literature and biographies. I grew up being an avid reader. I loved hearing other peoples stories, especially those who overcame adversity and lived lives in a passionate way. I was inspired by learning about people… learning about others helped me to learn more about myself.
I stumbled into my passion for supporting others in their healing process through the back door. I love it when things happen that way! I had begun to receive massage to relieve stress resulting from emotionally challenging work I was doing at the time: social work with disadvantaged, inner-city kids. Initially, I started receiving massage on an “as needed” basis; it seemed like a luxury at first. However, before long, massage became a much-needed tool I utilized twice a month to keep me happy, grounded, and connected. When it became clear that I was burning out from my social work career, I began to explore what else I could do for work. I assessed what turned me on: I’d always been intrigued and inspired by exploring the human condition. I was interested in helping people to relax in order to be the best people they could be and with maintaining a strong self-care practice of my own. Moreover, I was interested in having a career that would allow me to evolve, grow, and learn new things for my own benefit and those of my clients. My thoughts kept turning to massage therapy.
A new world opened up to me as I progressed through massage school; I found myself blossoming in amazing, unexpected ways. Not only was I learning skills to support people physically, but I was also finding that, as I was receiving massage work, I was healing from feelings of depression, self-doubt, and debilitating self-judgment. I was beginning to accept, like, and love myself in some truly powerful ways! I hadn’t expected for those deeper benefits to be part of my massage therapy education but I was inspired by connecting with what I sensed in my body and with what I felt emotional. That mind/body/emotional component became the catalyst for how I wanted to develop my practice and to work with my clients. A short time after graduating from Boulder College of Massage Therapy in 1998, I began to explore the benefits of herbal medicine, aromatherapy, intuitive healing and other forms of alternative care that could feed that body/mind connection. I loved experimenting with all of the modalities I was learning about.
Interestingly, my practice moved into the direction of women’s health as a result of my experiencing a ruptured ovarian cyst. I’d been told many years earlier that I had a tipped uterus and that the positioning of my uterus was no big deal. In fact, a number of doctors told me this. I’d always had issues with my menstrual cycle (PMS, cramps, and the like) but I’d thought that those issues were “normal”… that’s certainly what my doctors had told me. Yet, somehow, this experience was different for me; I wanted answers. My doctors didn’t provide me with them. Gratefully, I attended a class where, at the end of the class, the instructor shared that she was taking a group of women to Belize to learn Maya abdominal massage with Rosita Arvigo, internationally known healer and napropath. Then the instructor at my class read a list of issues that were the result of having a tipped uterus. Every issue that I’d ever had was on that list! And when she read “Ovarian Cysts”, I blurted out, “Where do I sign up???” As soon as I found out that this type of bodywork could help me and other women like me, I began to tell anyone who would listen about this work. And as a result, a lot of my clients, friends, and spouses of women (yep, I told them too!) began to share their experiences with challenging periods, issues with getting pregnant, recovery from childbirth, etc. That was it for me; I had to learn the work.
I attended my first workshop in 2003 and received my certification in 2005. I also attended a Spiritual Plant Healing training with Rosita in 2006. That training deepened my love for being out in nature because I learned how I could ask and invite nature to support me in my healing and wellness. This work became especially important to me. Not only did it help me to improve my menstrual cycles, but it also became one of the tools I depended on in my efforts to get pregnant and I used the spiritual plant healing to support me when my efforts to get pregnant failed and when I miscarried. I’ve felt honored to have had the opportunity to work with women who have had challenges with their cycles and pregnancy; I understand what they’re dealing with and I’m happy to say that many have seen amazing improvements. I’ve also used the protocol to work with women dealing with menopause, clients with digestive issues, and those who have back issues with some great success. I would love everyone to know how to do this work; understanding how your body functions is liberating and empowering!
My focus began to shift again in 2009 as a result of my getting divorced. Although I was building my practice, I was dealing with all of the feelings one feels when a love relationship ends. I felt broken. I also abandoned the tools I’d previously used to support me; I didn’t want to feel. I was fully in my own persona “dark night of the soul”. When I finally concluded that not feeling was not working for me, I began to gain a deeper appreciation for where and how my interests have guided me. I jumped back into learning how to deepen my experience. I got certified in Transformational breath work (I found out the hard way that I wasn’t breathing well). I also worked with a Spiritual teacher who helped me to deepen my connection with my breath, my body, my feelings, and who I am. My spiritual teacher helped me to sense, in a very real way, how connected my body was to my emotions. More importantly, she helped me to see that I could feel deeply without descending into an abyss of despair with no ability to climb out. I also began to learn Conscious Dance. I loved conscious dance because it helped me to sense my body in movement, it helped me to sense and express my joy and to sense my resistance and pain and to move through all of my feelings more easily. I learned how to express myself through movement in a more authentic way and I gained new freedom through dance… what I experienced and learned about myself on the dance floor began to be reflected in how I showed up in my life.
Everything I have experienced and learned in my life has brought me to this point in my career. I love how I work with the body, mind, and emotions because they are all intertwined.
Has it been a smooth road?
Hmmm… interesting question. No, I haven’t had a smooth road. However, I’m okay with it because that’s how my path has needed to be.
I used to think that my life would unfold smoothly if I just did the right things. I’d be pain-free. I don’t like conflict and I used to think that if I hit a roadblock, it meant that I was doing something wrong…that I was failing. I’ve had a lot of self-doubts. I had to learn that life is filled with challenges… we all have them. I think my challenges have grown me up and they’ve helped me to handle discomfort and roadblocks. I like to learn and grow. In order to grow, I have to face challenges. I certainly am more clear about what I want in my life and what I don’t want now.
I’ve had to learn how to put myself in the middle of my life and my work. I used to live and work to serve others. That’s what many people appreciated about me. I used to think that I’d get around to meeting my own needs once I was finished taking care of everyone else… if I had time. Doing that burned me out, created health challenges, and made me unhappy. I had to learn that it’s okay and important to take care of myself first. When I’m well cared for, I can be of better service to others.
I developed a habit of pushing to make things happen. And not just one thing… a lot of things. All at once. After all, life is about working hard, right? Wrong. I’ve let that belief go. I’ve had to learn to take a step back, give myself a break, and to live more slowly and intentionally. Progress happens in its own time, not according to my wishes. I’ve found that I’m much happier when I can keep that in mind.
Please tell us more about your business, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My business is called Natalie Gentry, LLC and I’m a whole health practitioner and coach. I specialize in Maya abdominal massage, Transformational breath coaching, plant healing, conscious movement facilitation, and whole health coaching. I help clients to bring their bodies back into balance and I help them to understand their body’s messages through a sensed/felt experience. When we can understand what our bodies are trying to tell us, we can better meet those needs. I consider myself to be a support and guide for my clients. I also give them tools they can use to take care of themselves when they aren’t in my office. Knowledge is power!
I’m most known for Maya abdominal massage. I offer that modality and other compatible services to clients who are having issues with their menstrual cycles, are trying to get pregnant, are recovering from pregnancy, or are dealing with menopause symptoms. I also work with clients who have digestive issues and clients who have back issues.
I ask a lot of questions when I work with clients because I think it’s important for me to truly understand what the client is dealing with. Sometimes, a person’s physical issues are impacted by something that is happening emotionally. That’s where the whole health coaching comes in. When light is shed on the emotional trigger, the physical issue can often release.
In addition to Maya abdominal massage, I coach clients on how to breathe more fully. I often coach them during a massage session but I also offer private breath sessions as well as quarterly group sessions. I also offer Spiritual plant healing for clients who are experiencing emotional turmoil that is based on fear, anger, sadness, and grief, or envy. Those sessions are incredibly relaxing and they help to make the emotions more manageable. I also facilitate conscious dance. Conscious dance is a movement modality that allows us to sense our bodies in movement and to express ourselves more authentically. There are no dance steps and no previous dance experience is required.
I’m also beginning to work with clients who want to focus more on the body/mind connection through the sensed/felt experience more directly. I coach clients then use massage, breath work, plant healing, and movement to help them deepen their awareness. I love working with clients in this manner!
I’m most proud of the fact that I take the time to know and understand my clients and their bodies. I’m through. When I am able to understand the mechanics of how their bodies are working, what emotional triggers may be challenging them, and what their bodies need to function more effectively, I get results. I value that I create a safe space for my clients to dive deeply into what they want to address.
What sets me apart from others in my field? I use a variety of modalities to treat my clients. I offer my clients things they can do on their own to create a self-care practice for themselves; I’m all about coaching my clients on how they can become their own best health advocate. I also offer resources if a client has a need that goes beyond my scope of practice.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
There are many things I really like about Denver. I like that Denver is a casual, unstuffy, and playful city. There are a variety of activities people can participate in; there is something for everyone here. I especially like that Denver is a health-conscious city. Not only are people physically active and mindful of what they eat, but there is also a thriving alternative care scene here; people really care about their health and wellness here. I like that, in spite of the fact that this city is growing rapidly, a community vibe still exists. There are also neighborhoods here that feel close-knit. I appreciate that! I also like that Denver is so close to the foothills and the mountains; it’s easy to get out into nature when I need a break from the hustle of the city. “And if you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes!”
What I dislike about Denver is that it’s growing rapidly. Traffic has increased and it’s increasingly difficult to get around the city now. I also think that rapid growth has impacted how friendly people are. I see a marked lack of patience and aggressiveness in people as they drive, shop for groceries, and live. People aren’t as kind as they used to be here. I also dislike that the cost of living has risen to the point where it’s forcing people to either work longer hours (which is unhealthy) or to move.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1175 S. Pennsylvania St. Denver, Colorado 80210
- Website: www.nataliegentry.com
- Phone: 303-325-4150
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliegentryhealer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealRestoreTransform/
Image Credit:
Amy K. Wright Photography, Lynn Clark Portraits
Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
