Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Shroyer.
Hi Ryan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I knew from a young age I was going to be in the healthcare field. I had a great appreciation for anatomy through classroom dissection work and physiology through understanding the innate intelligence of the human body to heal itself. I started out my education at the University of Wyoming thinking Pharmacy School was my calling, but after my Sophomore year, it became clear I was taking steps in the wrong direction.
I made my way back to Colorado Springs to pursue a Health Science degree at UCCS, which gave me the foundational knowledge to prepare for my current path in bodywork practices. I graduated from the prestigious Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy (CIMT) in 2019 and have been an instructor for their anatomy and bodywork classes since then.
One of the reasons this school is prestigious is they not only offer the coveted Neuromuscular certification but are physically connected to the Institute for Anatomical Research, where a lot of big minds in the field and students at CIMT convene to perform hands-on dissection and palpation of the human form and where I continue to volunteer my time when I can.
I have also been volunteering with LifeSpark Cancer Resources by providing Reiki treatments to those with cancer, Craniosacral for veterans the Healing Warriors Project, and teaching assistance for local Craniosacral classes at the Upledger Institute. I chose massage therapy because the license gave me the freedom to pursue other modalities I was interested in, including Craniosacral, Thai Massage, Hot Stone, Lymphatic Drainage, and Cupping.
After 2 years of practice, I became Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork through the accreditation of NCBTMB. I have worked with osteopathic doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other massage therapists while building my own practice. As of next month, I will have 5 years of instructing and providing massage therapy under my belt with the intention of many more glorious years to come!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting my own business was one of the most challenging accomplishments of my career. My university didn’t provide any business classes for my degree path, so I had to learn as much as I could from massage school and, even more so, through experience. Having an established location for my practice was, ultimately, the most important event to ever happen in my career.
I’ve moved my clinic location between my house, to an apothecary, to the massage school, to a doctor’s office, and finally to the place I am at today on the west side of town. I was fortunate to have previously worked with a very talented graphic artist in town who was able to give my business the creative and visual spark I was looking for! Shout out to Sami with CreativeMedium to give me so much clarity and ease in this process!!
Marketing and enhancing my online presence is something I am continually developing, but gets better with time like a fine glass of wine. As my business continues to grow, so do the challenges that come with being a sole proprietor business owner. Eventually, I am looking toward hiring or contracting other therapists into my practice with the ultimate goal being a retreat center for holistic healing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I founded my practice on the principle that everybody deserves a treatment that is tailored to the individual’s unique needs, and not a generic “cookie cutter” massage. I charge by the hour, and not the modality, because it allows me to blend any and all modalities I offer into one treatment without the confusion of pricing and add-on costs.
I’ve blended Thai massage with cupping, craniosacral with massage, lymphatic drainage with hot stone, reiki with craniosacral, etc. and it all depends on the information the body is giving me in that session and the “loudest” information can vary from session to session. This ties into my business slogan which is “The body speaks and I listen”. The body already knows how to heal itself, but due to various physical, mental, and emotional barriers, recovery can be challenging.
Unlike a car, human bodies don’t come with a user manual, so we’re left with our own life experiences and knowledge gained to understand our condition. My job is to provide the body with new information to allow for the release of old patterns that hinder optimal functioning and to educate the client on how they can establish new patterns that promote optimal functioning and maintain the progress made during the treatment. The most important treatment I offer outside of massage therapy is….. actually water!
However, this isn’t ordinary water that we are exposed to in our day to day. This water is called Kangen Water® and is known scientifically as electrolyzed reduced water (ERW). The Kangen machine takes our tap water and not only filters, but electrolyzes the water to give it anti-oxidant, alkalizing, and restructuring properties. The scientific literature is abundant on the health benefits of consuming ERW and molecular hydrogen (H2), which is made as a byproduct of electrolysis.
In fact, there are numerous hospitals in Japan that use this water as a complement to many of the treatment programs they offer their patients. In my clinic, this machine not only makes alkaline water for drinking, but I also use slightly acidic water for its astringent qualities in my skin products, strong acidic to sterilize my equipment, and strong alkaline to remove the oils off my sheets that detergents don’t take off.
Considering the fact this machine generates various pH’s of water with different properties that can be used in daily life, I believe that this should be a standard for every household. Every treatment ends with a glass of Kangen water and it is my deep desire to ensure everybody has access to this water, especially in their own homes.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was mostly an introvert and found myself playing video games and reading books a majority of the time. It wasn’t until later in my college years that I started to find my voice and began to fully express my unique self and interests. After watching documentaries on Earthing, I began to understand the real benefits of connecting with the Earth and the massive amount of free electrons it provides to reduce free radicals and inflammation in our bodies.
After seeing that Wim Hof hiked Mt Everest barefoot in shorts, I invested time into understanding his method and began to explore my true limits and capabilities with a deeper state of awareness. In my anatomy classes, I noticed I was particularly drawn to foot and ankle mechanics and started a barefoot training regimen.
All of these interests gave rise to various feats I have been able to perform in my journey toward understanding my inner power, such as climbing two 14ers barefoot in shorts and coming in 4th place for a 5K barefoot. I continue to dive into my annual winter cold immersion training and now beginning a heavier emphasis on meditation and breathwork.
Pricing:
- $100/60 min
- $135/90 min
- $175/120 min
Contact Info:
- Website: www.holisticarebodyworks.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticarebodyworks
Image Credits
Samantha Bachechi and Brenna Skattebo
