Why Therapivity was Created?
The world of high performance often mesmerizes us, with the elites showcasing their peak performance and physical prowess. However, behind their success lies a critical aspect that is frequently overlooked—recovery.
In this blog post, I will share my motivations, experiences, and insights that led me to prioritize recovery at Therapivity. I hope my story can inspire the athletic community to change their views on recovery.
In high school, I was deeply involved in multiple sports, and later, I became a Division I athlete.
After college, I served in the Army. Despite it being a physically demanding career, I always found ways to participate in additional physical activities (i.e. special operations challenges, unit sport teams, and more). Being inactive wasn’t in the picture for me; it nearly defined my existence for most of my life. But with intense athletic pursuits came an unforeseen price—injuries.
Eventually, recurring injuries placed me in a vicious cycle I couldn’t escape. Athletic movements that I once spoke fluently became foreign and cumbersome. I was now taking four steps rather than the usual two to perform complex movements. It goes without saying that I was moving slower and less efficiently.
Grudgingly, I decided to step away from high-impact sports. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was heading toward another significant surgery or possibly joint replacement. Unknown then, this was when the seed for Therapivity began to take root.
For the record, physical therapy (PT) would have been beneficial. However, PT focuses primarily on performance. I needed a holistic solution that took into account my sleep patterns, nutrition habits, and stress levels, as all these factors contribute to injuries
When I started Therapivity, I was driven to help high-performers of all levels extend their pursuits. I wanted to create a holistic space where they could access tools and techniques to facilitate healing on an ongoing basis.
I wasn’t naive that this endeavor would be an uphill battle because we live in a society that encourages “No Days Off.” This desire to consistently perform at our best causes us to overlook the toll that activities have on our bodies. Usually, it’s not until illness or injury sets in that we take action. I am guilty of this myself.
During sessions with my clients, I am constantly encouraging them to adopt a holistic approach to their recovery by being mindful of their sleep, stress levels, and nutrition.
I also emphasize that Integrated Sports Massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage sessions are only practical if you take care of those fundamentals.
Ultimately, by promoting a more holistic approach to recovery, Therapivity aims to foster a culture of mindful high-performers who are looking to extend their athletic pursuits.
Dana G.
MPH, LMT