• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 
• Stark State College 
• Owner, Restorative Massage & Wellness Center, a nine-therapist facility 

Massage & Bodywork: Can you share the journey that brought you to where you are today? Why massage?

Heather Topoly: I never chose massage; it chose me. 

I am a veteran of the US Navy and served in the reserves for nine years. I have always been interested in the medical field. In the military, I was trained as a combat corpsman; after I got out, I became a nationally registered EMT. After having three children, I went back to school to pursue a career as a physical therapy assistant (PTA). During that training, I needed rotator cuff surgery from a car accident. I was receiving massage from a PTA but noticed a huge difference when the massage therapist worked on me. I literally had no interest in doing massage, but thought I would study it to help my PT patients. About halfway through the first semester of massage school, I fell in love with it. I became licensed in January 2010 and continue to love what I do. 

M&B: You offer an interesting array of modalities. Tell us how this tapestry wove together over the years.

HT: I find massage to be a puzzle, and I like when clients leave feeling better. I intertwine everything I have learned over the past 15 years based on what is needed at that moment.

I have worked in a wide range of massage businesses, including chiropractic, PT clinics, corporate, and hospice. I have spent seven years of my career in hospice and working in hospitals such as the Cleveland Clinic. I found hospice to be very rewarding, and it changed my perspective on life. I am trained in Reiki II, Craniosacral 3, trigger point, medical massage, and some myofascial work. The majority of my sessions are therapeutic and clinical, with a side of energy work. 

Read more about Heather and her massage journey at abmp.com/updates/blog-posts/faces-bodywork-heather-topoly.