Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Bergstedt.
Hi Grace, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
The roots that greatly impacted where I am today reach back over 10 years, starting when I was a competitive gymnast frequently in and out of a physical therapist’s office. Being a competitive athlete, I was very familiar with injuries and the subsequent recovery and rehab, as well as all the emotions that come along with them. It was then that I determined I wanted to do something having to do with helping people “get back on their feet” and improve their well-being, just like the professionals who helped me do the same. Several years down the line, this desire was still present, but other passions started getting added to the mix. After dealing with a rare disorder that resulted in instances of medical gaslighting and a difficult recovery, I discovered how valuable patient advocacy and healthcare literacy really is. Through my own experience with mental health struggles not properly managed and treated, I realized the severe impact that mental health has on the rest of the body and vice versa, as well as how hard it can be to find effective interventions. After pursuing other career ventures and realizing they weren’t for me, I landed on massage therapy as the perfect trade that allowed me to fulfill all the roles I felt called to. Thanks to insightful conversations with friends, family, and lots of introspection and research, I decided to start the long road to eventually running my own massage therapy practice. It was during the nearly year and a half of schooling required that I really narrowed down my vision for what type of work I would provide, what my purpose in this field was, and HOW I would go about doing it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Yes and no. Yes in that from the very beginning in school, I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging that has only continued to grow stronger the more I learn, the more people I have the opportunity to meet and work with, and the more I see how what I do for a living impacts so many different areas of my life in such a positive way. I know full well that this is where I’m supposed to be and this is what I’m supposed to be doing, and that makes all the inevitable struggles feel just a little bit smaller and more manageable – because I know that they will eventually be overcome and only serve to move me closer in the direction that I’m meant to go. I’ve also been so blessed through the whole process, from having great teachers, access to education, job opportunities, etc. However, that isn’t to say it’s been perfectly smooth sailing through the entire process. I mean, I started school in the middle of the pandemic and broke my foot a few weeks before classes started, which left me hobbling around the classroom for months as I dealt with two separate surgeries. Later on, when working my first job after graduating and getting my license, I had a really hard time managing the physical stress of the job as well as the personal stress of dealing with the onset of unexplained chronic illness that greatly impacted my ability to work, drive, etc. There are some experiences that school can’t fully prepare you for, and the balance of self-care and work is definitely one of those. While it IS addressed heavily, it’s a whole other story when you have to put all the things you learn about from class into practice in your own life.
We’ve been impressed with Willow Alliance Massage and Movement, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have noticed that there is a gap in bodywork services, and that’s the gap I’m aiming to fill – that of practitioners (especially female) providing targeted manual therapy to address specific pain, injuries, and impairments while still being easily accessible to all types of people. The type of work I do tends to fall more under the category of “sports massage”, which is traditionally sought out more frequently and easily by athletes, and it can be really difficult for the average person to find a practitioner who can provide effective pain relief, injury prevention/treatment, and education.
I provide trauma-informed, evidence-based manual therapy for pain relief and stress management and as a part of the client’s overall health treatments/goals. With my background being in fitness, I incorporate a lot of corrective work and movement in my sessions and recommendations and I love to provide focused bodywork without the fluff, allowing my clients to get the most out of their time with me. Not only am I extremely passionate about providing therapy that is directly informed by my knowledge of human anatomy and movement but also by my knowledge of the role that stress plays in our physiology and how that often plays out in health issues and pain patterns. A distinguishing factor in my practice is my commitment to educate and empower all my clients, especially when it comes to dismantling certain harmful myths and concepts that many in the bodywork/fitness industry perpetuate.
My belief (upon which I named my business) is twofold – firstly, it is clearly demonstrated in all facets of the body that we are built to adapt. Before breaking, we bend – just like a willow’s flexible branches. This is an incredible protective mechanism ingrained into us, but often it gets abused and taken advantage of in our fast-paced lives. Where our bodies and mind were meant to adapt and cope for a short time and then be given the opportunity to recover and return to a place of optimal function, we force them into that state of coping for weeks, months, YEARS…and then wonder why pain, dysfunction, and a lack of resiliency have become our new normal. Many of us experience the adverse health effects of chronic stress and physical overwork, but first responders are especially susceptible to these due to the nature of their jobs. I’m proud to offer first responder discounts in order to make sustainable self-care more accessible, and seek to build meaningful relationships with local departments through community outreach, support, and education.
Secondly, a large contributing factor to so many of the issues the average American faces is due to a lack of support systems. We are mammals – we were created to live in community and fellowship with one another, picking up the slack for a friend in need, supporting our neighbor through hardships, and taking care of each other. That’s just not how modern society is structured though; in fact, it tends to push us in the opposite direction – increasing isolation and self-reliance out of necessity, not personal choice. When it comes to healthcare, it is especially true that collaboration and support is needed in order to provide best care. No patient benefits from miscommunication between providers, a lack of empathy for their pain, or a lack of resources that leaves them not knowing HOW to even approach the task of improving their health and wellness. I believe that the desire to achieve a greater state of wellness needs to start with the individual, but that once established and expressed, an alliance of like-minded individuals ready to help guide and help that person move in that direction of improved daily life is essential. No man is an island, and having allies ready to support, educate, and guide clients is a pivotal aspect of providing effective care.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is making sure every person I work with feels truly heard in whatever they are bringing to the table. When it comes to expressing one’s suffering, whether mental or physical, it very often devolves into a “pain Olympics” where their concerns or symptoms are dismissed or belittled with phrases such as “that’s not as bad as _____,” “everyone deals with _____,” etc. It doesn’t matter that someone else out there may objectively have worse pain – that doesn’t take away from the fact that the person sitting in front of me is in pain. The last thing anyone suffering wants to hear is something that devalues their experience and makes them feel like their experience doesn’t matter…because it DOES. As someone who has dealt with medical gaslighting, symptoms being dismissed, and having proper care delayed due to a lack of empathy and true listening, one of my biggest priorities is creating a space where every concern is given consideration and thought. It is of utmost importance to me that every person who trusts me with their care is in some way reminded that they matter, they are not alone, and they deserve to feel comfortable, empowered, and that they can trust their body’s communication.
Pricing:
- 30 minutes – $55
- 60 minutes – $110
- 90 minutes – $165
- First Responder Discounts
Contact Info:
- Website: willowalliancemt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowalliancemt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willowalliancemt
