I was so impressed that I decided to learn how to do Sports Massage.  I applied to the school where Robin was trained, Florida Institute of Natural Health in Gainesville.  I was accepted and started school there in September of 1990.  I took the regular program as well as Shiatsu and the Sports Massage training which was taught by Michael Loomis.  It was there in Gainesville that I met and became friends with Gerard Hartmann a world class triathlete, who later became a famous therapist for major world class athletes including Suzy Favor Hamilton, Paula Radcliffe, Khalid Khannouchi, Bob Kennedy, Liz McColgan, Greta Waitz, and many other elite Olympic athletes.

Gerard suggested that to help my career I should work with Aaron Mattes, an internationally respected Therapist that he knew and had interned with in Sarasota, FL.  Aaron agreed to hire me and I moved there.  Working with Aaron was great.  He shared his knowledge and many years of experience with me from 6:00 Am to 8:00 PM on a daily basis.  Aaron  is a rare person maintained a busy clinic practice and also shared his knowledge in seminars on the weekends. His Midwest roots have helped him seek fulfillment in his work, and the desire and the stamina to work long hours.  It was a great opportunity to help him  with seminars and stretching events such as week long sessions for the Track team at the University of Michigan and other schools.

I later moved to St. Petersburg to date Vicki Harwick.  She  and I fell in love, married, and started a sports, pain and Injury recovery clinic in the spring of 1994 which is still in operation.  I read many books and attended many lectures.  I was certified as a Neuromuscular Therapist by the International Academy of Neuromuscular Therapy, a school operated by Judy Walker Delany. I took Stewart Taws Soft Tissue Release Program. However, my clients were the greatest teachers of all.  It was the clients that taught me about optimal tissue texture and how to tell the difference.   When I helped them get the proper tissue, they got better and performed better. 

Techniques are just tools and by themselves do not create good therapy no matter what the teachers of these techniques tell you.   I focused on the tissue texture and found my own method of therapy,  rather than trying to become a clone of a guru.  I do have great respect for many of my teachers including Dr. Van Zandt, Profession Emeritus at the University of Arkansas. I think he was very insightful  when he stated that, " learning is the organization of material into meaning full patterns", (meaningful patterns for the teacher, not the student)  I  organized the material into my own meaningful patterns and found that my client list grew and I became very busy indeed.

Member of: Associated Bodywork Massage Professionals

PERSONAL INFORMATION

I appreciate the many athletes who come to our clinic. Some are among the best in the world. I also feel fortunate to live in Florida where there are so many wonderful days of sunshine and places available to participate in outdoor activities. I love to inline skate, run, work out at the YMCA , and ride my bicycle with the St Pete Mad Dogs and the St. Pete Bicycle Club and walk my dog ZAC. One of my favorite areas to skate is the Suncoast Trail  north of Tampa, Florida.  Vicki and I are often found there on Sunday. We have some photos of our adventures posted here. Hope to see you soon, Travis