Wholeness Lab

For as long as I can remember I have been a curious individual, the explorer, had the need to investigate. My mother said that my first word was, “why”, now while I don’t believe it was my first word, I can imagine that it was probably in the top ten. Since I was a teen, I have been looking for and exploring ways to be healthy. I had an early understanding that food is important for a healthy body, rest is not optional, laughter is healing and inner peace is imperative. These practices are incorporated into my daily life: I try to find comedy in most things, rent comedy DVDs, pray/meditate, journal, stretch and change my pillows often. I have imparted these sacred bits to my clients. So in short, I am a seeker.

Thankfully, my family allowed me the space to explore, even though they believed I was bizarre and just different. I did not like taking aspirin for a headache, instead I listened to my body; was I hungry, breathing deeply enough or angry? Our Southern diet consisted primarily of meat, potatoes, over cooked vegetables (at best) and white starch. It wreaked havoc on my digestive system and displayed how out of balance one could be if there be too much protein, no vegetables or whole grains. I boycotted plenty of meals and had tea and toast and demanded that there had to be more than this for a diet, because I couldn’t eliminate it. I joined on the family trips to the supermarket and began to add nutritional value to the cart. They indulged me and slowly, things changed, we would have fish or chicken for dinner instead of beef or pork. We baked the fish, instead of frying. I was a latch key kid and was able to start dinner and have an influence in cooking for it was not my mother’s forte. She wanted to be in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible. In addition, my father was and still is a finicky eater, he would be happy eating the same thing day after day. I had always yearned for the deeper meaning of life and thought, I crave variety and expansiveness. I like to experiment with my mind, palette and body: (w)holistically.

In 1991 my mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer. The family’s diet changed to support her, we cleaned out our cabinets of any food that she could not eat and she and my father began walking as exercise. The cancer returned in 1994, my last year of college and I watched the doctors only touch her to take from her body: blood, urine, bile. Though she was in a great deal of pain, when I touched her and it seemed to soothe her in a quiet way, something was born in me, the power of touch. She transitioned, but I have peace knowing that I played a part in making it easier for her to let go.  It was cathartic to have the opportunity to be a bridge for her; touch created an understanding that surpassed words. And a personal legacy began; her last gift to me.

After a decade stint in the fashion industry, I realized that it was no longer enough for me. I did what was expected of me, the career that I chose and what my parents paid for and I was terribly unfulfilled. Life has a way of changing how you think you ought to be, how you have it all mapped out. Five years later, I graduated from massage school and have been a Licensed Massage Therapist, since 2000.

Even in massage school, I was aware that I was not a spa therapist; it would not suffice for me. Salt scrubs and wraps are nice, but I love getting to the heart of whatever is ailing someone. There is freedom in that place of discovery. I am the health advocate for my clients in a way that isn’t present in the medical field. My desire is to create personal encouragement and responsibility for my friends and clients. I have been enlightened by the lives I have touched. I am fed by the candor, honesty and bravery that has shone through over the years. Through conversations, contemplation and the continuous desire to investigate, I studied various modalities to compliment the art of massage and physical fitness. My husband and I joined forces and formed DoubleFitness BodyWorks in 2005, which was a personal training and massage outcall company in New York City. I had every confidence in Fitzroy’s (my husband) ability and work ethic, because his belief system of being a support of a client’s journey is as important to him as it is to me. The company has transitioned to DoubleFitness Performance Lab, our mission is to educate, support and motivate individuals and the community about healthy living through the mind-body connection. We developed into a full service wellness company in the Metro-Atlanta area and in New York City.

After we moved to Atlanta to claim a piece of the American dream, I became certified in Nutritional Counseling from AFPA in the hope of continuing my dream to support our clients. By adding nutrition to my toolbox enables me to bridge and advocate for our clients with grounded, supported and safe authority. To be able to provide care from range of motion, breaking adhesions, speed up immune response, provide safe and challenging workout routines, clean out cupboards, be a health cheerleader, create nutritious meal plans, re-train thinking about health, while empowering our clients—is a complete package.

So in long, this blog’s intention is like a footprint in the sand and all that is required is for me to show up for myself, to break open in a special secret way, sharing myself with you as I learn from my most prized gifts: YOU. Together we have the opportunity to create our personal legacies. Let us begin!