by Dar Mikula 
This month, our FSM “Success Story” takes us 1300 miles north to the unincorporated village of Quechee in the town of Hartford, VT. Here Shelly Yusko, one of our graduates from the January 1992 massage program, owns the Strong House Spa and Muscular Therapy Clinic with her partner, Shelia Armen. How did a 1983 Penn State graduate with a teaching degree and a minor in athletic training find her path to a successful career in massage? The road, in Shelly’s case, certainly had a few turns. From college she moved to Vermont in 1985 to teach tennis at the Aloha summer camp. It wasn’t until she learned the masonry trade that she found massage unexpectedly after she injured herself and was on workmen’s compensation. “I had to quit, recover, and then take a teaching and coaching job,” she says of the first turn in the road. This lasted three years until she was not granted tenure. She thinks this is because the school found out she was gay. “Frustrated and not knowing where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do, I packed up my car, rented my place in New Hampshire, sold a lot of stuff, and moved to Gainesville after being accepted into the massage program.” Shelly had heard about the Florida School of Massage from the therapist she went to after her injury. At the time, Shelly said, “It was a struggle keeping up with my bills in two locations but I managed to get renters in New Hampshire, which was a nightmare, and roommates in Florida.” So, at age 30, she had to ask her parents for some financial help. “They both thought I was crazy since I already had a degree.” Between our foundational massage program and the Sports Massage program offered here at the time, she became very interested in injuries. “That was actually my focus in college,” Shelly said. “I just loved being able to use my new skills to teach people how to take care of themselves and help them with their health care. Because of FSM and its many fine teachers I processed old abuse and anger, and I learned how to trust people again. I learned how to be safe and vulnerable.” Shelly says the FSM massage school experience empowered her to want to share that kind of loving/nurturing energy with everyone. She moved back north intending to sell her place and move back to Gainesville. “But,” she said, “I got inspired and have since built my own healing environment in Vermont. I thank FSM for giving me the direction that has changed my life.” 
Shelly’s massage practice has been extremely successful, even though her first office in Hanover, NH, was met with a bit of resistance. Shelly says the community there feared massage as a business. She is now located in a four-season resort community just 10 minutes from her original office location. “Over the years I have sent people (to FSM) who wanted to learn massage and then afterward I hired them.” Shelly said. “I now employ 12 people year-round.” Strong House Spa & Muscular Therapy Clinic offers quality therapeutic massage, facials, body treatments, a natural nail bar, and a hair salon. Classes in yoga, stretching, strength, and Qigong are also offered. For more information, visit the website: www.stronghousespa.com
