Nathalie Fossé attended our massage program in 2002. She said she’d been working as a researcher in chemistry, “absolutely not enjoying my field and getting headaches every afternoon.” Fast forward a decade. She’s just opened a new office in the Thornebrook area. She took a moment to talk with me about her life and work since graduating from FSM:
How did the FSM experience change you, and/or what was it about your FSM experience that inspired you to do what you do now?
First I struggled with chronic pain and injuries, which introduced me to massage therapy as a client. I immediately became fascinated with the body and how it responds to massage therapy. As I was looking for a new career and needed more people-to-people interaction, I decided to go to FSM.
FSM expanded my learning abilities and opened up my senses. Coming from a heavy academic background – I have a PhD in Solid State Chemistry – the only way I knew to learn was to take notes, notes, notes! – to the point I was taking notes instead of understanding. It took Paul Davenport (anatomy instructor) to make me put my pen away and clear my desk to realize what I was doing or not doing. At FSM, I learned to be present while learning. And to be present when giving a massage. It was a big discovery for me. To be present. To watch, to listen, to hear, and to feel. I love doing massage because I love listening to what my hands feel when they are working.
Did you face any challenges in enrolling at FSM? If so, what were they and how did you overcome them?
If you mean while at the school, oh yes I faced many challenges!
The circles…talking about myself…sharing my deep feelings…allowing my true-self to surface. Dealing with others’ emotions. To overcome this I stopped fighting it.
FSM follows a “self-empowerment” model – how did this model effect your learning experience and/or the choices you made after graduation?
I was not scared to move forward and start working as a massage therapist as soon as I finished school because the school had given me the solid tools to become independent. I started to run my little massage practice, gained confidence in managing my business, and eventually accepted an offer for partnership in opening up an artisanal European bakery where we had over fifteen employees to manage. Today, I am back to working as a massage therapist full-time, also getting certified as a yoga instructor. I have moved into a small suite where I am working on developing a wellness center with massage therapy, private yoga classes, and acupuncture
Do you have any advice for alumni or prospective students?
Just do it! Even if one does not practice as a massage therapist after graduating, anything we learn during the program is very valuable and can be applied throughout life, personal and professional life.
Is there anything more about your work in massage therapy that would like to share?
I love my work, and I constantly learn something new through my patients.
Do you have any unique or extraordinary experiences in your massage career that you’d like to share?
The trust and friendship that can come out of a massage therapist/client relationship is life changing. My most elderly client asked me if I would be there with her when she took her last breath. I was there for her, with her when the time came.
I had worked with her for about six or seven years. It started where she would drive herself to my office, then moved to me driving to her house bringing my massage table, and eventually to not being able to use my table anymore for she was becoming more and more fragile. But we always laughed, laughed at each other. She would joke offering me some of her “Alzheimer” pills for when I was forgetting things. We would dance shaking our booties; we would open our hearts to each other.
One day, I went to see her and one of my cats had just died. After our massage session, I fell apart crying. By that time, my client and now friend had told me she was ready to leave this world. So, when she asked me if I would cry like that when she goes, I answered, “I probably would and I will be holding your hand too if you wanted.” We had a pact.
When her time came, her son and daughter-in-law called me and for a week I drove every day and was able to be there with her holding her hand until she took her last breath. She passed this last July. She was always calling me her angel, which I think is the kindest thing I was ever called.
~Nathalie Fossé has been joined by FSM graduate and scar management instructor Nancy Keeney-Smith and also acupuncturist Yvonne Woodson in her new wellness center, Fossé Restorative Therapy, at 2830 NW 41st Street, Suite B, in Thornebrook III, Gainesville. Call (352)256-2800 for more information.
