Val Guin
Val is recognized as a leader and an innovator in the massage industry, through the creation of her bestselling DVD series, Val Guin's Forearm Dance™, Original and Essentials. She has been an instructor and a therapeutic body worker for over three decades, focusing her private practice of 8 to 10 people a day on creating better posture and structural function, which creates more mobility and less pain within her students and clients. Along with holding seminars nationwide, she also holds her seminars locally at her studio in Santa Monica. Val is a frequent presenter at the AMTA conferences and is an approved provider for the NCBTMB for continuing education hours.
Val's Bio
I was raised with the ocean. Taught by my Dad to
love and respect it! He taught me to time waves, have fun and be safe. I was
taught by my Mom to see what others do not see, to take the time to sit
quietly so you will always see what others do not.
We played with what
ever was best for the occasion. We bodysurfed and rafted, later we boogie
boarded and surfed and now I also Paddle Surf. The ocean has kept me happy
and also rehabbed me, physically, mentally and spiritually. I love the
challenge of big waves, 8-10 feet, no bigger any more, and the peace of
still water.
I have been asked to tell some of my story…
Like so
many massage therapists I always liked helping people. My family complained
I always touched where they were sore; I was just drawn to what was bruised
or did not feel good. At 4 yrs old I would rub my Dad’s shoulders after he
worked all day. He would tell me I had strong hands, how happy that made me.
I helped take care of my Grandparents when I as 16. The Chiropractor and
Physical Therapist would come, do their assessments and then teach me what
to do to help rehab them. It was my responsibility to do the hands on work.
I participated in nursing my Grandpa back from six strokes. I saw him have
two strokes and it was heartbreaking. But to work with him and watch him
walking and back in the garden again brought us all so much joy! I learned
with patience, love, care and a little knowledge people could get their
lives back.
My brother Billy and I were in a horrible car accident,
Billie died at the scene. They said they lost me in the ambulance and had to
shock my heart to bring me back.
What I experienced left me with no fear
of death; I know my brother is fine and happy. It is the ability to embrace
the physical form that has been the challenge ever since.
I understood
after feeling so free and then coming back in this body just how challenging
it is to be in pain and restriction. This keeps us separate. I knew if I
could help people get out of pain and find freedom in their bodies then they
would be able to connect better to God, their higher self, spirit, family,
kids their animals and even strangers.
So I decided I would go to school
and become a Physical Therapist. I started working at a hospital doing
physical therapy while I went to school. On my way to class a drunk/drugged
young man ran a red light smashing into my door. As my car was spinning
around I was thinking, “No! I am not done yet”. Well I was done with the
Physical Therapy path. No longer able to lift people or even stretch their
limbs. My entire back was affected. I lost two inches, because of the
vertebrae being compressed. My arms and legs would just give out without
warning. Some days I felt strong and some days scared I would never walk
again.
A few years later I was working at a YMCA in a “recovery job”. I
greeted the women and gave them their uniforms and towels. Depressed with my
life and job I complained to my Mom. She said, “Whatever you choose to do,
do it 110%. This way you have no regrets, you have a chance to change the
situation and at least you will be more satisfied. I listened! I learned
every woman’s name and her weight loss goals. What a difference it made for
me. One day, I was talking to some of the women and the on staff massage
therapist. I told them how much I enjoyed and missed working on people. The
massage therapist said, “Let me show you some things”. As I worked on her
foot she sat straight up and said you are a natural you should go to school.
I did not even know they had schools for Massage Therapists.
I went to an
open house at IPSB (The Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing), I loved
it. I was married at the time, had a two year old daughter and he was not
supportive because of both the money and the time commitment. I thought that
was the end of that dream until I came into work one day and I was given a
card. It said, with a little help from your friends. I opened it and money
and checks dropped out. The ladies from the YMCA gave me enough money to
take the class. I signed up for the intensive class right away. Within two
weeks of being in class I was hired at a spa in Beverly Hills. I learned
very quickly this was not for me and began my private practice. I continued
my education at IPSB and after several years was asked to train as a
teacher. I taught and developed classes for IPSB for 28 years. I taught the
core level I course, the advanced massage, pregnancy and infant massage,
Deep Tissue and many special workshops including the Forearm Dance workshops
that my DVD’s are based on.
I apply what I learned at IPSB, in
Acupuncture school, Applied and structural Kinesiology, all the Body/Mind
Postural classes every day.
I have an office in Santa Monica, CA right by
the beach. I teach my workshops at this location.
I have maintained
a very busy private practice for over 30 years. I see 37-42 people a week
and enjoy every moment.
When asked how I came up with the Forearm
Dance Technique I have to go back a bit. Complications from my accidents
caused a temporary inability to use my left arm. This was in the beginning
of my career and it changed everything for me. I had to use my body and
tools very differently then I had been taught. Between the foundation of
what I learned at IPSB, which is based in Tai Chi, and my foundation of
being physical all my life is the only reason I could have taken it to a
different place. The difference began taking form on the very first massage.
Instead of pressing and leaning I began to lift the tissue. By lifting
through the entire body, the tissue would lift. The fascia would become free
and hydrated so easily. I could do so many more clients a day without
getting tired and these concepts apply to all the tools not just the Forearm
and Olecranon. People loved working this way and it became the Forearm Dance
Seminars. My daughter Natiya watched just how much this helped my students.
She decided to produce my DVD’s so we could help more students all over the
world to save their hands and bodies and have productive careers.
These
concepts have crossed over helping many clients with their workouts and any
sport they participate in, at any level.
I am thankful for all my
experiences. I have learned that I am not in charge but will do my best to
learn and pass on what I can.
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