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Lisa DiGirolamo, LMT 5088, RYT Connecticut Instructor Website: www.LisaDiGirolamoLmt.com Email: Lisa@SargaBodywork.com |
LISA DIGIROLAMO, LMT is a self-described science geek, fascinated by the human condition. Having a background in psychology, she understands that the body and mind are inseparable, and that receiving massage therapy on a regular basis can have a profound, positive impact on one's overall health.
Since graduating from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 2007, Lisa has focused her bodywork style to be a therapeutic blend of Eastern and Western techniques, often doing deep, specific work and incorporating cupping or gua sha into her sessions. She has worked in conjunction with acupuncturists, chiropractors, and physical therapists to ensure that her clients get the best care in achieving optimum mobility and function.
Lisa's favorite tool for delivering her work is the FEET! Beginning her continuing education in Thai Massage, she knew she needed to use her feet more. Ashiatsu Bar Therapy and Sarga Bodywork were therefore a natural progression in adding more tools to her skill set. In addition to being a licensed massage therapist, Lisa is also a Registered Yoga Teacher, an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.
Q & A:
What motivated/inspired/led you to become a professional massage therapist, and where did you go to massage therapy school? Before I became a massage therapist, I knew I wanted to help people in a therapeutic way. I don't do well with blood, so although I had the mind for medicine, I chose to pursue psychology. While I was getting my Master's degree and working for Yale University, I was stressed out and having horrible, debilitating migraine headaches that lasted for days on end. A good friend got me a gift certificate for a massage, thinking it might help. I never had a massage before, but after that session, I immediately booked another. I started going biweekly, and everything shifted. Although my stress level hadn't changed, my ability to handle it did. I was better physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I thought, "THIS is how I'm supposed to help people." I went to the local school, the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in Newington, for a Discovery Workshop. It was an entire day of prospective students learning some massage strokes and practicing on each other, to see if it was really something we wanted to pursue as a career. I left that day and thought, "If I DON'T do this, I will regret it." I'd never felt such a strong pull to do anything else before. The rest is history.
If you had another job/career prior to becoming a massage therapist, how does that life experience contribute to the work you do now? I think that my previous schooling in psychology has greatly helped my relationships with my clients over the years. It is vital to understand that as a massage therapist, you are not just touching a body, you are touching an entire person, and on every level of their being. It has made me more compassionate, patient, and understanding, and I believe that's why people come back to see me. Not only do they get freedom from pain and more ease in their bodies, but they know I genuinely care about them as people.
How long have you been licensed and practicing as an LMT? I've been practicing massage therapy since 2005, licensed since 2007, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This work has led me to train and get certified in other health modalities as well. This is to not only satisfy my inner science geek, but also be of greater benefit to my clients. In addition to learning the barefoot techniques of Thai Massage, Ashiatsu, and Sarga Bodywork, I am also a Yoga Teacher, an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. I'm truly honored to do this work; it is a gift.
What kind of approach do you bring to your bodywork, and what massage techniques do you specialize in? I blend Eastern and Western styles, focusing on improving and restoring function, mobility, and overall health. Most of my clients come to me because they see my work as part of their health care plan, and so it has great value to them. Several have come to me post car accident, surgery, or other injury, and stayed with me because I was able to help them when others couldn't. Very few come to see me for simple relaxation. I love specializing in barefoot massage, and am thrilled to have discovered Sarga Bodywork! It is the most effective technique I have found, and the feet are excellent proprioceptive tools... even more than the hands, in my opinion.
What kind of marketing do you use to find new clients, as well as keep current clients coming back to you? Referrals, referrals, referrals! Word of mouth has definitely been my greatest marketing tool, and I'm sincerely grateful to all my clients that send me their friends, family, and co-workers. Having a social media presence on Instagram and Facebook is helpful as well. Google and Yelp are popular search engines, so advertising with them has been useful in getting both business recognition and attracting new clients. As I said earlier, I believe clients keep coming back to me because I develop relationships with them. Not only do they get the work they need, but they know I'm going to do my best to help them get and stay well. If I can't do the work myself, I've got an excellent pool of like-minded health professionals to whom I can refer out. I think it's important to have a network of skilled colleagues so that we can all help each other learn and grow professionally.
When you are not working or in the office... I'm loving up my dogs, taking them on hiking adventures or snuggling on the couch. Mostly I drink too much coffee, and listen to heavy metal when I should probably be in yoga class. What do I WANT to do daily? Soak up the sun on Siesta Key Beach, getting that white silky sand everywhere, and leaving with my skin and hair drenched in salt water, perfectly refreshed and content.
What motivated/inspired/led you to become a professional massage therapist, and where did you go to massage therapy school? Before I became a massage therapist, I knew I wanted to help people in a therapeutic way. I don't do well with blood, so although I had the mind for medicine, I chose to pursue psychology. While I was getting my Master's degree and working for Yale University, I was stressed out and having horrible, debilitating migraine headaches that lasted for days on end. A good friend got me a gift certificate for a massage, thinking it might help. I never had a massage before, but after that session, I immediately booked another. I started going biweekly, and everything shifted. Although my stress level hadn't changed, my ability to handle it did. I was better physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I thought, "THIS is how I'm supposed to help people." I went to the local school, the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in Newington, for a Discovery Workshop. It was an entire day of prospective students learning some massage strokes and practicing on each other, to see if it was really something we wanted to pursue as a career. I left that day and thought, "If I DON'T do this, I will regret it." I'd never felt such a strong pull to do anything else before. The rest is history.
If you had another job/career prior to becoming a massage therapist, how does that life experience contribute to the work you do now? I think that my previous schooling in psychology has greatly helped my relationships with my clients over the years. It is vital to understand that as a massage therapist, you are not just touching a body, you are touching an entire person, and on every level of their being. It has made me more compassionate, patient, and understanding, and I believe that's why people come back to see me. Not only do they get freedom from pain and more ease in their bodies, but they know I genuinely care about them as people.
How long have you been licensed and practicing as an LMT? I've been practicing massage therapy since 2005, licensed since 2007, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This work has led me to train and get certified in other health modalities as well. This is to not only satisfy my inner science geek, but also be of greater benefit to my clients. In addition to learning the barefoot techniques of Thai Massage, Ashiatsu, and Sarga Bodywork, I am also a Yoga Teacher, an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. I'm truly honored to do this work; it is a gift.
What kind of approach do you bring to your bodywork, and what massage techniques do you specialize in? I blend Eastern and Western styles, focusing on improving and restoring function, mobility, and overall health. Most of my clients come to me because they see my work as part of their health care plan, and so it has great value to them. Several have come to me post car accident, surgery, or other injury, and stayed with me because I was able to help them when others couldn't. Very few come to see me for simple relaxation. I love specializing in barefoot massage, and am thrilled to have discovered Sarga Bodywork! It is the most effective technique I have found, and the feet are excellent proprioceptive tools... even more than the hands, in my opinion.
What kind of marketing do you use to find new clients, as well as keep current clients coming back to you? Referrals, referrals, referrals! Word of mouth has definitely been my greatest marketing tool, and I'm sincerely grateful to all my clients that send me their friends, family, and co-workers. Having a social media presence on Instagram and Facebook is helpful as well. Google and Yelp are popular search engines, so advertising with them has been useful in getting both business recognition and attracting new clients. As I said earlier, I believe clients keep coming back to me because I develop relationships with them. Not only do they get the work they need, but they know I'm going to do my best to help them get and stay well. If I can't do the work myself, I've got an excellent pool of like-minded health professionals to whom I can refer out. I think it's important to have a network of skilled colleagues so that we can all help each other learn and grow professionally.
When you are not working or in the office... I'm loving up my dogs, taking them on hiking adventures or snuggling on the couch. Mostly I drink too much coffee, and listen to heavy metal when I should probably be in yoga class. What do I WANT to do daily? Soak up the sun on Siesta Key Beach, getting that white silky sand everywhere, and leaving with my skin and hair drenched in salt water, perfectly refreshed and content.
