The story of Holmberg’s unique occupation and unconventional career path was picked up by The Associated Press wire and published in several newspapers and their respective Web sites across the region.
“After the story came out I was flooded with calls,” Holmberg said. “The day the article came out I was just returning home from a visit in Colorado. I had only been off the plane minutes and my cell phone was ringing. Before the story, I was counting on family and friends to work on and people they knew. After the story, I had calls from lots of people I didn’t know but also people I knew called and came in for appointments.”
In her mid-40s and recently laid off from a longtime job, Felisa Holmberg says it’s then she found her life’s passion.
In August of 2004, she left her rural Humptulips home in full pursuit of her goal, to the high ground of Boulder, Colo. It was the only place in the United States she could train to become what she wanted to be.
“Not a lot of people know what Rolfing is,” Holmberg explained.
After intense, year-long training at the Rolf Institute, Holmberg learned every aspect of the discipline, including how to explain what Rolfing is — a system of deep-tissue manipulation aiming to balance and realign the body by releasing tension and strain.
Once graduated, Holmberg brought her skills back to the Twin Harbors to begin her own practice. She had just moved into an office behind Baskin Robbins in East Aberdeen when The Daily World featured her as a profile subject last year.
Part of Rolfing’s charm is that the work consists of a series of sessions meant to bring about permanent change to the body. While that’s good news for patients, it means Rolfers, like Holmberg, are in constant need of new clients.
“The work does end, and as much as I enjoy working with clients, the changes that happen to your body in Rolfing are permanent and long-lasting,” Holmberg says. “It’s not something you have to keep doing the rest of your life.”
Continuing education, however, is something Holmberg says she will always partake in. She has recently obtained her large animal endorsement with the State of Washington and is eligible to work on horses, a passion of hers since childhood.
Daily World / Kathy Quigg Rolfer Felisa Holmberg was flooded with calls after her story ran in The Daily World.
Her practice is now set up to take personal injury and L&I claims. And, within the next year, she’ll be working to get certified in Kettlebell training (a form of weight training), Visceral Manipulation (relationship between the body’s organs and other structures) and CranioSacral Therapy (a hands-on method of enhancing the functioning of the body’s craniosacral system).
Future goals include possibly opening a local holistic healing center and/or a one-day-a-week office at Ocean Shores.
Regardless, Holmberg says she’s appreciative of the attention both she and her business have received.
“After the story, my calendar was booked a month ahead and stayed that way until this month,” Holmberg says. “The story brought in so many amazing people, people that were so ready to heal.
“Being a part of and watching people heal is so rewarding. It’s why I do this work. The profile brought in people that needed help in this area and I found this work is my heart’s work.”
Holmberg’s office is located at 104 S. Chehalis St. in Aberdeen. For more information or an appointment, call (360) 580- 1609 or (360) 987-2274.
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