Rave Reviews for Massage Fort Collins DuoTiffany and Gary BlackdenThe first four massage Fort Collins testimonials are from other highly regarded Nationally Certified Massage Therapists. These four individuals have all not only received massage from Tiffany and Gary, but also happen to be gifted massage practitioners as well, if you happen to be in the Northern Virginia Area, you can contact them at For Health and Balance, 703-437-9059. The last four massage Fort Collins testimonials are from clients who have been on the receiving end of a therapeutic massage from Tiffany and/or Gary.
Massage Fort Collins Testimonials from Nationally Certified Massage Therapists: I have known Gary and Tiffany Blackden for six years both as friends and most notably as mentors in the field of Massage Therapy. Our relationship began when I was a student of massage and they were instructors at the massage school I attended, AKS Massage School, and then later as an independent contractor working out of their office in Herndon VA. They have been a source for unlimited information from technique to pain management. Gary and Tiffany spend countless hours researching methods and tools to better treat their clients. I have personally had in depth training from the Blackdens in chronic pain and injuries associated with the neck, rotator cuff , runners knee, plantar fasciitis and ailments associated with the back. They both have a deep understanding of the muscles, joints and bones and are very knowledgeable in assessing client needs. I am very blessed to have been able to work with these fine Therapists and will continue to value their opinions and suggestions. - Mary Rubard, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist It was both an honor and privilege to have worked with such gifted, caring and professional Therapists as Tiffany and Gary Blackden. As a Massage Therapist, I was fortunate enough to have worked at the establishment that they co-owned in Herndon, VA, For Health and Balance; an establishment that they built from the ground up. I and many other therapists that worked there were fortunate enough to see Gary and Tiffany's business strategies, their rapport with the customers, their successes in healing many of the clients that came through their door and to hear their words of wisdom and inspiration. I was so impressed with the way that both Gary and Tiffany always came prepared for each, individual client, as each client presented with different physical issues or limitations. They are some of those gifted individuals that can take any little nuance and turn it into a profound lesson, for the client and for the other therapists that came to them seeking advice with their own clients. I am of the firm belief that communication involves both speaking AND listening. Without the ability to listen, and to understand another's perspective, one cannot be a good communicator on either a broad or a one-on-one level. This is not a problem for either Gary or Tiffany. They taught me how to really get to know my clients, not only their bodies, their muscles and the right techniques for which to help them, but they showed me that each client has different interpersonal and communication needs, and if addressed appropriately and communicated with effectively on a case-by-case basis, I too could develop a strong, returning clientele base. I have known Gary and Tiffany Blackden for over 2 years, and I have witnessed their communication skills on both a professional and personal level, and I have nothing but the highest respect and admiration for their ability to present to others, both in large, small and one-on-one scenarios. As part of their amazing business success, Gary and Tiffany held monthly meetings for the therapists that worked at For Health and Balance. In these meetings, we were invited to present 'problem clients' that we felt we were not making any progress with. It was during these times that I was most impressed with the Blackdens' ability to teach others through verbal communication, as well as through physical demonstration. What's more impressive, they were not only concerned with their own success, but they were concerned with the success of the therapists that worked with them at their establishment, and the overall well-being of each client that came to us seeking better health. Although these training sessions were informal, Gary and Tiffany also taught classes at the local massage school, and gave lectures at other local community events. I have seen first hand, their ability to determine the appropriate teaching style and design to ensure that their training was instructionally and educationally sound, and they always developed training materials based on results of content research conducted through their own professional experiences, and through information they gathered through and shared with other subject matter experts not only in their field of Massage Therapy, but in other joint health-care professions such as osteopathy, holistic disciplines and chiropractics. Gary and Tiffany's successful business did not only come from their business expertise, but from their true concern for their clients and the therapists that supported them. To be a good business owner, one must possess full life-cycle project management expertise from; inception, through requirements and testing phases, to implementation, with ongoing business success measurement and evaluation. In addition, there should be customer-focused delivery; based on gathering requirements and transforming them into actionable research, design and output. Gary and Tiffany did just that. In order to build their business, Gary and Tiffany were responsible for prospecting and new client development in the Northern Virginia market and they found some of the most innovative ways to do this. Gary, for example always wore his For Health and Balance T-Shirt when he worked out at the local Gym. Through his advertising and strong communication skills, Gary was able to bring in many of our continuing sports massage clients. Gary and Tiffany also donated a lot of massages to some very meaningful causes, such as the Walk for Life (Cancer Fundraiser), where they not only were able to give back to the community, but draw more potential clients to their office for health and support. Through business techniques such as these and being the member and guest speaker for local Chamber of Commerce's, they influenced the strategic direction of For Health and Balance. They were always encouraging us (the other therapists) to look for new ways to identify new business opportunities and implement innovative business solutions as well as develop new strategies for customer relationship building. I was lucky to have them as mentors, friends and it truly is an honor to consider them colleagues. I was sad to see them move because I still feel that I have so much more that I could have learned from them. - Lisa Luzier, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist I met Gary and Tiffany Blackden in 2002, when they were adjunct instructors and bodywork supervisors for the massage school I was attending. They were among the most knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun teachers we had; I always signed up for any extra classes they were giving. As bodywork supervisors, they were, without fail, extremely supportive and kind, and gave expert feedback on technique, body mechanics and massage flow. Both were always willing to answer any question, explain anything as many times as needed, and even get the students on the table to demonstrate a massage technique and then jump on the table themselves so we could try it out ourselves. They carried this kind of dynamic, hands-on approach into their massage clinic, “For Health and Balance”, where I went to work after receiving my national certification. I felt so fortunate to begin my career as a massage therapist in the special environment they had created, where all the therapists were being technically taught, emotionally supported and professionally coached on a continual basis by the Blackdens. Their combination of massage expertise, marketing knowhow, business experience and interpersonal skills, coupled with their deep understanding of the particular challenges and issues that people in this field grapple with, make them dream coaches for any therapist. They can help you with everything; improving your touch skills, business set-up and operation, getting new clients, avoiding injuries, staying focused and enthusiastic, continuing education choices, dealing with problem clients – everything! Plus, they are two of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. I could not recommend them more highly. -Kris Butler, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist I worked for and with Gary and Tiffany Blackden for about 8 months in their massage clinic in Herndon, Virginia. I was certified in Pregnancy Massage in July 2006 and Tiffany was the assistant in my class and she was extremely helpful in understanding the techniques and movements for the certification. Gary and Tiffany always would help work through a session for you and give ideas on how to release muscles if you were stuck on how to release them. Their dedication to massage is inspiring. -Marianne Crandall, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist Massage Fort Collins Testimonials from clients: I've been a client and a great fan of Tiffany and Gary for the last several years. They have healed my running pains, straightened my knotted muscles, and put me in a calm and relaxing place after hectic days. Their announcement that they were selling their very successful practice in Virginia and moving to Fort Collins to get out of the rat race was a shock. I've got to admit that my response was "What will I do without you?" Well, they left me, but they can't hide! When I'm in Denver on business, I drive up after work for body work that is unsurpassed. Total distance traveled: 1,687 miles! -Leslie Ruppert, Arlington, VA As a doctor of chiropractic I am very particular about who I refer my clients to. GTS has always been very professional and considerate of my clients conditions and treatment plans. I have seen my clients achieve greater results in less time when we partner with GTS. -Dr. Jeremy Overholt, Harmony Health, Fort Collins, CO I have had massages in the US, Europe and Japan from practitioners of swedish, shiatsu, Kripalu massage among others, and Gary's approach was exemplary. He is attentive and highly focused on muscle and armature patterns to get the kinks out.... leaving me feeling like a very lucky wet noodle at the end of my first hour. I intend to return to GTS regularly, because they are hands on clinicians... I am seriously thinking of alternating my chiropractor weekly visits with GTS massage now. They are consummate professionals and I want the best for my body - after all, its where I live! -Laurie Macomber, Fort Collins, CO At GTS, they're not doing massage just so it feels good, they're really committed to changing our daily health and well-being. What a concept! I went in with issues of chronic back and shoulder pain, as well as calf pain that kept me up an night (not to mention generalized daytime fatigue). In only TWO sessions, my symptoms lessened measurably -- the pain began diminishing, and I've had an upsurge in consistent energy (mind you, I am following the stretching "homework" I was given). I may seem a bit enthusiastic, but I have spent years on treatments to deal with these issues (chiropractic, acupuncture, and quite a bit of massage elsewhere), and while these modalities have had their benefit, I have never seen such dramatic and quick results as I have working with GTS. They know their stuff, and I really consider them health-care practitioners. I'm so grateful. -Barb Wade, Fort Collins, CO Go to Chronic Pain
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