Laurie Towers is the owner of Physical Advantage, a New York City-based massage studio that’s focused on rehabilitative massage for athletes and performing artists. But don’t look for candles and soft music, Laurie has set out to be sort of a renegade in the world of massage. Read on to learn more:
Tell us about your practice. What sets you apart from other practitioners in your area?
Physical Advantage has been dubbed “The Anti Spa” by the press and with good reason. We have been debunking the stereotypical philosophy of massage as being just an indulgence of luxury. We have been purporting for over 20 years, that it is indeed a integral part of physical therapy.
We’d like to talk about a patient success story you’re especially proud of. Tell us about the patient. How did they learn about your practice?
You know I would have to first say that although we have been thrilled to have been featured in just about every magazine in print to date, the thing that I’m most proud of is the fact that nearly everyone that comes in returns. It’s wonderful to have the magazines usher them in, but it’s the quality of product that makes them come back.
What is the funniest thing, if any, that has happened to you in practice?
Our tag “no fluff, no candles, NO KIDDING!” is to echo our sentiment that we deal in condition-specific massage. Dancers of every style from Broadway to the Rockettes, as well as the New York teams, come in for injury-focused work. Of course, the average person does as well.
I usually laugh at how many people call up and say they just want to fall asleep on the table. I usually have a list of other reputable spas on hand, to recommend they go there.
Anything (that you care to admit) that you would never do again?
Anything that I wouldn’t do again? I always say no very quickly to this as there is far more value to a mistake than an easy accomplishment. So much more to learn from, and it is truly a gift in a strange package. So while I never cower from any of the mistakes I have made, I always make sure I never make the same one twice.
