Meet Blake Barnes: Soft-tissue Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Blake Barnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Blake, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I define success through progression. Always doing the best you can in the moment at whatever it is. A long term goal is great but the process in the every day pursuit of doing your best is what success means to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am technically on paper a massage therapist but I go by the title soft-tissue therapist due to my education and ability to go beyond the relaxation approach. I go more in depth along the lines of a physical therapist due to my education and experience. I focus on soft-tissue injuries as well as helping create mobility through recovery which can include sports massages, and relaxation massages. I have a degree in Kinesiology, certification in massage therapy CAMTC, NASM Personal Training, and NASM Corrective Exercise.

I got to where I am today through the willingness to learn, do better and executing through hands-on experience. It hasn’t been easy because I chose an unconventional way to go about my education instead of going for my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. This required me to think outside the box and bet on myself and rely on my effort. Networking with therapists, using hands-on experience, and having the mindset of always being a student has allowed me to have the success I now have in my business.

I have learned that growth is synonymous with being uncomfortable. You have to find comfort with always feeling uncomfortable. Without challenging yourself in things you never done, you will never learn, if you never learn you will never develop a valuable skill, without producing a skill you won’t have significant growth. Urban Therapy is about me using those same valuable skills I learned, to help those achieve pain free movement and mobility so they can perform better at sport or everyday life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m big on activities, nature, and scenic views. I would always recommend the beach but I would add Culver City stairs and Runyon Canyon to that list. If there are day parties at the time I would always recommend those because Cali sunshine and partying during the day is always a good mix. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout all my ancestors before me that allowed me to have the opportunities I have today to help make a better tomorrow.

Website: UrbanTherapyRecovery.com

Instagram: UrbanTherapyRecovery