Community Highlights: Meet Elizabeth Smrdel of Elizabeth Smrdel Massage

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Smrdel. 

Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was getting my hair cut, and my hairdresser was telling me how she was also a massage therapist. Something clicked in my brain. Suddenly my nineteen-year-old self, for the first time, was exciting about a potential career path. I had been floating around aimlessly at community college with no idea what to major in and only had slim, unappealing job opportunities with my non-existing career credentials. 

Two days after getting my hair cut, I was touring the Cleveland Institute of Medical Massage and by the end of the tour, I was signed up for a year intensive massage program. I have always loved holistic forms of healing and this seemed a great way to start on career that could help heal those around me. In 2013 I graduated and became a licensed massage therapist! 

Shortly after graduating, I started traveling the United States, and I fell in love with Boulder, Colorado, and ended moving there. That is where my career truly began. I ended up working at a high-end spa in downtown Denver, it was demanding, and the pay was low, but the experience was so valuable. As the years went by, I worked at every possible job a massage therapist could have. I worked for chiropractors, yoga studios, spas, wellness centers, chair massage companies, festivals, while always running my own business on the side. 

In the winter of 2016, I moved back to Ohio and started working for a small women’s studio. Again, something clicked in my brain. I had been searching for what I wanted to specialize in for some time, and I could never decide. So, I dove in, learning as much as I could and starting to specialize in women’s health. I learned therapeutic massage, prenatal, postpartum, postpartum belly binding, arvigo® maya abdominal for fertility and digestive health, massage for menstrual health, lymphatic drainage. I was hooked. 

I loved the studio and still miss working with those amazing women. I loved all the opportunities for learning and growth the wellness center afforded me but, in my heart, I knew I could never truly happy until I struck out on my own, and as of June 15th, 2022, I am officially self-employed and open for business. 

I now have an office in Mentor in the matchworks building and a second office in Beachwood to serve my Cuyahoga County clients. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not always been easy, but what in life worth having really is? 

Massage is an amazing field, and the only jobs I have ever truly enjoyed are those where I was massaging. Unfortunately, it’s a very difficult job to make it in, the burnout rate is extremely high, and most massage therapists do not make it past seven years in the industry. I just hit my nine-year mark in May, and I am feeling ecstatic about it! 

I mentioned before my first spa job was demanding and low paying, and not to mention almost did me in career-wise. The first big obstacle I had was coping with intense wrist pain making it difficult to work. I remember coming home after work and having to plunge my hands in ice water to calm the pain. Luckily through chiropractic massage, diligent stretching, and PT exercises, I am pain-free. It did scare my for a while, I used to constantly worry I would have to start working for a new career and did not know how else I could make ends meet. 

Unfortunately, a lot of massage jobs are low-paying, and most massage therapists have to have multiple jobs. For most of my career, I had two jobs and my own side massage business. It was a lot, but I always made it work. A few years ago, I hit a wall and was so exhausted I just could not massage anymore. I took a break from massage and was again at a place where I was afraid I would have to find a new career. I was so worn out. I ended up working as a farmhand to clear my head. It worked like magic the time off restored my mind and my passion for massage therapy. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I have been a massage therapists for over 9 years. I have always been committed to learning as much as I possibly can about the industry. I have a very unique set of massage skills. I have traveled the United States learning new modalities and have hundreds of hours of massage continuing education so I can bring my clients a unique massage experience. 

I use deep tissue, therapeutic techniques, and myofascial release to help relieve stress and pain in the body. 

I do manual lymphatic drainage to boost immune function and support post-surgery healing. I work with clients who have digestive issues and fertility issues with techniques like visceral manipulation and Arvigo® Maya Abdominal. Though I have a diverse set of skills my passion lies in women’s health. I love helping women optimize chances of getting pregnant, working with fertility massage, or Arvigo work. I love prenatal and postpartum massage or lymphatic drainage for after a surgery. Whether women are trying to have children or have no desire to conceive and just need help with pain or relaxation, I am here to support them. 

Arvigo® Maya Abdominal is probably the most unique technique that I do, it was brought to the western world by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, who studied under Don Elijio Panti, these techniques have been around for centuries. The Arvigo sessions help align & reposition organs, as well as to increase blood flow to the gut and to the entire pelvic region, effecting reproductive & digestive health. 

Side note even though my specialty is women’s health men are welcome in my practice, and not all my clients are female. 

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Oh man, there is so much I have learned from people along the way. 

And first and foremost, my husband for being there for me when I was beginning the journey of becoming a full-time entrepreneur 

I would have to give a big shout-out to Judith Strickler-White a massage therapist that let me use her studio in Mentor. Working out of there gave me the confidence to quit my job at a wellness center and go full-time myself. 

Al Morgan for teaching me a ton of massage techniques when I was a newbie, mediocre therapist. 

My parent for supporting me through massage school and all my crazy adventures after. 

Contact Info:

• Website: elizabethsmrdelmassage.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/elizabeth_smrdel_massage
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/esmrdelmassage
• Other: https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/ESMR4P8?fbclid=IwAR2loIOPFLo5nS8pSB5Me-A3ctSQB3AdDOec1Jk7B1BlqPIEvXw285LoDy4

Image Credits
Arastasia Rolain