Carol Reyes Ryan

• Orlando, Florida (attended Florida College of Natural Health)
• Specializes in sports massage/rehab and craniosacral therapy
• Owner, BodyLove Spa + Wellness
• Has been practicing for 12 years

Massage & Bodywork: What drew you to working with athletes?

Carol Reyes Ryan: 

I experienced a bad car accident when I was in high school that resulted in weekly therapy. Of all the therapy and bodywork I received to help me recover, massage therapy was the one that helped me regain my quality of life. I wanted to replicate that experience for people.

During my massage program, I was given the opportunity to intern with the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators, and the rest is history. I loved everything about sports massage . . . the ambience, the energy, the traveling, everything. 

M&B:You are also an educator. What do you teach and what prompted that step in your career?

CRR: I am passionate about massage therapy and even more passionate, loud, and orgullosa de ser Boricua (proud to be Puerto Rican)! I naturally felt teaching was the next step in my career. The older I get and the longer I serve in the profession, I am even more moved to give back to both communities, which means fusing the best of both worlds; massage therapy is my passion, but being a Latina is my pride. It is such a huge part of my professional journey. As a minority, it always feels great to see representation in your profession, and I am currently that for my students who are new to the profession. They see how successful my career has been, and it inspires them and gives them hope.

When it came to teaching, I was very intentional. I became a full-time assistant professor for a bilingual university, teaching the Spanish track for the massage therapy program for the past three years.  

M&B: Tell us about your involvement in advocating for the profession.

CRR: I’ve gotten more involved in my profession by doing the work most won’t do. I was tired of complaining about things in the profession that didn’t appeal to me, so I decided to take a stand, get more involved, and influence where I can. Being involved in legislation is important to me because lawmakers are not therapists; it’s important they communicate with professionals in our field to understand how their laws affect us so we can work together to build a strong and safe profession.

To read more about Carol Reyes Ryan, check out the full interview on abmp.com/updates/blog-posts/faces-bodywork-carol-reyes-ryan.