Lauren attended Carlson College of Massage Therapy in Anamosa, IA. CCMT is the longest established Massage Therapy school in the state of Iowa. During training, Lauren learned modalities such as Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and Prenatal Massage. Upon graduation, Lauren received the "Carlson Award". A recognition reserved for the one student who's shown the most promise by vote of their faculty and peers. The most valuable skill taken away from training was the ability to adapt client sessions to fit their specific needs. Clinical reasoning skills were emphasized through the entirety of the program to train Massage Therapists to better aid a client in helping with the source of an issue, not the symptom. Each client receives treatment best suited for their needs.
"I just want to help people. I think that's something I've always wanted to do, whether that was through volunteering as a teen, supporting friends, stuff like that [...] and finding Massage Therapy has given me the tools I need to effectively do that. I don't have to sit there, watching people struggle, wanting to help somehow. I know very clearly what I can do now. It feels very empowering; and the work is so fulfilling. It's so cool to see a difference being made in people lives when I can help."
After graduation, Lauren returned to Soldotna, AK where she opened Alpine Massage Therapy, a small office in The Fitness Place.