She’s Got the Touch

Ann Rector is passionate about the healing power of massage therapy

Ann Rector has the touch … healing touch, that is. In October, this engaging green-eyed brunette celebrates 10 years as a medical massage therapist. She is also celebrating the recent launch of a new facility on Mack Bayou Road in Santa Rosa Beach called the REACH Institute, which is an acronym for “respond, educate, attend, compassion and hope” — the mantra for her wellness business.

Though she holds a degree in physical education and kinesiology from The College of William and Mary, along with several medical massage therapy certifications, it was her thyroid cancer diagnosis in May 2011 that inspired Rector to custom design a treatment facility that takes a team approach to patient-focused wellness plans centered on healing through “compassionate touch” massage.

We sat down with Rector at REACH, which offers wellness consulting, acupuncture and five different types of massage therapy, including Rector’s specialty — pregnancy massage — to talk about her passion for taking a “hands-on” approach to healing.

EC: How did you get into massage therapy?

AR: When I became a single mom I knew I had to come up with a way to make my kids a priority, and so I needed to find something that would give me flexibility with my schedule. Massage school was a great experience for me. It allowed me to focus my energy on a positive influence and other people.

EC: Being a caregiver, how did you react when you were diagnosed with cancer?

AR: I survived the Great Recession, the BP oil spill and the Mountain Drive road construction. I figured, if I could survive all that I could do anything!

EC: You went from caregiver to patient. Did it give you a different perspective?

AR: It changed my whole outlook on medical massage. As soon as I got back [from treatment at the Mayo Clinic] I became certified in oncology massage and trained my staff members. It is such a blessing to be able to offer compassionate touch for someone going through cancer.

EC: How did your personal health experience influence the type of health center you ultimately opened?

AR: My experience with the Mayo Clinic really influenced my vision for the REACH Institute. They set up a team of doctors and created a plan that was patient-centric. They listened and were compassionate and respectful. I thought there was a need for that here, so I modeled REACH after the type of care I received.

EC: What is the main difference between medical massage and a typical spa experience?

AR: Definitely the compassionate touch aspect. With oncology massage it is having a light touch and removing the aches and pains, but the most important difference is having the knowledge to know what to do and what not to do. Many breast cancer awareness events offer free massages in chairs. That is one of the worst things you can do for a breast cancer patient is have them push their body against a chair, in a worst-case scenario it could cause lymphedema.

EC: What distinguishes the REACH Institute from other massage facilities?

AR: Education. Not only is our staff knowledgeable in soft tissue healing, but we educate our clients as well, and in that way they become a part of their own healing.

EC: How can locals best use the REACH Institute?

AR: We provide our clients a wellness regimen to incorporate into their other treatment plans, whether that is chemotherapy, radiation, Pilates, yoga or chiropractic care. We work hand in hand with their physical therapists, chiropractors and personal trainers to create a plan that meets their goals.

EC: Where do you place massage within the healthcare spectrum?

AR: I say I want people to think about massage as a treatment not just a treat. There have been so many advancements in modern medicine to diagnose our ailments, which is fantastic, but what is lost is the simple process of using our sense of human touch to heal.

EC: You spend your time healing others. What do you do for you when you have free time?

AR: I run and pray at the same time … outload! So, I may look pretty funny, but that is my therapy.