Inspiring Conversations with Amarina Kubiak of Walker Rehabilitation Group

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Amarina Kubiak.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In the vibrant tapestry of our lives, Jacobi Williams and I found ourselves weaving our own professional paths through the bustling cities of Muskegon and Traverse City. Newly minted in 2021 as Licensed Massage Therapists, our journey was marked by an unwavering dedication to our craft, a shared passion for healing, and a thirst for growth.

Having graduated from the esteemed Blue Heron Academy’s Medical Massage Therapy program, we were armed with the knowledge and determination to carve out our niche in the world of holistic health. Embracing every opportunity to refine our skills, including through Blue Heron’s advanced Medical Manual Therapy program, we engaged in rhythmic exchange and trading sessions every few months to keep our techniques sharp and our spirits rejuvenated.

Then, like a serendipitous melody, fate intervened. A phone call from Jacobi crackled with excitement as he revealed his imminent move to Grand Rapids in the Fall of 2023. The prospect of our reunion ignited a spark of anticipation within me, knowing that our shared journey was about to take an exhilarating turn.

As Jacobi embarked on this new chapter, he extended an invitation that would alter the course of our careers forever. The proposition to join forces and establish a pioneering medical massage practice and educational hub resonated deeply with me. With unwavering resolve, we plunged headfirst into the realm of possibility.

Despite the formidable operative deadline set by Jacobi for January 1, 2024, our hearts brimmed with optimism and determination. Fuelled by a relentless pursuit of our vision, we rallied a formidable alliance of local allies and loved ones to bring our dream of Walker Rehabilitation Group to fruition. With each obstacle surmounted, it felt as though the universe conspired in our favor, aligning stars and circumstances in perfect harmony.

And then, as if scripted by destiny itself, our efforts bore fruit, aka a small paycheck. We were no longer paying for our labor. We were paid for it. From the inaugural whispers of our venture to the bustling corridors of our burgeoning practice, the journey was nothing short of a miraculous collaboration of our own hearts, our generous friends and family members, and surrounding entrepreneur support. Through this support, in the span of just three months, our fledgling enterprise has soared to heights unimaginable for many new businesses.

As March 2024 unfurled its wings, we found ourselves standing at the threshold of a new dawn. With hearts brimming with gratitude and pockets filled with the fruits of our labor, we inscribed the first chapter of our success story with ink forged from dedication and perseverance. From humble beginnings to resounding triumphs, our journey continues to be a testament to the transformative power of collaboration, passion, and unwavering faith in the pursuit of our dreams.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One struggle that we found to be difficult in such a diverse city was that of surrounding entrepreneurs who resonated with our goals and wanted to come together to be part of our journey!

This is not for lack of trying, however, and we are so grateful to the people and businesses who have welcomed us and we do feel like we’ve found a place with a like-minded community thus far. We’re excited to link arms with them and host a plethora of opportunities for the rest of the community to become involved in the exciting services we have to offer West Michigan!

We’ve been impressed with Walker Rehabilitation Group, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
At Walker Rehabilitation Group, our Licensed Massage Therapists specialize in Medical Massage Therapy. Unlike a regular spa setting, Medical Massage is a goal-oriented treatment, usually to reduce pain, reduce edema, increase circulation, and increase range of motion. Our licensed massage therapists are trained and certified in Manual Medical Therapy.

We assess, treat, and reassess based on our treatment results to continue a treatment plan for a patient. We recommend exercises and stretches based on the results of treatment. We often times work with other health professionals to monitor symptoms, treat, and provide relief from acute injuries or chronic conditions. We use Swedish and deep tissue massage in combination with manual techniques, often with a variety of modalities like castor oil packs, gua sha, cupping, and red light therapy to treat attachment sites of muscles to reduce inflammation or adhesion in the soft tissue while increasing joint mobilization.

Medical massage and manual therapy sessions can be done in as short as 15 minutes or up to 60 or 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the issue. We specialize in Sports massage, injury rehabilitation, pregnancy massage, and Lymphedema Therapy. We pride ourselves in our client-centered approach, and we look forward to providing other holistic health programs as part of our facility, like Adaptive Yoga lessons with myself or personal fitness plans with Jacobi. We are both dedicated to health and wellness and can’t wait to share our knowledge with the community!

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Oh, there were plenty of risks, not only going into business but also going in with a partner! We both had to assess if this person would be a good partner to go into business with through questions like, do we share the same core values and ethics?

Can we rely on the other person and take accountability for our business decisions together?
Also, how will we solve disagreements?
Then, in regards to the business,
How big of a loan will we need?
Will we be able to cover all of our expenses when the loan runs out?
What if we have no clients in the first three months?

We would both agree we took quite a few risks! But, in the words of Helen Keller, “Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.” We’re both looking at our first small paychecks three months in and are proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far.

Pricing:

• 30 mins – $50
• 60 mins – $80
• 90 mins – $120

Contact Info:

• Website: www.walkerrehabgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkerrehabilitationgroup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553248329724
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/walker-rehabilitation-group

Image Credits
Melissa Bazany