Faces of Belle: Tom Obos

Posted by Belle on 12/29/15 12:00 PM

inShare0

Welcome back to Faces of Belle, a Belle interview series where we’ll give you a peek into our growing platform of stellar Professionals. (You can read our first conversation with aesthetician Joule Schatz here.)

Today we’re talking with Tom Obos, an experienced massage therapist in the Nashville area with a background in medical massage. His interest in this career began in childhood, and he says he’s still learning from the human body today. Tom was kind enough to share some of that wisdom with us below.

Why are you drawn to the Belle marketplace? What do you like about meeting people where they are?

The Belle business model is ideal for health, wellness and beauty professionals and entrepreneurs of all types. The principles, management, support and technical help folks have all been outstanding and on top of their game. Belle's marketplace is a metric that benefits everyone involved!

Meeting folks at their location wherever they are may seem like a newer idea for some, but I've been working with the majority of my clients at their homes for many years. Having treatments at home can set the tone for a great day or completely de-stress and relax you after a full day. When you're at home, you have the extra time for you. You can create your own recovery day, reenergizing day, relaxation and meditation day … your day. Whatever you call slowing down, catching your breath, getting your peace and balance back with therapeutic maintenance. I have had fireside treatments and poolside treatments, or gone right from the sauna, hot tub or yoga session to the massage table. After the treatment, I tell clients to head right into a hot detox soak or reenergizing, rejuvenating bath. I leave my folks knowing they have control of when they want to turn the busyness back on instead of jumping right into traffic and the demands of life.

What is your health and wellness philosophy?

There are so many health and wellness philosophies, directions, do's, don'ts, fads and diets. We can go on and on. I try to stick to the basics. One of the many outstanding individuals I met always said “KISS: Keep It Simple, Student” (although he used another word for “student,” it seems to make sense often). The human body responds so well to massage therapies, bodywork and healing touch. These results continue to influence my thought on health wellness and active longevity.

Move correctly; just about anything works if you do. Exercise. I do believe the body was designed for perpetual motion.

I try to go to sleep the same day I wake up. Wake up about the same time and get at least 7–8 hours of sleep. It's in the seventh hour and afterward that the body starts to do all its recovery, repair and building up for the next day. The lymphatic system is not only responsible for strong immunity, but it is also our body's garbage can. Because the lymph does not have a blood source of its own, it relies on hydration, movement and rest. Our lymphatics play a big role in healing inflammation and fatigue, micro-adhesions and tears.

Hydrate. I know, everyone says it, so I'll ask you a question: What happens to your car if you continuously drive through life day in and day out with little to no oil? How long will your car run? How much extra wear and tear on the other parts or damage are you causing? Eventually your engine will just stop. Keep your engine topped off.

Eliminate or moderate junk in your daily routine. Our military teaches, “Eat to live, not the other way around.” Your body expends only so much energy a day. When one eats more than one expends, typically they'll gain weight. Eating less energy than your body uses will usually cause weight loss. Balance, again, is a key concept. If I want to be lean, I'll need to eat lean and find that balance to maintain it.

Whatever you decide to do to improve your health, wellness and active longevity, do it. Start. Move. I say this as much for me as anyone else.

Tom sets up for an in-home Belle appointment.

Why Nashville? What do you love about this area, and how do you see it collaborating well with Belle?

Nashville and the whole middle-Tennessee area has so much to offer and experience: medical to big business opportunities, culture, diversity and nonstop activities. There is always something going on. It's the natural beauty that surrounds us here daily that I enjoy most. This market works so well with the Belle project because of the mindset, lifestyle and pace of the warm people here — young, openminded, growing with conscience, adventurous in nature. Nashville and its surrounding communities continue to impress, and the whole world has been noticing. 

How did you get into this industry?

I am one of six and we grew up with active and athletic parents. My dad wanted his own baseball team! We were always encouraged to go out and play. We played baseball, football, maul ball (some call it basketball), tennis, hockey, racquetball. We rode our bikes everywhere, got into dirt biking, water and snow skiing, judo and karate, hiking, climbing, wrestling, gymnastics, frisbee, volleyball and anything else we could round up. Being the runt of the family, I was always looking for an advantage. So when dad took the older boys with him to his chiropractor and the doctor started talking about the body — why it's working this way or why it's not performing to its optimum potential — I was hooked. Doc gave us a workbook designed for kids to teach about proper posture and lifting techniques. We had to read and answer questions and color. He told us to finish it by the next appointment, and he'd have a demonstration for us.

In my 20s, I was blessed to meet Dr. Mark Szymanski, DC. He taught me the basics about orthopedic analysis, gait analysis, muscle warming techniques, overwork and overuse, repetitive and sports injuries. He was the team doctor for the Chicago Sting. Mark also introduced me to bodywork. Being trained in Eastern methodology as well as traditional chiropractic schooling, he knew a vast array of holistic/homeopathic/natural healing/ complimentary type specialists. I was introduced to fire-cupping, acupressure, shiatsu, Lomi Lomi, Reiki and many more.

Prior to moving to Nashville, I was mostly working medically. Massage, bodywork and touch seem to help everything: chronic and long-term pain management, hospice and palliative care, oncology, COPD, Alzheimers and dementia, rehabilitation from major surgery and trauma, hip and knee replacement and numerous other conditions and injuries.

There is nothing more amazing in the world than the mind, body and human spirit. No matter how much you learn about the body, there will always be more to learn.