More than five years after opening his massage therapy clinic in Puerto del Carmen, Francis Barbier-Martins looks back at the very different paths, passions and experiences that eventually brought him to Bodykinetik.
For more than five years now, my massage therapy clinic has been open in Puerto del Carmen. For the new people who have joined me, and also for those who do not know me that well yet, I thought it was time for a brief summary of who is actually behind Bodykinetik, and who you are trusting when you come to the clinic.
My journey began in a small village in the east of France. I was the first person in my family to get a university degree, something I remain very proud of. I had also been working since I was 16, throughout university, where I studied screenwriting. Yes, you read that right. In the 1990s, however, that particular qualification did not exactly open a lot of doors.
So, no job? No problem.
I moved into marketing and customer service and experience, eventually working for a major film production and distribution company in France. It was my dream job. Knowing five languages helped tremendously, too.
Sport had always been another constant in my life. I started as a gymnast at six, then moved through table tennis, weightlifting (for two years, although it was not really my thing), skiing and volleyball.
Then, around 20 years ago, injuries started to change things.
With my knees no longer cooperating, I moved towards scuba diving and, later, freediving, which eventually became a major part of my life. I am now a freediving instructor as well as a scuba diving instructor. Cycling and hiking are also part of my life, and through all of these activities I have gradually developed a deeper understanding of how the body works, both through practice and through my own injuries.
Recurring back pain also sent me to numerous physiotherapists and chiropractors. I tried many different approaches, but something was still missing. Eventually, I discovered that deep tissue massage was particularly effective for both my body and my mind.
Then came burnout, a stroke, very little support and the realisation that sometimes large companies can take everything you have to give before simply moving on without you.
So I reinvented myself.
I changed direction completely, trained at The Miki School in Paris and became a licensed massage therapist, specialising in Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Swedish, Thai and Lomi-Lomi massage.
And then I moved to Lanzarote.
Today, years of training, different techniques and thousands of clients have shaped the way I work at Bodykinetik. Outside the clinic, you will probably find me cycling somewhere on the island, underwater looking for small creatures, or perhaps a Kraken, or out hiking.
The only thing I did not change was my beloved partner of 34 years. That helps a lot.
The rest? A completely new life.
Book your session today through the Bodykinetik website or by contacting the practice via WhatsApp.
Web: https://www.bodykinetik.com/en/
Email: francis@bodykinetik.com
WhatsApp: +34 696 108 732 (ES) | +33 7 82 93 63 07 (FR)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodykinetik/
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