TESTIMONIALS

Lisa Glassman is a multitalented effective bodywork professional, a knowledgeable, supportive and highly creative healing practitioner, who believes in treating the whole person, so they can live a life of vitality, without pain, and to their maximum potential.

Since our first meeting over 5 years ago, Lisa has been a crucial part of my support team as a musician and performer in so many ways. First, she is a wonderfully skilled massage therapist, consistently working with presence, care and attention to whatever state my body might be in. Lisa’s knowledge of human anatomy, her many years of experience, and her intuitive and innate gifts, make her an essential resource in my musical life. Regular massages with Lisa have been a crucial part of keeping my body able to handle the rigors of teaching and playing guitar, as well as the work of lifting and lugging gear. In massage sessions, she is attentive to the feeling of each muscle group, and notices where tension is accumulating.

Lisa and I have worked through several injuries together.  She consistently helps me to keep my forearms, hands, neck and shoulders in good shape for playing music, with a combination of yoga, exercises and massage.  When I was having some shoulder trouble a few years ago, Lisa had me bring my guitar to a session and watched me play so she could analyze my posture and movement.  From her observations, we developed a plan, which included changing the position of the guitar strap, adjustments in posture, and a series of exercises to stretch and strengthen shoulder and neck muscles.  She taught me a simple program of rolling out my shoulders and upper arms with a tennis ball, which worked wonders in reducing pain and increasing ease of mobility.  Lisa also introduced me to a regular nerve glide routine, reducing the intermittent tingling I was having in my fingers. I still use these simple routines to prevent injuries. 

Lisa’s work also dovetails very well with the work of physicians and other professionals.  I have recently had recurring knee pain, and Lisa helped me develop a short, manageable program of exercises that helped to balance the strength in my legs.  When referred to a physical therapist by my orthopedist, the therapist assigned me the same exercises, which makes me trust Lisa’s judgment even more.  Lisa also helped me develop a foam rolling routine that not only helps alleviate lower body pain and tension with my current injuries, but also helps to prevent new ones.

Lisa’s knowledge as a yoga teacher broadens her effectiveness as a healer.  The personalized and recorded yoga routines that she developed for me during the pandemic were essential to my wellness during that difficult time.  The yoga routines are based on my needs and preferences.  For example, I don’t like to put a lot of weight on my wrists and hands, since I need them so much for playing guitar, so Lisa created a series of movements that provided alternatives to those typical poses, and integrated the upper body mobility and strength work I need, helping me to use my time more efficiently.  She also updated my routines in light of my knee injury, modifying child’s pose and other knee flexion poses to eliminate unnecessary pain while I practice. This encouraged me to stick to my practice which helps me feel better mentally and avoid re-injuring and inflaming my knee, which also helps me feel better emotionally all while keeping my physical body in shape.

Lisa’s yoga experience gives her a deep and spiritual creative presence.  She is encouraging, a good listener, supportive and insightful, not just about the body, but about many aspects of life.  When I was having trouble sleeping, Lisa helped me develop breathing routines that reduce anxiety and helped me fall asleep. I find these also work for decreasing pre-show jitters and general anxiety throughout the day.  This is just another example of how well Lisa listens, and meets me wherever I am during sessions, suggesting doable solutions.

Lisa’s knowledge and experience make her a physical therapist, yoga teacher and massage therapist all in one!  She is especially well-suited to working with musicians, given her own musical abilities, her in-depth understanding of the mind of an artist, and extensive experience working with athletes and performers.  It has been a great gift to me and to my career to have her in my life.  Working with her is a true collaboration, and I am so grateful that we crossed paths.

Lisa Joy is, as her name suggests, a joy to work with. She has a wide range of offerings that can help just about anyone, but I do love that she has a passion for working with musicians like me. Our sessions have been quite varied, with a mix of breath work, movement, and sometimes just talk therapy! It all depends on my needs on that day and what Lisa intuitively senses I need most. Lisa has an incredible ability to perceive tiny movements -- even over Zoom -- and adjust exercises accordingly to make sure I'm getting the full benefit of the activity. Honestly, she has been a holistic life coach for me, and I end each session feeling calmer and more grounded than when I started, with greater focus and energy to help me conquer my day -- which is why I've signed up for 2 additional 6-month programs with Active Potential and plan to continue on into the future!

Lisa Glassman has been my trainer for several years, and she is without a doubt a world-class, top notch personal trainer. I think her success begins with her joy (which is Lisa's middle name) for her work. She really loves people, and she really loves helping people become fit and healthy, right down to one more squat or lunge. Showing up for a session with Lisa is like visiting with an old friend who always has your back; knowing your spirits will be lifted and that whatever is weighing you down will fall away; and feeling invigorated and reconnected with your body. It's amazing that on some days I can walk in identifying with a slug and walk out feeling like I just climbed all of those stairs like Rocky, ready to take on the world.

That's because Lisa is the perfect blend of motivating, nurturing, grounding, and fun. Her knowledge of the human body is incredibly impressive, meaning she always knows how to get to where the pain is located and correct it. And she brings into our training her vast array of knowledge--from yoga and chanting to nutrition and conditioning. I hope you are lucky enough to get on Lisa's schedule and form a relationship with her as a personal trainer. It will make your life so much better!

I have been attending virtual chair yoga sessions with Lisa Joy Glassman at Active Potential™ every week for the past six months. Chair yoga with Lisa has been a critical mindfulness and movement practice for me while I’ve been working from home, balancing greater demand and volume at work, and managing the general anxiety and fatigue of coronavirus. I find it grounding and also critical to releasing a lot of tightness that I carry in my neck, shoulders, and back from spending so much time in front of a screen these days. It is very accessible as a regular practice because it does not require a dedicated space or large footprint and I can stay right at my desk in my work clothes. I can still engage on the days I do need to go in to the office just as easily as when I’m in my house.

Just like working with an instructor in person, Lisa is attentive to the movements of the participants, offering gentle corrections and modifications along the way to improve our practice (I need to drop my shoulders). The practice is so adaptable and Lisa is so responsive that I, in my late 30s, do the same class as my mom in her early 70s. My mom and I speak on the phone in the evenings after our midday chair yoga sessions and are always anxious to share about what we enjoyed most in that day’s session and how much we needed it.

I work in HR at a mid-sized university. Knowing how much I’ve come to rely on Lisa’s chair yoga sessions for my own wellness and knowing that many of our employees were struggling with similar stress and anxiety, I hired Lisa to lead four virtual chair yoga sessions just for our employees. Before the second session even began, multiple participants were requesting that we extend the classes through the rest of the semester, far beyond the original four sessions. Of course, we are going to schedule more sessions! It speaks volumes that Lisa created such an immediate connection with so many people (though anyone who knows Lisa would not be at all surprised) and got them immediately hooked on chair yoga. Lisa’s got the personality, the expertise, the skill, the commitment, and the passion that leave you exiting her sessions feeling tied in, encouraged, and just physically better.

Hiring Lisa Glassman as my personal trainer was the best investment I’ve made to myself, physically and mentally. All my life, I thought that specific problem areas of my body were just how I was naturally built. Having Lisa build my workouts to especially address these areas, I have learned that I have the ability to change how I look and feel.

My journey with Lisa began four years ago, with no specific goal in mind other than being too young to already experience limits in mobility.  Lisa’s process starts with a fact-finding assessment.  She observed my movements, asked questions and encouraged me to get curious about why I move the way I do.  Every body is different and my movements were a summation of the decades of movements before.  What started as chronic foot pain and a torso that just felt frozen has unraveled to reveal a lopsided preference in my movements during the day and while I sleep.  Movements that are also linked to what I originally thought were isolated issues with breathing and TMJ.  Along this journey I’ve utilized Active Potential for massage, yoga and individually tailored movement prescriptions with an emphasis on massage.  Lisa utilizes extended massage sessions to break up years worth of adhesions and problem solve ways to keep them from coming back.  For me, this has meant no more chronic pain, fluid happy joints and muscular channels that are no longer frozen and have space to grow. 

Like most people, I lead a busy life and as a farmer my days are physically demanding.  I need strength and mobility but don’t have a high tolerance for adding more homework even if it’s for my own good.  Lisa gets this and is willing to meet me where I am both mentally and physically, each day.  Simple homework like standing (evenly and mindfully) and laying down have made a world of difference in my body.  Each session comes with suggestions I can implement at home.  Lisa has great follow up with these suggestions while not rushing my slow pace of personal growth.  When I’ve met her suggestions with resistance it’s usually because we just need to find the right tool or the right movement for me.  Again, every body is different.  I resisted foam rolling for a long time until Lisa told me to try stick rolling, which is now my favorite way to relax after a grueling day.  Lisa celebrates the wins and gently but persistently encourages me to get there.

I had no idea what this journey would uncover but I am stronger and more resilient than I’ve been in years.  Be warned, one positive life change will open the potential for even more positive changes.