Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Armstrong-Kraft.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
This July, I’m celebrating 32 years of practice in the field of massage therapy and bodywork, yeah!
My story began in Jamaica. At age 7, I decided I wanted a career as a medical doctor. At 13, I got specific and declared I’d be an Orthopedic Surgeon. Coming to the US at age 15 (Brooklyn, NY), I attended Westgate H.S. and graduated in 2 years to start my pre-med journey at Pace University (Briarcliff/White Plains campuses). After 3 years at Pace, I panicked about the impending cost of medical school and whether I’d be able to afford it… little Island Girl… did not ask enough questions… anyway…
At the beginning of my college years in ’77, my parents moved to Chicago and so I left NY for Chicago with the intent to continue school while earning money for Medical… actually, I loved the environment of learning, so I kept changing my major to continue… Pre-med, CE, Business, CS… ok finally, my Counselor threatened if I did not take a major and graduate, he personally has me kicked out of school. Thanks, Dr. Grace (IIT-’86).
I was attending IIT full-time at night while working at the Federal Reserve Bank and to graduate, I need classes that were only taught in the day, so I had to leave the FRB for my last semester. It was then that I met up with the Pre-med students of IIT (love!!! you see I was finally getting a BS in CS) That summer, these students were being introduced to Osteopathic Medicine at the TCM-medical summer program in Austin Texas… I crashed the party!
At TCM, I was introduced to Manipulation and Articulation. I learned that “Manipulation” was “Massage” and “Articulation” was “Chiropractic”. These added disciplines in conjunction with medical studies were the D.O’s contribution to holistic medicine. I questioned if I could attend their med school just for the hands-on portion and was told that I could learn the massage discipline at schools outside of the medical college (score!!!).
I returned to Chicago and found the Chicago School of Massage Therapy. I took a few workshops and discovered in terms of knowledge of the body, I had that down, in terms of techniques, I had received the basics at TCM and so I just needed experience and practice (score!!!).
I started out in massage as a hobby in ’86 while working as a Computer Tech in corporate America (by the way, all companies that hired me for CS were Pharmaceutical companies, so I never really left the medical field) I worked for a couple Chiropractors and did house calls after work and on the weekends. I called my business then “Massage For Your Health”.
In October ’92, on my way to work (Abbott Labs), I was in a most traumatic auto collision. I was rear ended at ~60 mph while stopped. At the hospital, I was informed that there was a possibility that I could be paralyzed from the waist down… oh no, I thought and that morning I re-wrote my contract with the universe. I prayed that if I could walk again, I would quit computers and do massage full-time… 8months later, I returned to Abbott and started to build my client base. from 05/93 to 06/95; to grow my business any further, I needed to leave ‘safeville’ and move on.
In 1993, I established “Azure Relaxation Centre Ltd.” with the hope to build a physical location one day. Didn’t happen. “Azure” was a metaphor for “a way of being… a style approach”. In 1997, I was introduced to Eastern Massage and Medical philosophy. A combination of the Osteopathic Manipulation and Eastern Philosophy approach is what I practice today in a process called “Storytelling The Body”…
Has it been a smooth road?
My progress in this field has been relatively easy. When I returned from Texas, I was armed with new information because I found out the answer to a question I had about a business a few blocks from my parents… a sign on a stand-alone property read “Chiropractic…”
I took the phone number down and called “Dr. Rubel” and this was my very enthusiastic introduction of myself
“Dr. Rubel, my name is Sharon Armstrong. I do massage very well. I learned at the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Texas and I’m just starting out. You do not know I can do what I say I can, however, I’d be willing to come in and give you a session. If you think I’m good enough, please refer me to your clients”… he said yes and we set a date.
After my session with Dr. Rubel, he got up, said nothing, picked up his phone, called his wife and said: “hon, do I have someone for you”.
That was a pattern I experienced after every new person I worked with from ’86 to ’95. Clients were building my business for me, I just needed to show up…
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Azure Touch Body-Mind Connection Centre LLC – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I formed Azure Touch Body-Mind Connection Centre LLC. in 2010 when I realized that I would not be pursuing building a physical company which was my initial intent with Azure Relaxation Centre.
Today, I am the sole owner and operator of Azure Touch. As a therapist, I combine Western and Eastern practices in a way that relaxes, educates and excites my clients to keep learning about and being at home in their bodies.
I enjoy working with clients who are ready to delve into the possibilities of their optimal health through touch, especially those who are working with PTSD issues… which is most of us by the way.
I am most proud that I have lasted this long in this field. I treat myself as my best client. Burnout is not an option. Every day is a new day for learning and it is with this excitement I greet my clients each day…
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
While I love NY, it’s excitement and aliveness, Chicago makes me feel comfortable. It’s a place that has brought out my best as a single parent and businesswoman. The Chicago area has truly embraced me and I feel very successful here.
What makes me sad is hearing of children hurting and killing each other. I want to shout about the joys of being in and feeling comfortable in the body. When one experiences and know this for him/herself, then the world of possibilities and one’s approach to life is endless BECAUSE one feels safe and loved at ground zero, oneself.
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You may see the original interview post at VoyageChicago's website.