Michelle Krause finally has downtime after decades of what she calls “playing whack-a-mole.” The mother, former firefighter and paramedic regularly volunteered and ran the Holistic Chamber of Commerce in Maryland.
She is now the owner and a therapeutic medical bodyworker at Vital Harmony Therapeutic Bodywork DBA Vital Fitness Holistic Center in Severna Park, which she founded almost 20 years ago. She also spends time as a teaching assistant at Upledger Institute International, a healthcare resource center.
After her older children moved out, she downsized and recently moved to Odenton with her husband, Scott Goldberg, and their 11-year old daughter, Kinsley.
What does a day in your life look like?
I went to the gym this morning. Then, I came home and had a mastermind meeting that I run with a couple friends of mine, which is online with a bunch of chiropractors and craniosacral therapists, and set goals for our business. When I’m at the office, I’m there for two full days, and I just simply work on my patients. I have to compartmentalize.
I always have some sort of project going, like the greenhouse I built. I’ve been really working on getting my self-care in, getting time to do my yoga, lay on my Biomat and [have] my own craniosacral therapy sessions. I drive [my daughter] to dance practices.
What’s it like owning a local business?
It’s really been difficult since COVID because you’ve got to make sure you’re not bringing the stress of home life into work. For what I do, I have to be really grounded. My business is so different than most other businesses because it’s not designed for people to continuously come to my business. It’s for people that have chronic issues, but they start getting better, so I have to do a bit more marketing than I used to do, being online and all. I love writing my blog, reaching out to people. I hate posting [on social media]. I don’t like creating; there’s tons of content to create, so I get overwhelmed.
You’re always thinking about your business. I’m always thinking about my patients. I take a lot of classes, teach classes and run study groups, so when I’m in a class, I think, ‘Oh, this relates to this person,’ and that’s the great part of it, because you wouldn’t own [a business] if you don’t love it. I’m not going to say it’s a big part of my life because it is my life. My neighbors are always asking [me] questions about their health.
You’re a therapeutic bodyworker. Why do you do what you do?
This is what saved my life. I was told by a neurosurgeon that I was going to be a paraplegic if I didn’t get surgery. I broke three helmets in the fire department, and I ended up not being able to turn my head at all; I was having a lot of pain through my spine. It was causing allergy issues, digestive issues. I was just becoming a hot mess. I was in so much pain, and I started going to a chiropractor. He sent me to a different neurosurgeon who said I was getting better going to the chiropractor. I was doing Bikram yoga and getting medical massage done, and he said the only thing he would add to it is craniosacral therapy.
I started going to massage school because my chiropractor recommended I get a job: “What are you going to do?” And I was like, “This is pretty neat, the road I’m on now.” He noticed I was telling everyone in the waiting room ways to get better and helping them plan at-home care, and that maybe I should go into that. A couple months into massage school, I had a craniosacral therapy session and for the first time in like 20 years, I did not have a constant headache. I bowed down to the instructor that did the session on me and said, “I want to give this to other people.” As a kid, I was always a helper. I like to see people happy.
How does your family spend time together?
We spend a lot of time at dance with my little one, taking her to dance or going to her events. My husband and I work out together and do yoga together. We love cooking; even the little one loves to cook. Whenever we’re making something, we get her involved in it. We take walks together.
What would you like your daughter to know as she grows up and navigates the world?
Slow down and be in the moment.
Family Favorites
Meal: Sushi or summer vegetable rolls
Dessert: Strawberry rhubarb pie
Family Activity: Hiking
Local Spot: Bacon Ridge Trail
