Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Gruver.
Hi Kathy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My career has taken some unexpected turns over the years.
As a theatre major in college, I accidently ended up studying massage. When I left Pittsburgh and drove cross country to Hollywood, I figured massage would be a great side gig while I pursued my acting career and collected all those award winning film roles I was sure were waiting for me. The film roles never really happened, but the massage stuck.
When I eventually landed in Santa Barbara, I started my own massage practice. The more therapeutic and medical massage I did, the more I realized people were looking to me for guidance about their health and well being, not just for relief from a sore shoulder or a tight back.
That curiosity led me down a path of continual learning. I earned a master’s degree and a PhD in Natural Health, became a Traditional Naturopath, and kept adding tools, training, and certifications to better serve my clients.
Along the way, I became an award winning author of eight books, a motivational speaker, a certified hypnotherapist, and eventually a life, executive, and psychedelic coach.
Today, my work is a blend of coaching, speaking, massage therapy, and Reiki. I travel internationally speaking at conferences, leading workshops, and helping people create healthier, more fulfilling lives. My work is trauma informed and includes training in Internal Family Systems, Compassionate Inquiry, grief support, and post suicide loss. I’ve also studied at the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School and attended retreats with Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, and Adyashanti.
Speaking is one of my greatest passions. I’ve delivered more than 350 presentations around the world, including two TEDx talks, and have spoken on five continents, three cruise ships, and more islands than I can easily count. Being on stage lets me reconnect with my theatre roots while educating, inspiring, and entertaining audiences along the way.
When I’m not working, you’ll often find me doing something unusual. For fun and stress relief, I practice aerial silks, dance, and flying trapeze. Apparently, I like finding creative ways to stay off the ground.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I never expected to have the life I do today. When people ask how I got here, I tell them I simply followed the breadcrumbs. Whenever something appeared that sparked my interest or felt exciting, I said yes.
“Go for it” was my motto in high school, and honestly, it still is.
One of the greatest skills we can develop is curiosity. I’m endlessly curious about how things work, why people do what they do, and who I am at my core. That curiosity has guided nearly every decision I’ve made and has led me to opportunities I never could have planned for.
Fortunately, the road has been relatively smooth. That doesn’t mean there weren’t moments of fear. I remember agonizing over whether to rent my first office space. Committing to a monthly lease felt enormous at the time. Suddenly I wasn’t just responsible for helping clients, I had to make enough money to keep the doors open. It was both exciting and terrifying.
Looking back, I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I’ve been surrounded by supportive friends, loyal clients, wonderful mentors, and encouraging partners. Their belief in me helped make the journey much easier than it might have been otherwise, and I’m grateful for every step along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think what sets me apart as a massage therapist is my dedication to the craft. I have decades of hands on experience, but beyond that, I’ve developed incredible instincts. It’s almost as if my hands know where to go before my mind does. Clients often comment on my ability to find the source of an issue and address it effectively. I also take the business side of my work seriously. Early on, I realized I wasn’t just providing a service, I was running a business. I never wanted to be someone sitting in an office hoping clients would show up. I’ve always approached my work with professionalism, intention, and a commitment to growth.
As a speaker, what sets me apart is my relatability, humor, and storytelling. I believe people learn best when they’re engaged, entertained, and can see themselves in the examples being shared. I take complex topics and present them in a down to earth, accessible way. I’m fortunate to be invited back to many of the same conferences year after year and regularly receive five star evaluations, which tells me the message is resonating.
As a coach, my greatest strength is curiosity. I genuinely want to understand what makes people tick. I ask powerful questions that help clients uncover the root causes of what’s keeping them stuck rather than simply addressing the symptoms. I have a wide variety of tools, techniques, and experiences to draw from, but it’s that curiosity and desire to understand the deeper “why” that allows me to help people create meaningful and lasting change.
How do you think about happiness?
I try very hard to find joy in every moment. I know that sounds a little cliché, but it’s true. Life is always changing, and I’ve learned that nothing is permanent. The good times pass, the hard times pass, and staying present through both is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. If I can meet life’s challenges and successes with the same sense of curiosity and gratitude, I feel like I’m doing pretty well.
On a more practical level, what makes me happy is actually pretty simple. I love helping people and making them laugh. I love teaching, learning, and discovering more about myself and the world around me. I enjoy meditation, dance, sharing a great glass of wine with friends, and spending time with my husband, whose partnership brings me tremendous joy. I’m happiest when I’m hanging out with my 18 pound Maine Coon, dancing in the air on aerial silks, or having a meaningful conversation that helps someone see themselves in a new way.
At the heart of it all, what makes me happiest is connection: connection to myself, to other people, and to the present moment.
Pricing:
- 140 coaching session
- 140 massage session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kathygruver.coach
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkathygruver
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkathygruver4health
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathygruver
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drkathygruver
- Other: https://www.kathygruver.com
