Markus Bischof, owner of ReHealth Massage, in Naples, has a unique hobby: balancing. After only a few minutes of watching a personal video posted on his company website, it’s impossible not to develop a fascination with Bischof’s poise and stability, as well as an admiration for his core strength, coordination, posture and balance. “A regular practice of balancing exercises is especially good for improving posture, as well as overcoming any muscle imbalances caused by repetitive activities, such as running,” says Bischof.

Bischof’s healthy physique and choice of present career as a massage therapist, certified flexibility coach and personal trainer are ironically the result of a serious car accident he experienced in 1994 while living in Switzerland. Bischof was a Swiss marathon runner and triathlete until his life was altered by severe whiplash. He recalls, “Twenty years ago, it was difficult to find help for relieving my pain, which is why I had to do research and read books on anatomy, physiology, muscle pain, trigger points and neurology in order to develop my own healing plan of action.”

Bischof, who was a mechanical engineer at the time, discovered that he was well suited to learning about the structure and mechanics of the human body. Intrigued with what he learned, he embarked on a new career in the health field of massage therapy and became certified in three styles of massage: sports/deep tissue, relaxation and myofascial release. Bischof has also been certified in numerous other types of bodywork therapies: trigger point, neuromuscular, neurosomatic, soft tissue remodeling, muscle imbalance and active isolated stretching. He specializes in posturology (the correction of postural imbalance).

“My studies and experience with the technical understanding regarding how the entire muscular system works comprise one of the most important aspects of massage and bodywork. Frequently, when there is pain in one area, the origin of it is in an entirely different place due to muscle imbalance. Treating the origin of the pain is what is most beneficial to the client,” explains Bischof, who also specializes in therapy for low back pain.

Bischof cites a story of how his understanding of muscular imbalances helped a client: “A female client entered my massage room, and I immediately observed that her head was tilted forward, which exerts a great deal of pressure on the upper back and neck. I remarked, ‘You must have pain in your upper back and neck area.’ She was surprised by my comment, but confirmed that this was the reason she made the appointment. After the massage, I showed her some exercises that would strengthen the muscles that hold the shoulders back, lift the rib cage and chest, and in general improve her posture. When I told her that if she practiced the exercises regularly the pain would likely be gone in several weeks, she laughed and said that this was difficult to believe. Yet, within weeks of practicing the exercises, the pain disappeared, and she had noticeably better posture that even her friends commented on.” Bischof particularly enjoys this type of teamwork with his clients. “We worked together for 10 sessions and achieved optimal success because she did the exercises between massage sessions,” he remarks.

Bischof’s self-care also benefits his clients. “I take a one-hour break between massages. While this time is for me to renew and refresh, it allows me to give the client a full, one-hour massage and five to 10 minutes to rest on the table after I leave the room. They don’t have to rush off the table and dress quickly in order for me to prepare the room for the next client. It’s also something that allows me to differentiate myself and the services I offer,” he notes.

ReHealth Massage is located at 2500 Airport Rd. S., Ste. 315, in the Courtland Plaza Office Bldg. For more information, call 239-595-9116 or visit ReHealthMassage.com.