My name is Shawna Coke. I was born in Etobicoke and raised in Guelph, Ontario. After graduating high school I became a factory worker for five years inspecting chain saw bars. Actually, I liked it! I liked the hours, I liked the people, and I liked the money.

It was the girls around me that encouraged me to go back to school. I knew I wanted to help people in some way. And, so while I tried to figure out exactly what I wanted to do, I went Niagara College in Welland and took the Health Science Program. That was where I learned that there was even such an occupation as massage therapy. So I went to my home town, and interviewed a massage therapist, then she gave me an hour massage. Oh My God!! That was it!! I loved it, and I couldn't believe how it made me feel. I knew at that point that was what I wanted to do for other people. Obviously, at that time, I didn't realize how it really helps so many different people in so many different ways.

In 1991, after graduating from Sutherland-Chan, I decided to go back to my home town an just "float around" a little after that grueling experience at school. I met a girl with an esthetics salon close to home, and I decided to work with her for about 3 months. I knew the lingerie hanging on the walls wasn't the atmosphere I was looking for.

Then, I did a maternity leave in Fergus for a therapist who worked out of her home. I learned alot from that therapist. She had a busy practice, and I really enjoyed the experience. By this time I was starting to really want to settle down with a place to call "the office where I work at".

I thought it would be good to work with a chiropractor where I would learn more. The chiropractor I met made big promises, but they came with a big price- and a lot of restrictions. The situation was very intimidating and I was very insecure. This was when I met my good friend, Jill Rogers. She gave me the strength to stand up for myself and move on.

That was the scariest thing I think I ever had to do. But, in the end, it all worked out. Then, of course, I worked with Jill.

Actually, I worked for Jill while she had her second baby, Matty. I worked with Jill in Dunnville for over 2 years. And, I thought I had to work with a chiropractor to learn anything!

Jill is a great teacher and I was very lucky to have crossed paths with her. Dunnville just wasn't where I wanted to settle my life into. I knew I wanted to go to Grimsby or Beamsville. I had some friends there as well that I met when I went to Niagara College and I really liked it there. That was when another wonderful opportunity came my way.

My physiology teacher from Sutherland-Chan, Dr. Amber Gardiner, DC, was looking for a massage therapist to work by her side in her new clinic in a new plaza in Grimsby. It's funny. As that plaza was being built, I would drive by and think to myself, "now there's a place a would like to work from". Wishes do come true.

I worked with Dr. Gardiner for 8 years. I loved it and it was a great working environment. As much as I didn't want to leave my comfortable space with Amber, I had to look into the future. I needed to figure out how would I be able to decrease my workload but still had a decent income. To me, the only way was to share space with another massage therapist that could supplement part of my income. That was not possible in the space I had with Amber.

I came across a cute little house in Beamsville, with an awesome location. It has been 5 years now at "Hands For Better Health" where we offer massage therapy, craniosacral, hot stone massage, osteopathy, reflexology, ear candling, acupuncture, and we just brought on an athletic therapist who is in her fourth year of osteopathy.

Reflexologist Nancy Smith was one of the first to join me at the clinic. Massage Therapists Natasha Farrell, Melanie Berger and Shawna Orsborn are new arrivals. When I originally thought about this plan, of my clinic, it was so I could work fewer hours. But that just doesn't happen. But, what I will say, is I still love my job. I am grateful for the therapist I work with and I am grateful for the clients we have coming to our clinic.

In August 2001, I married my man, Ron Thompson, whom I met in the laundromat. (Really I did!). I have 3 great stepchildren who range in age from 13-21 and who we have every other weekend. Ron is my maintenance man at the clinic. He helps me out a great deal. He does basically all my "fixing ups" that he can. Recently, he replaced the original old rotting wood boards on the clinic with new siding. That just gives the clinic a face-lift. He helps me out alot.

Words of Wisdom
For all the people who I have ever connected with, I feel very fortunate, and I thank you all. I truly live by the golden rule- do unto others- and think positive. Good things are worth waiting for. Some just take longer.

Shawna Coke