BY DARLA MAKELA
Kay Miller was a name I heard for years when the mention of aches and pains would come up:
approach to healing the body. This was a powerful step in raising the bar for massage therapists in the Mankato area.
“Go to Kay Miller!”
Kay now works out of the Advanced Chiropractic office in upper North Mankato. As I sat down with Kay to ask her a few questions I gained so much more insight into what makes her tick and what makes her services so unique and impactful.
“Kay Miller really knows what she is doing!” “Kay Miller works miracles!” Fast forward to about three years ago when I was experiencing some pretty intense pain with multiple visits to other practitioners who could not provide relief. I took a chance of her having time in her busy schedule and gave her a call. Upon meeting her, I finally understood what people were saying and why she came so highly recommended! Finally, some relief as well as a great referral to another practitioner that took care of what she could not. Now I am on a mission to tell everyone about this nurse / massage therapist. But first, let me tell you a little bit about why Kay’s treatment is so special and effective. As a mom raising four kids, Kay worked a variety of parttime jobs to allow her the ability to be more available for her kids as they were growing up. As her children grew, she felt called to go back to school to start a new career and she knew that she had two passions: nursing and massage therapy. Because nursing requires a four-year degree, Kay chose to get her Massage Therapist schooling done first. As she pondered where this new career might go, Kay literally had a dream…not just a thought but an actual dream that she was to open a massage clinic and get her nursing degree. So, with her Massage Therapy license in tow, she enrolled in South Central College and would complete her nursing degree there. Thus was the birth of Crossroads Clinic of Mankato. This is where Kay got to live out her dreams of doing what she loves while supporting herself and helping other massage therapists live out their dreams as well. Her proudest accomplishment has been changing the way people feel about massage in our region. Helping people recognize that massage can be a therapeutic
28
NORTH KATO MAGAZINE FALL 2022
How do nursing and massage therapy complement each other? My LOVE and passion is massage therapy but having a medical background helps me better guide my clients in their quest for healing, using both medical care and alternative medicine. What is the advantage of having a nurse as your massage therapist? As a nurse, I have a good understanding of medications and how they impact the body and interact with each other. This allows me to help the client identify the best care for them as I am helping to guide them on their wellness journey using both modern medicine and complementary medicine. What are your patient’s most common needs? Pain relief by far! About 30% of my clients need acute care while about 70% of my clients come for regular maintenance. What tips do you have for those wondering if massage therapy is right for them? Massage therapy is right for nearly everyone. If everyone got a massage once a week we would have world peace! Seriously though, with my patients ranging from 8 years to 97 years old, there is not just one person that can benefit from massage therapy. I truly believe it should be part of everyone’s wellness plan. It is important to understand that when you come to me, you will not receive your typical massage. It will be a clinical massage intermingled with relaxation. How has owning your business impacted your life the most? Doing what I do absolutely changed my life! I am living out my passion which allows me the ability to support myself and earn a living doing what I love. There has never been a day where I have not wanted to go to work. My clients fulfill my life and I care deeply about them. I have clients who have been coming regularly since the beginning of my business 18 years ago. To me, that is success!
