Meet Grace Bergstedt | Manual Therapist & Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Grace Bergstedt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Grace, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Ever since the beginning of my schooling, I had a vision for what I wanted to do and how I wanted to go about accomplishing that goal. Finishing school, working my first job once licensed, and checking off continuing education all just further pushed me more towards that vision as it grew clearer – I knew that I had to take advantage of my own unique background and utilize it in a way that would enable me to help those I work with even more. I knew it was no coincidence that prior to deciding on this career, I had become a trainer and coach and loved the aspects of those roles that allowed me to educate people and empower them to find sustainable, life-changing fitness.
I knew it was no coincidence that from childhood to present, I’ve dealt with more rare/odd health conditions and medical incidents than most people my age, and that it’s taught me so much about what it means to truly listen and serve well as a healthcare professional.
I knew it was no coincidence that I’ve been very business-minded from a young age, and that the “back end” administrative tasks necessary in order to run a business aren’t a chore to me, I enjoy every role I have to fill.

Over the past several years, I’ve become increasingly aware of a large gap in this field of work, so I decided to become one of the people bridging that gap. And in my opinion, the best way for me to be able to authentically provide 100% of the care that I want to bring to the table was to do it on my own, establishing a name and a brand and a mission and working from there, because I knew was the only viable next step in order for me to do what I felt called to do was to build it on my own.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My business is based off a lot of core beliefs that I hold close to heart, and serves to embody those in a way that serves others well. To anyone interested in hearing more about those core concepts, I encourage you to head to the “about” section on my website since I tend to be pretty wordy.

I provide massage therapy catered to client goals, usually that of pain relief, injury prevention/rehab, and stress management. My background in fitness allows me to incorporate a lot more into my appointments than “just” the manual therapy – I also go over the importance of strengthening and building up the body’s resiliency in the specific ways that individual needs, incorporating corrective exercise and general education in line with their movement goals, lifestyle, medical conditions, etc. It’s so important to me that people receive more than a one-size-fits-all approach, and that they feel truly heard in whatever concerns or pain they bring to the table – because at the end of the day, we all deserve and need that as humans.

Something that I’m very passionate about that I believe sets my practice apart is a commitment to honesty, authenticity, and ethical practices. Professionals in this industry often fall into the trap of making egregious claims, falsifying results, misleading clients, and thereby shattering the trust necessary in a therapeutic relationship. My dedication to staying at the forefront of education and evidence-based practices, communicating authentically and realistically with my clients, and upholding high ethical standards is a core value of mine that has been present from the conceptual stages of my business, and will never dissipate.

Before opening my own business in January of this year, I had been preparing for that step by building all the necessary foundational aspects while working as an employee. I genuinely believe the nearly 12 months of specific planning/behind the scenes preparation gave me a head start and enabled me to implement important aspects of my business from day one. It hasn’t been easy, but one thing that I tell a lot of people is that it’s been such a blessing to know without a doubt that this was the move I was supposed to make – having that assuredness and peace makes all the hardships and roadblocks feel just a bit smaller, knowing that they’re just a part of the process – an inevitable prerequisite to any success and impact.

Above all, I want people to know and be reminded that their story matters and is worth listening to – and that includes the story of their body and what it’s trying to communicate. A lot of my personal background that has led me to doing what I do is comprised of the difficulties surrounding dealing with health conditions and mental health struggles, all of which are better understood and improved by learning to view our bodies, our selves, with kindness and understanding, seeking to listen to what is trying to be communicated through pain, illness, etc. Embarking on that journey with a support system is infinitely better – and that’s another area in which I aim to further contribute to the improved wellbeing of those I work with by providing them with healthcare resources, education, and support. My hope is that through working with me, people are empowered to honor, prioritize, and build their resiliency, both mentally and physically – which sometimes means loading up and doing some tough work to build strength, and sometimes means listening to the body’s cues to slow down and take load off.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am very much a homebody, so I’m not the best person to ask about all the places to go, since I likely haven’t been there myself…but I’ve got a handful of spots I faithfully visit and recommend. We’d start off with breakfast at Brewed off Magnolia, go for a walk around the neighborhood nearby with all the cats (IYKYK), then make our way to the Trinity Park Trails for a leisurely walk or run. Definitely would head to Ampersand near the trails to grab a coffee and chill in the back bar area (where we’d circle back to that evening if I were a club/bar goer). Blue Sushi and F1 Smoke House would be top contenders for dinner, and not just because they’re within walking distance from my office…but that’s a pro for sure. If we wanted to get a lift in, we’d hit up Fox Fitness, and if we wanted an unforgettable class experience, we’d go to Body Machine Fitness for the combo of rave and workout. Might want to end with some recovery at Fort Worth Float Company, either a cold plunge + sauna sesh or a float.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ll be the first to state that I am in no way self-made – I think a lot of people are of the opinion that admitting you’re not self-made is the same as saying you haven’t put in the work, which to me is a complete misunderstanding of the phrase. I’ve put in ridiculous amounts of work in order to be where I am now, and will continue to do so…yet that doesn’t take away the fact that my effort is not the only factor in my story.

The loved ones in my circle who have supported me in a myriad of ways enable me to put forth my max effort, because I know I have a foundation of encouragement and unwavering support no matter what.

The people doing this work before me who gave advice, encouragement, and served as inspiration and guidance helped me find my direction which enabled me to run full-speed instead of taking slow steps out of trepidation.

The set of circumstances from early life to present that I didn’t choose or manufacture that have led me down this path with great purpose and vision, and have brought forth insight and clarity that otherwise would have been impossible for me to attain, as there are some things you can’t learn from textbooks, only through experience.

All of this leads me to be so acutely aware that were it not for God’s sovereign hand in my life, I wouldn’t be where I am, doing what I do, with the assuredness I have.

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