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by ASHLEY BENNERS
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Each day Appalachian State University students make their way up and down King St. to their cars, a lunch date with friends, or a bit of shopping.
In May, the hustle and bustle of downtown Boone welcomed a new addition that encourages the community and students to slow down and relax.
 Chris O'Donnell demonstrates a massage technique on an Appalachian student at his new business, Wize Bodiez, located next to Capone’s Untouchable Pizza. Photo by Adam Dixon
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Chris O’Donnell,
former Appalachian exercise science student, is currently taking a
semester off to get his new massage and fitness business, Wize Bodiez,
up and running.
Located
next to Capone’s Untouchable Pizza on W. King St., Wize Bodiez is a
center for rehabilitation, sports massage and fitness.
O’Donnell
began at Appalachian as a horn player majoring in music performance;
but by his junior year decided to study exercise science instead.
“I’ve
always been interested in the human body,” O’Donnell said. “Playing the
horn gave me muscle imbalances. I practiced for about four hours
everyday.”
O’Donnell
attended massage therapy school through Caldwell Community College
& Technical Institute, and is nationally certified and state
licensed.
He
specializes in athletics/sports massage, musculoskeletal dysfunctions,
injury prevention, physical maintenance and rehabilitation.
In addition to his schooling, O’Donnell trained with sports therapists at Auburn University last fall.
He also worked with and an Olympic swimmer with the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club this summer.
Though
O’Donnell is the only massage therapist currently working at Wize
Bodiez, he has two fitness trainers on staff who offer at home personal
training, specialized workout plans and training for events.
According
to his Web site, massage therapy at Wize Bodiez is done not only to
create a relaxing place to distress, but also to receive work needed to
keep clients’ bodies healthy and injury free, with every muscle and
joint tuned up to its healthiest state possible.
“Massage
therapy can be used for treating a health problem, not just the
symptoms,” O’Donnell said. “Medicine helps a headache temporarily while
a massage treats the stress that causes the headache.
“Massage therapy is not a replacement for necessary medical treatment, but definitely keeps sickness down.”
O’Donnell said he hasn’t been sick in eight months.
For O’Donnell, it is also important to come up with ways to familiarize potential clients with massage therapy.
“I’m
always trying to run some kind of deal where people who walk by can try
a free chair massage or something like that,” O’Donnell said.
“Sometimes guys, in particular, are uncomfortable with a male
therapist. I like to try and make people comfortable who aren’t sure
about getting a massage.”
O’Donnell said his goals for Wize Bodiez don’t include expansion of spa-like treatments.
“My
dream is to become more of a regional alternative health care center,”
he said. “I’m already trying to build up clientele in Charlotte, and I
want to eventually bring in physical therapists.”
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