Meet Sydney Gonser: Q+A with a Chicago Massage Therapist
Meet Sydney, a licensed massage therapist practicing in Wicker Park, Chicago.
One thing that stands out about Sydney is how her presence brightens the clinic. In fact, she shines so bright you might need sunglasses if you’re seeing her for a session (ok, maybe don’t bring the sunglasses, but our point still stands).
Sydney seems to have no shortage of genuine compliments for folks… And interestingly enough, we think this is part of what makes her such a skilled massage therapist. Sydney pays attention to others, especially to the details that matter most. This same level of attentiveness shows up in her craft, too: she makes sure to really see you, to listen to what’s going on with you and your body, and to provide your body with the care it needs in the moment. She can listen with her hands too, finding and unraveling knots we didn’t even know we had.
In this month’s In the Clinic and Beyond, we learned all about Sydney and her craft— but not just her massage craft. Curious what that means? Read on to learn more!
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What’s your role at Division Chiropractic?
I am a massage therapist with a background in clinical massage, as well as sports therapy and prenatal work. I work Monday and Tuesday evenings, and love to see patients after they’ve had busy weekends or tough work days.
What makes Division Chiropractic the best chiropractor in Chicago?
I absolutely love how much Dr. Thompson has emphasized the importance of community, for both staff and patients alike. This is more than a place of work: it is an opportunity to be involved in the care and comfort of my neighbors and peers!
What brings you the most joy at work?
Nothing brings me greater joy than hearing and seeing the results of a massage on someone who needs relief. It’s always a bonus when a massage brings relaxation and sometimes even a nap! While the primary goal of a clinical massage is not relaxation, working deeply on aches and pains often leads to the body releasing tension and discomfort–which in turn becomes better rest and greater use of our muscles.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy anything and everything arts and crafts! I often sell my art at markets around Chicago which is always a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and meet cool people. When I’m not gluing googly eyes to things, I love playing with my dog Ducky and anything that involves my new nephew I’m lucky enough to live with!
Do any of your hobbies ever make a positive impact on your life at work? If so, how?
Living with my pregnant sister this past year gave me a ton of experience and confidence with prenatal massage. Now that my nephew is here, I have insight on the biggest issues most new parents face when it comes to their muscles and can help alleviate them.
Any good book(s) you’ve read recently?
Goodnight Moon! I adore reading to my nephew and revisiting old childhood favorites. Disconnecting from the busy world and winding down with primary colors and nursery rhymes has been such a wonderful experience during this freezing winter!
What does self-care look like for you during these midwestern winters?
Winter is the best for taking extra hot showers with essential oils and stretching out my stiff muscles while they’re warmed up. I also try to give myself time to just rest and relax as much as possible— every other mammal gets to hibernate!
If you could have one brand-new invention added to the office for both our patients and coworkers to use, what would this invention be?
A mirror that gives x-ray like abilities… but for our muscles! I’d love to be able to see + show the difference in muscle shape and definition before and after massage.
Forget the rules of nature for a moment– which plant would you most like to see added into our office?
Wisteria! As much as I have always loved a good flowering vine, credit goes to the new season of Bridgerton for this magical idea.
What’s one interesting thing about your role within the clinic that you wish more people knew?
I can be booked for more than just 60 minutes! At Division Chiropractic, you have the option to book a massage therapist for 30, 60, or 90 minutes
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A big Goodnight Moon-sized thank you to Sydney for taking the time to answer our questions, and giving us a chance to get to know her better. We’ll be keeping an eye out for some Sydney-exclusive arts & crafts as we peruse the markets this summer (yes, we’re already planning for the summer).
Now, we might not have any magical x-ray mirrors in the clinic, but you likely won’t even need one to see the difference in your muscles after a session with Sydney. You may find yourself feeling so loose you’ll be doing the moonwalk down Division Street… Or at the very least, it’ll feel like you’re gliding— even if you have two left feet.
Give us a call at the clinic or click the link below to schedule an appointment with Sydney today! And if you have any other questions for Sydney, just send us an email at schedule@divisionchiro.com
