Bodywork By Gabby

4 weeks already. ❤️

It's hard to believe a month ago I was learning how to walk with a brand-new hip.

Now I'm wandering through museums with Ellie, getting out of the house, laughing more, and slowly finding my way back to normal. 🖼️✨

At my follow-up, my surgeon told me my hip had severe arthritis—there was essentially no cushioning left in the joint. He said people with hips like mine often experience some of the biggest improvements because the difference after surgery can be life-changing.

I'm definitely feeling that already.

Recovery is still teaching me patience. My hip is healing, my range of motion is still limited, and I know there's plenty of strengthening ahead. But every week I notice something new... walking feels easier, I have a little more energy, and life gets a little bigger again.

The day I was cleared to drive felt like getting a piece of myself back. As a single mom, that meant Ellie and I could finally start making summer memories instead of watching summer pass us by. ❤️

I'm starting to see clients again on a lighter schedule while I continue healing, and I'm so excited to share my new space in Cheshire with you soon! It feels great to get back to work. 💪😊

Thank you to everyone who's reached out, checked in, sent encouraging messages, or simply followed along on this journey. Your kindness has carried me more than you know. 🥹💚

Day 12 ❤️

Twelve days after my hip replacement, and I honestly feel amazing.

Every day I feel a little stronger. Every set of PT exercises. Every walk. Every trip up and down the stairs. It's incredible how quickly the body responds when it's given the chance to heal.

What amazes me most is that I'm walking... without the pain that had become my normal over the last couple of years.

The surgical soreness is temporary. It's healing. But the chronic arthritis pain that was there with every single step? That's gone. And it's hard to put into words how freeing that feels.
One thing that's become so clear through this experience is that healing doesn't happen alone.

I've been surrounded by an incredible support system—my surgeon, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, friends who've brought meals and checked in, family who's kept me company, and all of you who've reached out with messages of encouragement. Every visit, every text, every helping hand has made a difference.

I also got myself to a Manual Lymphatic Drainage session this week, and wow... what a gift. As a massage therapist, I've always believed in the power of bodywork, but experiencing it during my own recovery has given me an even deeper appreciation for how it can support healing. It has me even more excited to continue learning and to bring those experiences back to my clients.

The funny thing is... I'm already missing my work. This journey has reminded me why I love what I do. I can't wait to get back to helping people move better, hurt less, and feel more at home in their bodies.

For now, though, I'm focusing on getting a little stronger every day.

And if you're local and have been thinking about stopping by, I could still use a few walking buddies. 😊

Day 5!

Recovery has been filled with little victories that don't seem little anymore.
I've had Occupational Therapy visit twice, and I think OT might actually be my favorite part of recovery. She has shown me so many simple ways to move safely around my home and make everyday tasks easier.

One of the highlights was taking a shower with her guidance. It's funny how something as ordinary as a hot shower can feel like such a luxury. We chatted while I enjoyed one of the simplest pleasures in life, and it reminded me how much joy there is in slowing down.

I've also been surrounded by amazing people. Friends have been stopping by every day with food, helping me keep track of medications, and simply keeping me company. My daughter has been sneaking in cuddles, and my dog and cats seem to think their full-time job is making sure I rest. ❤️

I'm sleeping better than I have in a long time, doing Sudoku, watching a little TV, and treating hydration like it's my full-time job. 💧😄

One thing I've realized this week is that healing doesn't just happen because of surgery. It happens because of the environment we create around ourselves.

I've created a beautiful container for healing—filled with support, rest, movement, nourishing food, laughter, and permission to let others care for me.

As someone who spends her days helping others heal, it's been incredibly humbling to become the patient. I'm learning that receiving care can be just as powerful as giving it.

🗓️🌟Today's lesson: Healing isn't just about doing more. Sometimes it's about allowing yourself to receive.
❤️

Day 1 ✅
Hip replacement surgery is officially behind me! ❤️
I walked 500 feet just hours after surgery, and I'm honestly feeling amazing. The surgical pain is already more manageable than the arthritis pain I've been living with.
As a massage therapist, I'm used to helping others through recovery. Now I get to experience it from the patient's perspective, and I can't wait to share what I learn along the way.
Here's to healing, movement, and new beginnings. ✨
Recovery Grateful OneStepAtATime

Well... I did it.

This morning I had my hip replacement, and just a few hours later I completed my second walk around the hospital floor—500 feet!
I'm honestly amazed at how good I feel.

The surgical pain is there, but it's so much more manageable than the arthritis pain I've been living with. The best way I can describe it is like my body just got a major overhaul—new tires, new brakes, an alignment, and a tune-up. Everything just feels like it's finally moving the way it was meant to.

As a massage therapist, I spend my days helping people through pain and recovery. Today, I'm the patient, and already this experience is giving me an even deeper appreciation for what healing really looks like.

I've been incredibly well cared for by my surgeon, nurses, physical therapists, and everyone here. The food has been surprisingly good, I'm a little bored between walks 😄, but mostly... I'm just excited.

Excited to heal. Excited to move. Excited to get back to doing what I love.

Thank you to everyone who's reached out, sent messages, and cheered me on. Your support has meant so much.

This is just Day 1, and I can't wait to share the journey with you. ❤️

Yesterday I had an amazing Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) session with Jenny Lauretano Hobson !

One of my favorite parts of being a massage therapist is trading sessions with other talented bodyworkers. I love how we support one another in private practice while helping each other grow professionally.

Jenny is helping me prepare for my upcoming total hip replacement, and MLD is an incredible modality for supporting the body before and after surgery. While it isn't one of my specialties (yet!), I'm genuinely impressed with the results and can definitely see why so many people benefit from it. Who knows... maybe one day I'll add it to my own practice!

Thank you, Jenny, for taking such great care of me. 💙

Your body just called... it wants tomorrow at 11:15. 😉

One last-minute 60-minute massage appointment is available tomorrow!
✨ $20 OFF — Just $90

Come melt away stress, loosen those stubborn muscles, and head into the weekend feeling like yourself again.

Book @ www.gabbyanguslmt.com 💚

As a mom myself, I know that summer break is a magical time... right up until the 47th "Mom?" before 9 a.m. 😅

Over the past few weeks, I've had the privilege of working with moms in all stages of motherhood—from a brand-new mom adjusting to life with a newborn to moms navigating the busy teenage years. Different seasons, same job description: taking care of everyone else.

After their sessions, they left feeling calmer, refreshed, and ready to return to the chaos of snacks, rides, laundry, questions, and the occasional emergency that somehow only Mom can solve.

So before summer vacation officially begins and you become the full-time Director of Transportation, Conflict Resolution Specialist, Snack Provider, and Finder of Lost Things, consider taking a little time for yourself.

A massage won't stop the kids from yelling "Mom! Mom! Mom!"... but it might make you smile when they do. 😉

💆‍♀️ Helping moms move easier, hurt less, and stay calm when someone yells "Mom!" from another room for absolutely no reason.

www.gabbyanguslmt.com

Extra Openings Tomorrow!

I opened up a couple of appointments tomorrow:

✨ 10:00 AM
✨ 11:45 AM

Take a little me moment before you're caught up in all the Mom moments of summer. Or, if you've got vacation plans coming up, let's work on loosening that neck and shoulders before you head out.

Whether you're looking to relieve pain, reduce stress, or simply take a quiet pause for yourself, I'd love to help.

📍 Durham, CT
📩 Message me or book online to reserve your spot.
www.gabbyanguslmt.com

A little over a week ago, I took a continuing education class at Strong House Studio called Massage for Dysfunctional Breathing. Over the past week, I've been incorporating some of these techniques into sessions, and I'm so excited about seeing the way it melts tension, improves mobility, and overall ease in my clients bodies.

What I learned is that breathing involves more than just the lungs. The diaphragm beneath the ribs, the pelvic floor, and the throat work together in rhythm to help manage pressure, posture, and breath. When that rhythm is disrupted, the body often compensates, creating tension patterns that can show up in the neck, jaw, chest, back, or pelvic floor.

Many people living with chronic stress, anxiety, headaches, TMJ pain, neck tension, chronic pain, or pelvic floor tension develop breathing patterns that keep the body stuck in a cycle of tension. By improving mobility in the ribs, neck, diaphragm, and surrounding tissues, we can often help the body find a greater sense of ease and relaxation.

If you're dealing with chronic stress, headaches, jaw tension, neck pain, or simply feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, I'd love to help you explore whether breathing-focused bodywork could be a missing piece of the puzzle. 🌿