The LMT Refinery

Student Spotlight | Diana Bible

Diana is a special one around here. She was one of our early Refinery students back in 2023, training with Mandy here in Florida, and she’s continued to come back and learn with us over the years.

She’s been a massage therapist for 9 years and practices in the small town of Cedar Key, FL, where her work focuses on therapeutic and restorative massage, barefoot massage, connective tissue work, and muscle recovery and rehabilitation.

After receiving massage from Mandy, Diana knew she wanted to learn barefoot. She took Intro to Barefoot with us and was able to incorporate it into her practice immediately.

“Intro to Barefoot gave me the knowledge and confidence to incorporate it immediately into my practice. It’s also helped with the longevity of my career.”

Since then, she’s come back for Mat Based Techniques and Internal + External Jaw, continuing to build a toolbox that she can adapt to the person in front of her.

And this might be our favorite part of her response:

“My biggest takeaway is always stay present and hold space for whoever is on my table. Go slow. When you think you’re going slow enough, go even slower. A lot of therapeutic magic happens in the stillness.”

YES, DIANA 🙌🏼

She also shared that the Refinery has changed the way she approaches her work, helping her bring all of her skills and tools together to provide thoughtful, valuable bodywork for her clients.

Outside of massage, Diana is a full-time mom to Hawk and the two of them stay busy paddle boarding, traveling, hiking, hitting parks and riding roller coasters. She loves yoga, swimming, reading her Bible, learning anything body-related and, at 43, can still do cartwheels, splits, backbends AND flips 🤸

And maybe our favorite fun fact: Diana has wanted to be a massage therapist since she was 15.

We’ve gotten to watch her grow since 2023, come back through our classroom again and again, and continue putting what she learns into practice.

Students like Diana are exactly why we love what we do 🫶🏼

Planning your 2026-2027 continuing education? Save this one 👀

Florida LMTs, we’re heading into a renewal year, and we’ve officially started locking in The LMT Refinery’s schedule through August 2027.

Our upcoming calendar includes plenty of ashiatsu Barefoot Massage education, from Intro classes to advanced Focus Series courses, plus our NEW 16 CE Posturology course joining the Refinery lineup in 2027.

Whether you’re looking to squeeze in something this fall, planning ahead for your 2027 CEs, or finally ready to learn barefoot massage, we’ve got options.

NMT friends, we haven’t forgotten you! Our 2027 Neuromuscular Therapy dates are still being finalized and will be announced soon.

Take a peek, save the dates that interest you, and start planning your renewal year education with us.

📍 Palm Harbor, FL
Small-group, hands-on continuing education
NCBTMB and CEBroker Approved Provider

All classes open for registration. Reserve your seat today.

More clients isn’t always the answer.

Sometimes the problem is that you’re attracting people who aren’t a great fit for the work you actually want to be doing.

The right clients value your approach.
They understand your pricing.
They respect your boundaries.
They come back because what you do solves a problem for them.
And they tell other people like them about you.

A full schedule is great.

A full schedule of people who are actually aligned with your work? Way better 🤌🏼

Part of building a sustainable massage practice is getting really clear about who you serve, what you do well, and making sure your marketing actually communicates that.

You don’t need to be for everyone. You need to be easy to find and easy to choose for the right people.

✨ STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | SHELBY Hands To Heel Massage

Meet Shelby, a Gainesville, FL massage therapist with 16 years in the profession and a studio filled with an amazing community of women therapists.

Shelby came to The LMT Refinery through another student who told her she had to take the class. And one of her biggest takeaways?

Patience.

Learning to slow down, settle in, and give the tissue time to respond.

“I learned to slow down and let the tissue melt under my foot. Our feet are magical tools!”

Since taking Intro to Barefoot Massage, Shelby has completely changed the way she works. She now incorporates her feet into sessions with about 80% of her clients and says barefoot massage has helped extend her career after 16 years in the profession.

And there’s a little extra Refinery history in her studio, too. 👣

When I moved spaces, my favorite (and most beautiful!) personal set of bars couldn’t come with me. Shelby bought them and installed them in her Gainesville studio, where they’re now the first thing you see when you walk in. Knowing that a set of bars that meant so much to me gets to continue being used by one of our students makes that pretty special.

Her advice to other therapists?

“I would recommend this class to everyone. Especially new therapists looking for something new, fun, and something that makes them stand out in our industry.”

And because apparently one skill set isn’t enough…when Shelby isn’t kneading clients, she’s kneading dough. She also owns a micro bakery where she makes everything sourdough.

Massage therapist. Studio owner. Sourdough baker. Barefoot therapist 👣🍞

We’re so happy to have you as part of The LMT Refinery community, Shelby!