It really doesn't seem like I opened Tusculum Therapeutic Massage 2 & ½ years ago, but it really has been that long.  For people who don't know me, I "won" the condemned house at 3312-3314 Walworth Avenue (behind The Precinct) in 1987, rehabbed it and lived there for 5 years.  In 1988-89, I was Corresponding Secretary for CTCC and was privileged to write the letter requesting the city to look into creating our historic district.  In 1990-92, I was "Beautification Chairperson" (aka. Cleanup Coordinator).  I started and ran the program that had 15 kids cleaning the sidewalks, trimming bushes and planting flowers every Saturday from 9a-noon, March 1 thru October 31.  When I resigned to become Assistant Coordinator for the Cincy Blues Fest, we had 60 kids involved and 15 adult volunteers.  In 1992, we won awards from Greater Cincinnati Beautiful and the Cincinnati Park Board for our efforts.  I turned over the awards to CTCC, but I still have the letters that came with them framed at my studio next to Allyn's Café.  I helped run the Blues fest for many years, then the society's Blues In The Schools program and now run the Big Joe Duskin Music Education Foundation.  Our Cincinnati fundraiser is the Cincy Beerfest (www.CincyBeerfest.com) at the convention center downtown on February 11 & 12.  All proceeds are used to pay musicians to do in-school music presentations.  More info on our foundation at www.BigJoeDuskin.org.

So how did I get into massage therapy?

 I've been in four major impacts that every doctor involved said no one should have survived any one of them, no less all four.  I've had serious whiplash three times.  You name the body part, I've probably injured it, multiple times.  I'm probably the only person who ever got seriously injured playing croquet.  Yes, croquet...  Ask me sometime...  I spent years seeking help from doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists.  In 2002, I went to someone who specializes in "myofascial release" and it rocked my world.  I actually quit my job and did therapy and training fulltime for eight months.  I'm not fully recovered yet, but I'm close.  To help heal myself, I attended the Cincinnati School for Medical Massage, never really intending to become a therapist, just heal myself.  And I did well.  I graduated with 94 in massage and 98 in anatomy, then got 97 & 98 on the Ohio Medical Board exam, which 50% of people fail every time.  But, I found I really enjoy helping people.  I've had so many people come into my studio in complete pain and misery and walk out not only pain-free, but really re-entering life again, you just wouldn't believe it.  Two women who had been in chronic pain for many years told me when they got in their car after my appointment, they broke down in tears.  It was the first they had not been in pain in years and they realized it was actually possible to recover.  They both did.  I rarely see them now, because they have no pain or tightness in their body.  But when they injure themselves again, they'll be back right away.  They now know to take care of issues when they happen, rather than let them get worse on their own.  And there is a really good chance they will get worse all on their own.  It's call micro-tears.  They merge into real muscle and myofascial tears over time.

I've worked on a few fairly famous people and have some great endorsements on my website (www.tusculummassage.com).  The best is when the Iraqi National Rowing Team was here back in late October for final training for the 2010 Asian Games.  The Greater Cincinnati Rowing Foundation arranged for them to train in London, Princeton, Boston and here just before heading to China for the games.  And it paid off.  One of the rowers won the only medal Iraq won in the games.  He's now a national hero and was honored by the President of Iraq at a major celebration.  I got to work on three of them once and the other three twice.  Each time was a 90 minute session.  I did 30 minutes on each leg, then 30 minutes on upper body.  I spent the night with them at East Fork Lake three nights, too.  They are some of the nicest guys I've ever met and they all really liked the work I did on them.  So much so that I'm trying to line up a sponsor to be a trainer for them in late August & early September at the World Championships in Slovenia.  Can you imagine an American wearing a green Iraqi trainer's suit in the opening & closing ceremonies?  The 2012 Olympics in London are possible, too.  We'll see...

I'm in training right now for my first Senior Olympics in May doing 100 yd butterfly.  Wish me luck.  I started back in May by cycling 100 miles a week at Lunken Airport.  In November, I switched to weight machines and a rowing machine.  In February, I'll start in-water training.  I was on a swim team for years as a kid, but could never do butterfly.  I can now, but I really don't like spending time in a pool with chlorine.  Chlorine is nasty stuff, to say the least.

Now that you know who I am and what I do, don't be a stranger.  Especially if you're living in any pain.  It's really easy to make appointments on my website and I only charge $1 per minute.  And I do the 2^nd massage free if you do it within 3 days of the 1^st one.  I doubt you'll find a better bargain anywhere.  Here's a great picture of me with the Iraqi team at Bella Luna on Eastern Avenue.  They were nice enough to pick up the tab for the entire team that night, so please thank them if you get a chance.  The Iraqi rowers have been shot at by terrorists and police at various times, just because they want to row.  They really are the good guys.  One of them lives in the Green Zone and the one who won the medal had to leave the country for a year because he was targeted.  Unfortunately, he's now a target again.

Bill Hulsizer, LMT, CPT, NCTMB
Tusculum Therapeutic Massage

3540 Columbia Parkway, Suite 1