Meet Christine Harmon | Intuitive Movement Specialist, Body Acumen

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Harmon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I worked in corporate America for many years, and I loved it. I was at a tech company during the internet boom, and it was so exciting! There were many opportunities for advancement, and I quickly rose the ranks while working beside some truly exceptional men and women. Everyone I worked with was young, interesting, smart, and driven. It was wonderful to be in their company, working, sharing with, and learning from them.

Though I loved my job, it required many hours of work on my computer. After 6 years of working 10-12 hour days at my machine, I developed severe tendinitis in both of my arms. Despite occupational therapy, it got out of control quickly. In fact, I got to a point where I could not hold my hair dryer or chop vegetables. It was difficult to open doors and even painful to drive to work.

I came to realize that I needed to care for my body, and that meant a different way of working and providing for myself. When the internet boom went bust, I volunteered to take a package so I could build a career that would allow me to prioritize my health alongside my income.

After leaving corporate America, I went through an exploratory phase where I researched many different career options. During this time I went to a class called “Making a Living without a Job.” The instructor, Barbara Winter, really got me thinking about how to monetize my passions and my skills. That’s when I decide to create a business that focuses on women’s health and wellness. I’ve never looked back!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I help busy women commit to their self-care and discover their bodies’ amazing healing capabilities so they can stay active, strong, and do the things they love to do.

I believe you can learn to listen to your body’s cues and respond to them so you can avoid….

1) Wasting time running all over town looking for someone to “fix” you

2) Invasive and expensive surgeries and procedures that may or may not leave you feeling better

3) Potentially addictive medications and pain pills….

And that’s what I teach my clients to do. I share a large toolbox, which contains assessments, hydration techniques, stability techniques, and more traditional strengthening exercises. Everyone has a different body and a different history, so a solution that works for one person may not work for another. We work together to discover the best way to promote healing and optimize health, so you can live your life without distractions from an achy body.

I began my business in 2003, and it has undergone countless iterations. The road to where I am now has been exciting, frustrating, full of growth, and exhausting all at the same time. I started in personal training and added in Pilates. Then I herniated a disc in my neck, which sent me on a long road of research and exploration. That’s when I learned about the power of the connective tissue system and added in fascial rehydration and neuromuscular work. Recently, I’ve become a big advocate for living a vegan lifestyle and am offering my clients support in this area as well.

My life experiences have had a direct impact on my business. I believe they’ve been given to me so that I can translate them, learn, and then support others. I didn’t enjoy having neck pain, tendinitis or suffering health issues due to following the Standard American Diet, but all of these things made me stronger and wiser, and they’ve given me the knowledge and experiences that I need to help my clients. Now I can support them and they, hopefully, don’t have to experience the difficulties that I did.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Cleveland. It is definitely a hidden gem of a city. If I had friends visiting, I would take them downtown to catch a show or two at Playhouse Square. Lots of people don’t realize this, but Cleveland has the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City.

We’d also visit some of the trendy restaurants in and around the city. More and more of them are offering vegan options, which I love. (Just because I’m vegan it doesn’t mean I don’t love good food!!) Some of my favorites restaurants here are Zhug, Parallax, Fahrenheit, and Gigi’s on Fairmount (for wine and snacks).

During the day, we’d hike the Metroparks trails. The trails are so beautiful and extensive, and so close to the city. They definitely kept me sane during the COVID lockdown period! One of my favorite trails is located near the polo fields. We would take my dog Winnie and let her run around and splash in the waters, and we’d most definitely run into some horseback riders along the way.

After getting some exercise, we’d go to the quaint town of Chagrin Falls to see the falls and get some popcorn or ice cream. We’d also spend some time walking the streets and exploring the cute boutique shops that line the downtown area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes! I would love to dedicate my shoutout to my business coach, Jennah Lear. Jennah has taught me about the power of a brand. She’s taught me about the value of a clear and concise message to share with others. If you aren’t clear on what your power is and how you can impact the lives of others, you simply cannot reach the people who need you. With Jennah’s guidance, I’ve learned how to craft my message so I can make the impact in the world that I want to. It is so beautiful, and I am forever grateful!

Website: https://bodyacumenllc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbharmon/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineBrinkleyHarmon

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSVYVzD_H-u63Bb1BbovMOg