Meet Our Massage Man, Rob Harris

For massage therapist Rob Harris, it all began on the playing fields of his youth. “Since I was five years old, right through college,” he says, “sports were an important part of my life.” As a college athlete, he spent many hours in the training room, where he first discovered his knack for healing. “I’d help out with rubdowns and such,” he says, “and people started telling me I had a good touch. ‘You’ve got really good hands,’ they’d say.”

The Seed Is Planted

That praise planted a seed. Could this be a profession? Once he’d decided to change his trajectory, with encouragement from his wife, Rob threw himself into mastering the craft through education and training. He learned (and would one day practice) every modality he could—sports massage, prenatal, pediatric, Swedish, you name it. His first “client”? His son, now 30, received a 60-minute massage at just two minutes old. “It’s never too early to start,” he laughs.

The Calling

What Rob found in massage therapy was more than a job—it was a calling. “I get a great deal of pleasure from helping people, providing healing,” he says. The work felt personal, even fated. Digging into his family history, he uncovered a surprising connection: His great-great-grandfather had been a healer. “There’s a bit of legacy there,” he muses. Even his mother’s habit of rubbing his back as a baby to soothe him seemed like an early hint of what was to come.

As far as his coming to Incentives, Rob credits his friend Jackie (long-time Incentives esthetician). ‘I didn’t know you were a massage therapist,’ she’d said. ‘You should think about coming to Incentives—they’re always looking for talent.’ Thus, the initial connection was made.

Exercise + Massage

One of the things that appeals about Incentives to Rob is its Fitness Incentive connection—in many ways a perfect match with his athletic roots. Before massage therapy, he’d been a personal trainer, and the synergy between fitness and his new profession felt instinctive. “Massage is essential for exercise,” he explains. “Exercise breaks down tissue and leads to the accumulation of metabolic waste. Massage boosts circulation, which is the perfect response. The body recovers more quickly with massage.”

There is historical precedence for Rob’s gym/spa connection; his sports background has been a cornerstone of his work. Over the years, Rob has treated professional athletes—New York Jets players during their Hofstra training days, marathoners prepping for the New York City Marathon, and even Olympians at the 1996 Atlanta Games. A triathlete himself, he brings an insider’s understanding to the table. “It’s especially effective for injury rehab,” he notes. “After your leg’s been in a cast, you lose flexibility and range of motion. Massage breaks down scar tissue and contributes to the recovery of what’s been lost.”

What YOU Need

But Rob’s approach isn’t one-size-fits-all. “No two people are alike,” he says, emphasizing the custom nature of his work. Age, gender, injury history, personal goals—many factors shape the treatment. “Some want relaxation, others need recovery. You have to be flexible, versed in as many techniques as possible to meet every need.” For him, education is a lifelong pursuit. “It’s continuous,” he says. “Different modalities keep you sharp.”

From the training rooms of his youth to the treatment tables of today, Rob Harris has turned a natural gift into a refined science and art.

We are very excited to have him on the Incentives team!

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• Paul Smith

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