For many college students, school consists of showing up to class and putting in enough effort to just barely scrape by. Ashley Cipponeri, however, is not one of those people. As a full-time student at Cal Poly and a recent graduate of the California Holistic Institute in San Luis Obispo, Ashley has taken complete advantage of her time at Cal Poly to manifest her dreams into reality. Somewhere between balancing her newest job at People’s Chiropractic & Massage and keeping up with her nutrition classes, Ashley still somehow finds time in her busy schedule to explore nature as a Poly Escapes trip leader and on thrill-seeking adventures of her own. Her Campus sat down with Ashley to hear all about her inspiring life and ambitious career goals.
HC: What sparked your interest in massage therapy?
AC: I was one of the lucky ones that grew up in an environment going to resorts with my family and getting massages there or receiving gift certificates for massages. I understood what the benefits of massage are and I was encouraged by one of my friends that is also a massage practitioner that it is a really fun thing to do along with school. I decided “why not?” and that I had nothing to lose. I find it to be really in-line with what I’m going to do in the future with nutrition, wellness and prevention.
HC: That’s so cool! How exactly do you plan to incorporate your skills as a massage therapist with your nutrition major?
AC: Nutrition is my major and I plan on being a registered dietician. My goal in life is to work with wellness prevention programs that focus on increasing longevity and reducing the aging process, along with stress. One big element is nutrition but I really believe that massage therapy also provides a lot of benefits that people aren’t taking advantage of in our high stress society.
HC: How can massage therapy benefit students?
AC: As students on a strict budget, we don’t want to set aside the money for a break, but it’s so important. You’d think it would be stressful for me to be going to college and massage school at the same time, but I was getting a massage every day so I was the happiest student ever. And I know it’s not practical for students to get a massage every day, but once a month is so good for maintenance of the body. It actually tones the muscles and helps with circulation, too. I think it’s pretty underrated and under-talked about and can totally benefit students. You feel good, you get those dopamine levels, and you’re body’s releasing those really happy endorphins.
HC: In what ways has massage therapy changed your life?
AC: After the first week of learning massage therapy, I knew it was what I was supposed to be doing. If it’s not something I do in the long run, these are techniques I can use for the rest of my life. I’ve grown so much from this experience as a whole and it really has guided me toward what I really want to do in the future with wellness and prevention.
HC: Do you have any fun plans for the future?
AC: Right now, my focus is going to Peru over the summer with a program called Operation Groundswell. It’s all about “backpack activism” and traveling to a specific location for a purpose by working with a local community to provide volunteer services for whatever they may need. My program is about mind and body, so we assist with incorporating a wellness approach to their community. It’s amazing, and I am so excited about it!
HC: Do you have a favorite quote that you like to live your life by?
AC: “The most dangerous risk of all- the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”
Is your body in need of some serious TLC? Ashley would love to see you! Visit her at People’s Chiropractic & Message in downtown SLO (965 Monterey St.) for a $50/hour full-body massage on your first visit. Student packages are available with five massages for $250. Walk-ins are also welcome on Wednesdays and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call her office today at (805) 786-4420 to schedule yourself some much needed relaxation time or message Ashley through her Facebook page.