Vanessa Passarella
Sponsored for the National Massage Championships
Vanessa is dedicating her entry to her dad, who was her first inspiration and teacher in massage. Born in Colombia and growing up in Northern Italy near Verona, Vanessa loved massage, but it has been a long journey to get to be the therapist she is today. She first came to the UK to study beauty, but becoming a single mum, with limited skills in English, meant her journey was no easy task. As she grew her language skills, she moved from cleaning to working in coffee shops to becoming a waitress and finally a commis chef in the Shard.
Vanessa with her dad, now sadly no longer with us
Somehow she had lost touch with her first passion.
Coming home after long shifts, tearful and unhappy, hardly seeing her young daughter, she realised that she needed to go back to what she really loved – looking after people. She felt she was giving and giving, with nothing in return. After much private research, she took the big step of going back to school. Enrolling at the London School of Health and Beauty, Vanessa credits her first teacher, Angelica Skoberla, as her most inspirational trainer. Understanding her situation, Angelica allowed her to bring her daughter along and act as a model on courses. Tough as a teacher, she taught Vanessa to believe in herself.
Now, some 8 years’ later, Vanessa is qualified in aromatherapy, reflexology, hot stone/hot bamboo and chair massage, amongst others and has developed her own style. She’s currently training in shiatsu too. She works for agencies and for private clients for businesses and individuals and loves the variety of work.
“If my clients are happy, I am happy”, she says.
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For more information about Vanessa, see https://www.wellnessbyvanessa.com/
To book free tickets to Olympia (and come and support Vanessa too!) go here Here Visitor for general tickets and here if you specialise in beauty Here