So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Hi, my name is Luther Lockard. I am 71 years old and currently fulfilling one of my life’s purposes as a Posture and Movement Coach and Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT).

I have a diverse life background. I was born in Chicago, where I lived until I was 10 years old. I was exposed to the realities of life at a very young age for reasons that are not important to discuss now. I was then raised in Memphis, Tennessee, during a turbulent period in American history, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the Hippie era, the Women’s Rights Movement, and significant political upheaval. In many ways, it feels like history has come full circle.

Over my lifetime, I have witnessed technology evolve at an incredible pace. I remember when finding quality information meant visiting libraries and using the Dewey Decimal System. Today, I can ask AI questions that broaden my horizons and serve as an extension of my creativity and intentions. As one of the youngest Baby Boomers, I have experienced remarkable changes throughout my life, while many of my peers are already retired.

Today, I continue fulfilling my purpose by working as a Posture and Movement Coach. My current business objectives include continuing my clinical posture and movement practice, teaching massage school and continuing education classes, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals—including physical therapists, Pilates instructors, yoga teachers, and personal trainers—to bring more sophisticated assessment techniques into their practices.

My business is Corporate Massage Therapies – Advanced Treatment Center, LLC, located in Marlton, New Jersey.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

I live in a diverse suburban community on the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where there is an abundance of nature that provides opportunities for reflection and relaxation. At the same time, I am conveniently located near major urban centers such as Philadelphia, Delaware, and New York City.

Within an hour's drive, I can enjoy the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. The Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania are only two hours away, as are Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbor and many other attractions. Washington, D.C., is approximately three and a half hours away. It truly offers the best of all worlds.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

My name is Luther Lockard, Posture and Movement Coach, LMT.

Before entering healthcare, I spent 18 years in the corporate world as a Risk and Loss Control Consultant. Twenty-eight years ago, I began a new career as a massage school instructor and Licensed Massage Therapist. Over time, my work evolved into medical massage therapy and ultimately into my current specialty as a Posture and Movement Coach.

For the past 22 years, I have owned and operated Corporate Massage Therapies – Advanced Treatment Center, LLC. I have completed more than 2,500 hours of advanced bodywork training and have served over 45,000 clients throughout my career.

I help clients address both chronic and acute musculoskeletal conditions more effectively than many traditional approaches. Many of my clients come to me after trying numerous other treatments without success.

In addition to providing posture and movement coaching and clinical medical massage, I also teach part-time at the American Institute in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. My goal is to help develop the next generation of medical massage and bodywork practitioners by sharing the knowledge and experience I have gained over the past 28 years. It is my way of giving back while helping improve the profession.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

First, make sure your business aligns with your greatest passion and your life’s purpose. When your work reflects who you are, it no longer feels like work.

Second, master your craft. Become an expert in what you do.

Third, develop excellent communication skills. You must be able to clearly explain what you do and how it benefits your customers.

Finally, make sure you—or someone on your team—understands sound business practices, your industry, and what differentiates your company from the competition.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

There are too many wonderful testimonials to choose just one. However, a common theme I hear is that no one has ever explained to them the relationship between posture, body alignment, and the conditions they have been struggling with.

Many clients experience significant improvements in conditions they have suffered from for years. Some find lasting relief, while others experience complete resolution of the issues that brought them to me. Seeing those transformations is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.

Where do you see your company in the future?

My mission is to change the way movement professionals apply their skills and modalities so they can deliver better, longer-lasting outcomes for their clients.

I am also working to change the mindset of both practitioners and clients by promoting the philosophy that "Self Care = Health Care." In fact, I wrote a book with that title and developed an in-house posture assessment app called PosturePro, which forms the foundation of my assessment system.

Over the years, I have developed a comprehensive method for gathering and analyzing posture and alignment data. This information is entered into the PosturePro app to help guide assessment and treatment planning.

I also discovered that many practitioners across different healthcare disciplines lack sufficient knowledge and practical skills in posture assessment and alignment principles. That realization inspired me to create the PosturePro Training Institute, which provides updated, science-based education to help professionals better assess human posture and movement.

In addition, I continue writing articles for Brainz Magazine and plan to launch the PosturePro Podcast in the future to educate both professionals and the public.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that massage therapy occupies the lowest rung of the healthcare industry and that it is only useful for relaxation or minor muscle soreness.

The public is generally not well educated about the scope of our profession. There are more than 350,000 massage therapists in the United States practicing over 100 different massage and bodywork techniques.

The results clients receive depend on many factors, including the therapist’s training, experience, specialty, treatment approach, and the client's specific condition. As a result, most people have only a limited understanding of what professional massage therapy and bodywork can truly accomplish.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of my biggest challenges has been recognizing that I must continually evolve my practice and stay ahead of industry trends rather than fall behind them.

I have addressed this challenge by maintaining a clear sense of purpose and committing to continuing education on a regular basis so I can continue developing the knowledge and skills needed for long-term success.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

My favorite music artist was James Brown, and my favorite athlete was basketball legend Dr. J (Julius Erving).

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I would like to thank all of the many teachers and mentors throughout my life—too many to name individually—who took the time and had the patience to share their knowledge with me. Their guidance has played an important role in who I am today.