Diana Beranek is the owner and solo licensed therapist at Go Madd 4 Massage!, a company she started in 2004 in St Augustine, Florida. People often ask what the ‘madd’ part of the biz title stands for. ‘Madd’ is make a difference daily which is part of my positive approach toward personal & business life and a strong anchor of my faith & purpose in general. She attended the University of Iowa, although she is a native of Wisconsin, and received a B.S. in pharmacy. After many years of working as a registered pharmacist, she made a courageous decision to change careers and went to school at Alpha School of Massage in Jacksonville, Florida as she realized that she wasn’t in the ‘right’ niche in life. She started her first reflexology and massage business there, in a gym setting, and has been in the medical/fitness field for the last 25 years. Since 1997.
Because of numerous health issues, Diana is very knowledgeable about fitness, nutrition, healthy eating as well as supplements. She applies life coaching to any client open to change, making better life choices, & winning in life or in health matters. If you’re in St. Augustine, Vilano Beach, or anywhere in St Johns County, we hope you’re willing to contact us and check out our prices to get started today.
Go Madd 4 Massage is a Christian based business so our morals and ethics and professionalism are very important.
Colossians 3:23….Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily from the soul as something done for the Lord & not for men. She believes that thru her massage ministry, she is the instrument/vessel to be the hands & feet of Jesus to help others.
Go Madd 4 Massage Receives 2021 Best of St. Augustine Award
St. Augustine Award Program Honors the Achievement
ST. AUGUSTINE March 13, 2021 — Go Madd 4 Massage has been selected for the 2021 Best of St. Augustine Award in the Massage Therapist category by the St. Augustine Award Program.
Each year, the St. Augustine Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the St. Augustine area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2021 St. Augustine Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the St. Augustine Award Program and data provided by third parties.
About St. Augustine Award Program
The St. Augustine Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the St. Augustine area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The St. Augustine Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.
Accomplishments:
- Published in Welcome Trends in Pharmacy for clinical work on a renal transplant unit in Dallas, TX.
- Published in St Augustine Record for Women in Business Profiles.
- Googles’ favorite places list of businesses.
- Speaker for 2019 Texas 635 life balance seminar about the benefits of massage & demos given.
- Certified health & wellness coach
- Recently published a new book, Stop Being A Victim: Lift Weights Off, Lift Eyes Up, and Spread Your Wings was published by Christian Faith Publishing. Purchase it here: https://www.christianfaithpublishing.com/books/?book=stop-being-a-victim. It is available on Amazon, Itunes as an ebook, and through Barnes and Nobles. It will be available as an audiobook sometime in the spring of 2023.
Hobbies/Interests:
- Die hard tennis fan: Rafael Nadal is my favorite sports person.
- Die hard football fan: Packers, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning & Tim Tebow
- Listens to nondenominational churches like Elevation and Lakewood online
- Reads self-help and Christian/inspirational books.
- Lays out at the pool and maintains a Florida tan for relaxation.
- Movies of all types
- Concerts, enjoys many genres of music
- Listens to uplifting Christian praise and worship music
- Enjoys sitting on her patio relaxing, being in touch with nature & with God for prayer time
Body Maintenance:
- Walks her dog Wrangler 2 miles daily around Bartram area of Jax (pics below)
- Diana receives regular maintenance massages twice a month.
- Lifts weights/toning, does cardio at Planet Fitness Bartram in Jax
- Receives adjustments every 3 weeks by Dr Dowdy of Pierce Chiropractic using a method called orthogonal treatment which is very precise
- Takes relaxing detox baths using epsom salts & baking soda w/ lavender which helps relieve tension and relax muscles.
- Takes many supplements for immunity, energy, & digestive health.
Diet:
I maintain an antiinflammatory/autoimmune diet, veering toward paleo lifestyle, living by the 80/20 rule. I start my day with a super green smoothie which I make, 64 oz. The ingredients in the smoothie are alternated daily and may include kale, spinach/spring mix, beets, almond/coconut milk, kiwi, berries, and lime squeeze.I concentrate on fruits & veggies and high protein: any red meat is grass fed, any poultry antibiotic free, no pork, some seafood focusing on wild salmon, flounder, or mahi. I also enjoy eggs, limited nuts or seeds, limited or no grains/gluten. I seldom eat night shade veggies: tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers. I’ve eliminated all dairy,soy, corn, coffee or soft drinks. Food sensitivity and micronutrient deficiency tests were done in 2022 so she knew exactly what was irritating her system and either had to eliminate or use sparingly. In February, 2023, due to skin issues which started as a result of mold exposure and very cold weather in Florida, she had to completely change her diet as a biopsy showed spongiotic dermatitis. She now eats low histamine and low FODMAP. There is a possibility she is dealing with SIBO, small intestine bowel obstruction and is seeing a functional medicine doctor. Fodmaps are foods that add water to the small intestine which dilutes stomach acid. They also create sugar which bacteria, which aren’t supposed to be in the small intestine, thrive on.
Dogs:
My sweet & friendly dog Praline (blonde, furry pic) used to come to my office every day to greet clients. She was unfortunately put down December 15, 2017 at age of 17.5 due to complications of arthritis, cataracts, & a brain tumor despite acupuncture, rehab, & adjustments. I was her caretaker for 18 months as I fed her in my arms like a baby & many times used a stroller for her. She will be greatly missed, & I made a memory book for her. After many months of grieving, I adopted a new dog named Wrangler (Bulldog/Boston Terrier/Lab) on Mother’s Day 2018. She won’t be at the office at this time as she thinks it’s a team effort; mommy applies the lotion/oil & she wants to lick it off lol.The name ‘Wrangler ‘ will live on in a dog, not in a Jeep as I drove wranglers for 12 yrs & switched to a renegade in 2019.
Setbacks
I have an autoimmune condition, Hashimotos, which developed before and after gallbladder/appendix surgery along with Epstein Barr virus & many illnesses so a lot of effort/energy has been exerted to manage chronic fatigue & to achieve a healthy immune system. I have fought back since 2005 daily to run a physically demanding business & maintain balance in life thru a faith-filled, positive attitude. I survived a car accident on June 2, 2014 where I was hospitalized with pneumothorax & excruciating pain, not being able to lay flat on either side for a month & only able to do limited massages.
The next year I fell outside my office on the cement & for a year had debilitating pain from sural nerve of both legs & I T band. The next year I fell while riding a bike on vacation & experienced painful 2nd-degree burns. All 3 of these incidents I fought back thru a lot of pain, but I was healed from all of them totally thru regular massage, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, replenishing sleep, epsom salt baths, strong prayers, & having lots of goals to completely heal. I can greatly relate to anyone suffering from numerous health issues & can offer healthy advice, suggestions on best routes to follow.
My motto in life is ‘Find a way to win no matter what!’ I have overcome & declared victory over numerous circumstances in life in which I felt victimized. From years of childhood abuse to pink eye & a brain tumor (prolactinoma) in college, I am still standing. From a rape at 27 & almost being killed 3 times during this night of terror & becoming pregnant, I fought back. From filing bankruptcy in order to change careers from pharmacy to massage, I rose above. From years of grieving over friendship betrayals to my father’s years of alzheimers/dementia & death in 2019 to putting 2 dogs down, to leg dysfunction & body adjustments, I have trusted & kept my faith. I feel my biggest learning experiences from all the life setbacks & trials was forgiving at very deep levels, learning not to be a victim of circumstances but rather a victor, & learning to trust God’s plan, that he would bring good out of all of it, that what seems to be falling apart is really puzzle pieces falling into place. Numerous disappointments & rejection have taught me to live loved & let God’s love flow thru me to help others be the best they can be. I have gone from life survivor to thriving to Overcomer. I see myself as a vessel of God’s healing power. Grieving from many losses has been a huge part of my story so I know the blessing from all of it is to help anyone learn to grieve well & get to the other side which is Joy.
Charity Involvements:
- Scott cancer free auction
- Firefighters for Families
- Ymca for kids programs
Mission Statement:
My hands are a real blessing,” says Diana. “My goal was to turn a dream into a reality, and I achieved that. I love what I do every day, so it doesn’t seem like a job.” Using her personal touch with clients, welcoming them with her outgoing personality and friendly smile, and projecting a professional image are what have made her business successful. Her motto from the beginning was ‘Build it and they will come,’ a faith-based approach to business and also the theme from the movie Field of Dreams. Through massage, I live my God-given purpose & passion.
Personal Statement
My fascination with ‘hands’ began many years ago while attending the University of Iowa. At the Hospitals and Clinics building, there was a display of hands which really spoke to me. The vast differences in size, shape, contour, and strength as well as the fingerprinting process itself is very intriguing and makes our hands very unique. Everyone should experience a professional massage in order to release the mind from problems and the outside world and to just relax. Just to be blessed with hands that allow someone to heal energizes me greatly. Everyone needs to be touched, and through massage, you are giving yourself the most loving gift that you can, that of personal touch. Massage is an important facet of the holistic approach which i strongly believe in. Having weekly massages helps keep me at the best possible shape in order to help my clients the most. The value of a licensed massage therapist is huge as many people have soft tissue complaints and don’t know where to turn as these issues interfere with their day to day activities where their muscles hurt or they have limited movement that decreases performance at work or home and becomes a bothersome concern. Massage service is valuable to you as a major health care resolution to your issues. I invite you to let yourself experience massage and to let your senses be enlightened.
Just to Inspire You, the following phrases are some of my favorite inspirational and positive statements that I want to share with you
- Focus on the donut, not on the hole.
- The mind is like a parachute; it only functions when open.
- Even if you lose some of the battles, you can still win the war.
- Walls turned sideways= bridges.
- Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery.
- Today is a gift, that’s why they call it the present.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should I get a massage?
A good rule of thumb is to have a massage on a monthly basis. Of course, if you’ve been in an accident or have a lot of stress or medical issues, then a weekly massage for a while may be better suited for your situation. A monthly massage is the healthy way to go in order to remove toxins from the body.
What kinds of medical problems does a therapeutic massage help?
A therapeutic massage involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body to alleviate stress, pain, discomfort, muscle spasms and cramps as well as promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It can help with personal or work-related stress/anxiety, arthritis of any type, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, digestive problems, headaches, insomnia, sports-related injuries including decreased range of motion, circulation problems, etc. The list is endless of the many medical benefits of massage.
Are massage therapists licensed in every state?
There are close to 60 accredited massage schools in the United States, and the list keeps growing with the popularity of the massage career. Not all states require therapists to be licensed, but the majority do. Massage schools will provide a minimum of 500 hours of training; some require up to 2 years in community college programs which include many extra modalities. A therapist is licensed (LMT) or certified (CMT), depending on the state, when he or she has passed the national certification exam for therapeutic massage. Continuing education is required in order to keep skills up to date as well as renewing licenses.
Why is drinking water so important after a massage?
Please drink plenty of water especially after your first massage and for a 24 hr period after each massage to flush out all the toxins that have accumulated to the surface as massage greatly increases your circulation and lymphatic drainage. Our bodies are approximately 70% water so we’re giving back to our bodies what they need most.
Why do some massage therapists start face up and is there a correct way to start a massage?
No there is not a correct way to start a massage, however in eastern medicine it is more common and more recommended to start face up in order to open up the facial muscles/sinuses and neck/chest areas. Starting face up also allows more personal time and rapport to be built between client and therapist as it is a more open position. By starting with the face first no lotions or oils are on the hands which could interfere with a woman’s makeup or irritate the sensitive face.
Why does my nose feel so stuffed up during and after a massage?
Sometimes this happens because of laying face down in the face cradle. Again, circulation is increased, and everything comes to the surface trying to leave your body through any pores. It is part of the lymphatic drainage process which is very normal. Kleenex is provided in my office for this very purpose. When you have more regular massages, you won’t feel as stuffed up as much. Some clients use a nasal spray so that this doesn’t happen during a massage. Some people cannot lay with their heads face down in the cradle for a 20-minute or more period and may lay with their head to the side, especially if it is bothersome to them.
Are there any medical reasons in which someone shouldn’t have a massage?
Yes, in cases of phlebitis, some cancers, cardiac problems, some skin conditions and infectious diseases, massage isn’t recommended. Ask your doctor if massage is ok, and let your massage therapist know about any areas of concern.
Why does oil have to be used during a massage?
Using oil decreases the friction of a therapist’s hands rubbing your skin. Friction is even greater in hairy areas. It just makes the massage strokes so much easier to manipulate.
How does massage work exactly to make me feel better?
By definition,massage is an Arabic word meaning stroke. By a therapist using various massage stokes, he or she is manipulating the soft tissues of the body by increasing the circulation of blood and lymph thereby flushing out lactic acid and uric acid, 2 of the main toxic wastes. Endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers, are released during a massage. The skin, which is the largest organ in the body, is stimulated, and ligaments/tendons are stretched. Emotional and physical stress is decreased as part of the whole process. Touch is the gift of life.
Is pet massage recommended?
Massaging an animal is as beneficial to your pet as it is to you. An animal’s body is designed different from a human’s body, but the same benefits are realized, mainly improving the circulation and the overall well-being of the animal, especially in areas of arthritis and pain. Animal massage is based on using acupressure points.
Can I receive a massage if I am pregnant?
Massage is very beneficial to pregnant women, but it is always best to check with your doctor first in case of any high risk situations. The first trimester is the most crucial period, so your doctor should advise you if it is ok. After that, there really isn’t any issue other than you may not be able to lay face down on the table comfortably. Usually extra pillows are placed in specific areas to ease your comfort and adjustments to the standard massage have to be made by the therapist. Special prego cushions are used by some therapist if there’s a high pregnancy clientele.