Hidden Gems: Meet Missy Bunch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Missy Bunch.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I got into this business because everything was going well, working great and I had no injuries at all. HAHA just kidding. No one gets into this business without a very real reason. I was compelled to get into movement and rehab because of a 4-year knee injury that I couldn’t figure out. No other professional could either. I have been a dancer my entire life and in my early 20s, I hurt my knee while performing on the NBA court. All of the MRIs and assessments said my knee was “fine.”

Well, it wasn’t because it HURT. So after doing everything I could several years in a row, I finally gave up and accepted it. I accepted that I had a “bad knee” and that was my identity and although depressing, I was okay with it. I came to terms with my reality. So I transition from professional dance into fitness because it is a smooth lateral move to do so and one day after I was teaching a boot camp class, my boss told me she took a course called “Z-Health.” Little did I know that her experience would change my life forever.

Because of the way the brain works, she told me to work on my right elbow, for left knee pain (okay coo-coo crazy lady) and so I did it, obviously thinking it wouldn’t do anything. But… it… DID. I worked on my right elbow for 4-year knee pain that no one else had made progress with and my knee pain never came back. That was it for me.

I dedicated the next decade of my life (and I still do- I just wrapped up a 2-day Pain Summit with the world’s leading scientists in the pain industry) to educating myself on neuroscience and applied kinesiology with the company Z-Health and I was determined that every single person I come into contact with NEEDS to know that becoming pain-free can be simple, even if it seems a bit weird. I was eager to be the weirdo.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has never been a smooth road and it never will be. I am completely okay with that. “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” am I right or am I right? This type of education costs time, money, and discipline. It isn’t a linear path and there are no 12 steps to neurology. There is NO template for how pain works. EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. is a brand new case with a different history, different experience, different story, therefore every person I work with I have to bring my A-Game.

I can’t search into my computer for “left knee pain” and find an answer. Your description of knee pain is completely different than mine. A violinist who breaks their pinky has an entirely different reaction to the break than a professional dancer would. That little pinky means their livelihood, their career, their ego and identity, their pride is all wrapped up in that one injury, while a dancer breaking their pinky the same way might say it is a bit annoying, but not a big deal.

One of the struggles in this industry that I have experienced is simply that I am female. I live in a male-dominated field and frankly need to be very confident in who I am along with delivering actual results that make a difference. Another struggle is that social media makes it hard to portray what you are capable of. It is really hard to showcase in 7 seconds (the average watch time of a reel) the important things someone should know when it comes to dealing with their pain.

With that said, social media is incredible for helping people across the world and it is absolutely amazing. I guess that’s why it’s called a social dilemma!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Missy Bunch Fitness and Movement IQ?
My Missy Bunch Fitness is about education.

Education is THE thing that will help people out of pain the most (in my opinion) obviously they have to do the physical work, but without knowing the WHY it will never be as effective. I also teach 1 or 2 mentorships a year for my colleagues. My one-on-one clients are few and far between because I am extremely selective on who I allow into my schedule. I am known for being a bit crazy, down-to-earth and funny in my sessions. I am most proud of making things SIMPLE to understand. If you are a human with a brain, my offerings are for you.

When it comes to Movement IQ, this is when you want the juicy goods for your company. This may include 30-minute movement sessions (consistent or one-off) with myself or my husband, tailored talks around a specific complaint like carpal tunnel or eye strain, and any health/wellness-related topic you might think your company needs. We are about to do a talk for LEE KU MEE and we are SO excited. It is an Asian sauce brand and they want to know the importance of moving their eyes.

Please reach out if you think your company would benefit from a talk like this!

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I cringe at this question haha! Anyone that knows my story knows that I literally have the opposite of luck. My entire life is me overcoming abnormally challenging obstacles. My story is heartbreaking and that is for another time.

Pricing:

• Consultation for chronic pain: $250
• Follow up sessions: $200
• MIQ 30- Minute Movement session for your company $795
• Customized Talk: depends on your company’s needs

Contact Info:

• Email: missy@missybunch.com
• Website: movementiq.co and missybunch.com
• Instagram: @missybunch15
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=missy%20bunch%20fitness%20page
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/missbunch15
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcTxHExXkO4g0AZ2GvKmh6w
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/missy-bunch-fitness-san-diego
• Other: movementiq.co

Image Credits
@kaylacbarber, @michellelillywhite, and @wholeheartphotos