If I Knew Then What I Know Now: Complete Harmony owner Gail Bovenizer
Starting out as a massage therapist before specialising in a number of areas including pregnancy yoga and baby massage, Gail Bovenizer founded Complete Harmony to help build connections through the power of touch all over the world.
Gail Bovenizer started her career in 1997, when she studied to become a massage therapist. Since then Gail has trained in many different fields specialising in Pregnancy Yoga, Baby Massage, Baby Yoga, Toddler Yoga and Wellbeing for Mothers and Babies.
As a mum of twin girls born at 27 weeks’ gestation, Gail knows the hardships of becoming a new parent and the emotional rollercoaster it can put you on. She feels more than ever in these busy times, new parents need to find their tribe to ease the process.
Founder and owner of Complete Harmony, whose company mission is to help as many parents find their tribe and build relationships with other parents as well as their babies in the first few years of life, Gail has trained hundreds of new instructors worldwide.
Having pioneered many of her services in Ireland, Gail was one of the first to offer classes and services in the Dublin area, starting the Irish Chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage, Baby Massage Ireland and the first to offer Baby and Toddler Yoga. Here, Gail reflects on her career to date.
Describe your career in three words…
Empowering, compassionate and nurturing (plus connection and fulfilling).
What’s one lesson you have learned in business/your career that you wish every woman knew?
Go for it! If you are passionate about it, give it a go. Even if it does not work out, you regret the things you did not do!
Tell us about Complete Harmony.
Complete Harmony was born from what I did not have when I gave birth to my daughters. When my daughters were born at 27 weeks gestation I was on a rollercoaster. Not only were they in hospital for four months and I could not bond with them, when they came out there was nowhere that I could go to meet other mothers and form my tribe!
In 2002 I saw an advertisement for the first Infant Massage Instructor training course in Ireland and I knew straight away that was what I was meant to do. Since then I have added many classes, services and products to support new mums and dads in their journey into parenthood, including Pregnancy Yoga, Baby Yoga, Toddler Yoga and also Massage in Schools, teaching positive touch to 5-12 year olds.
We also run training courses, so that parents all over Ireland can attend classes in their local area, with organisations such as the HSE, Tusla, and Bernardos training up their staff.
Do you feel your early training and career set you up for taking the leap and starting Complete Harmony, and if so, how?
I entered this in my early 20s, so I had no official business training before I started and at the time there was definitely not as much support for new business (especially women in business) as there is today, so I very much learned as I went along.
Do you believe the Irish educational system adequately supports entrepreneurial spirit and action?
Our educational system could do so much more to support students who wish to enter into the world of entrepreneurship including fostering creative thinking and providing mentorship for real world experiences.
Schools are definitely starting to add more diversity to the curriculum. I have recently started to bring a Massage in Schools Program into primary schools, introducing peer massage and respect for others in the classroom, as I believe that this should be nourished from a young age.
What is the most underrated quality essential for leadership in your opinion?
Empathy and compassion. Leaders should be able to lead with their heart when necessary. Supporting their team with understanding. I believe that a good leader should be someone who is willing to do any of the work themselves and still keeps in touch with what is going on in their business at the grass roots level.
What defines a resilient leader?
To me, this is someone who has the confidence to lead their team but also the humility to admit if they are wrong or ask for help if they need it. We all need others to learn from and it is ongoing — everyday is a school day!
What is your advice for anyone building a team?
As president of Baby Massage Ireland (the Irish chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage) I look after the instructors around Ireland and one thing that is very important to me is working together and supporting each other.
Collaborating with each other makes more sense than working in competition and brings more positivity, which increases productivity.
How best can a leader support and motivate a team?
Being part of a team means more than just working together. Leaders should be able to foster a sense of belonging, creating a space where everyone feels valued and encouraging growth within the team. Having clear and transparent communication is vital for keeping everyone on the same page. I also feel celebrating even the small wins is important for team morale.
Is there any life, business or career advice that you were given but (thankfully) ignored?!
When I was starting out, many said that the safer option would be to settle for a 9-5 job and not take the gamble to start my own business, as it was too risky with young children. I am so glad that I took the chance (even though it was a struggle at the beginning) and kept going with the path I wanted to take. Now I have ended up with my dream job!
What’s the most valuable piece of financial advice you ever received?
One that I was given that I wish I had taken earlier was to save a percentage of my salary each month!
Work-life balance. What are your thoughts?!
As a single parent bringing up twins, work-life balance has always been so hard to achieve, but I am finally getting there — although my daughters may not agree! The fact that I absolutely adore the job I do means that I find it hard to switch off, but I am working hard to schedule time off, both for me and for family time.
You can only give your best when you feel your best, and looking after yourself should be at the top of everyone’s list of things to do!
What has been your most proud moment in business so far?
As it has been 20 years since I started, there have been so many moments to be proud of and sometimes it is the small things that matter the most. I have won many awards but in 2022 I was elected to a committee called the CTC (Committee for Trainer Candidates) by my peers worldwide in the International Association of Infant Massage, and this means I am one of three Trainer Consultants that train up new Infant Massage Trainers around the world.
In this new role I am able to spread the love of what I do to many countries where is not established yet and to reach so many more parents and babies.
Having a five-year plan – yes or no?
Yes I do! On September 20 this year I will be launching the opportunity to purchase a Complete Harmony Franchise, which includes all our classes and products. Initially this will be in Ireland, with hopes to expand to the UK, Europe and Australia over the next two years.
I will stop teaching my own classes in 2027 and concentrating on travelling more with training courses around the world.
What’s your ‘go-to’ quotation for inspiration?
“You are amazing.” It may be very simple, but it covers all aspects of life and it is something that I have said to my daughters from such a young age. We are all unique in our own individual way and we can all be amazing.
I do also love “comparison is the thief of joy” and do have to remind myself of this as I scroll through social media!
If you knew then what you know now, would you do anything differently?
If I knew then what I know now I don’t think I would change a thing. I am a believer that everything happens for a reason and I would not be the person I am now without having gone through all that I have gone through!
There have definitely been many challenges I have faced personally and professionally but they have all made me stronger and better able to support others.
Also Read
