We recently had the chance to connect with Christa Duncan and have shared our conversation below.
Christa, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think the most misunderstood part of sports massage is the change it can create.
Soft tissue work isn’t just about relaxation or spa music. In my practice, we break down movements, analyze the body’s chains, and find what’s not moving efficiently. From there, we work directly with the tissue and the nervous system to create new, more efficient movement patterns.
That means better performance. Better recovery. Better quality of movement.
Sports massage isn’t “just a massage.” It’s performance therapy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the founder of Relentless Athletics & Sports Massage, a performance-focused sports massage practice dedicated to helping athletes, military personnel, and active individuals move better, recover faster, and reach their peak potential. What sets Relentless Athletics apart is my movement-based, results-driven approach: I go beyond traditional massage to analyze movement patterns, identify inefficient chains in the body, and apply targeted soft tissue and nervous system techniques. This method retrains the body for more efficient, powerful movement, creating real, measurable improvements in performance, mobility, and recovery. Trusted by elite athletes and military clients alike, I combine technical expertise with a relentless commitment to helping every client unlock their full potential.
I’ve been a massage therapist for over a decade, and for 9 years I owned a successful general practice before recently selling it to focus fully on performance-based work. I’ve always been drawn to movement, performance, and helping people achieve their best — not just providing relaxation, but creating real, measurable improvements in mobility, strength, and function.
That passion led me to specialize in movement-based sports massage, working with athletes, military personnel, and active clients. At Relentless Athletics, every session is designed to analyze movement, retrain inefficient patterns, and optimize performance and recovery. Helping clients move stronger, recover smarter, and perform better is why I do what I do.
I’m entering my fourth season working with D1 Track & Field, where I provided performance-driven sports massage to help athletes train, recover, and perform at their best. This has afforded me many opportunities on some of the biggest stages, including Regionals, Nationals, USA Championships, and the Jamaican Olympic Trials. I’m also an instructor for CSMA, the nation’s only certifying sports massage program, sharing my expertise with the next generation of therapists.
Alongside my teaching and collegiate work, I’m focused on growing my solo practice, Relentless Athletics & Sports Massage, with a mission to expand my reach to active military and veterans, first responders, local elite sports teams, and professional athletes. My movement-based, results-focused approach sets me apart, combining soft tissue work, nervous system retraining, and movement analysis to optimize performance and recovery.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
A few years ago, I was unrecognizable. Even a year ago, I wouldn’t have known the woman I am now.
Back then, I was the classic people pleaser. I avoided confrontation like it might kill me. I swallowed my words, buried my truth, and bent myself into whatever shape people wanted me to be. I gave and gave and gave — and almost never got the same energy back.
And then it exploded. I was betrayed. Let down. Ripped apart by a group of girls (yes, I said girls) who worked in my own practice. That betrayal was the breaking point. Add in a few other hard life punches, and suddenly, the blinders came off. I saw my worth. My value. The insane amount of work I was pouring into people and situations that gave me nothing in return. And I finally asked myself: why the hell am I putting up with this?
That was the shift.
I found my voice. My joy. My smile. But not without doing the hard, ugly, relentless work. I had to cut ties. Let go of people who were dragging me down, suffocating me, making me small.
Now? I take up space. I am loud. I am relentless. I am done tolerating being walked all over.
This is still a daily battle. I work at it every single day. But I refuse to go back to the version of me who stayed quiet to keep others comfortable. That version of me is gone.
I’m here. And I’m not shrinking anymore.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’ve carried my share of wounds.
Betrayal from the very girls I trusted in my own practice.
Pouring energy into someone who never once matched it back.
Being dismissed and disrespected professionally by another in the collegiate athletic field.
Those things cut deep. But here’s the truth: they never kept me down, and I never let them.
The healing wasn’t instant. Some wounds closed quickly, others lingered. But I learned to stop obsessing over the negative and start asking: What is this teaching me?
Every wound gave me something. Perspective. Strength. Confidence. The ability to stand taller and speak louder the next time I faced something hard.
These moments didn’t break me. They defined me. They made me relentless. And now, I’m more prepared than ever to handle what comes my way — not with fear, but with fire.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
First, I care deeply about my people — whether that’s my athletes, my family, or my closest circle, I show up. They’d also say I’m relentless about growth. I’m not someone who stays the same; I push myself to evolve and do better. Truth matters to me too — I’ve learned to stop silencing myself for the comfort of others, and that’s shaped who I am now. Strength is a big one, not just physical but also mental and emotional. And finally, impact. My work isn’t just about treating muscle tissue, it’s about changing lives, improving movement, and leaving a mark. At the heart of it all, my friends would say what really matters to me is valuing the people I serve while also making sure I value myself just as much.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my clients would miss the way I look at movement. I don’t just focus on muscles — I break down patterns, figure out what’s not working efficiently, and help them move better. They’d also miss the energy and care I bring. I’ve always been relentless about showing up for my athletes and military clients, investing in their goals as if they were my own. Most of all, they’d miss the trust and results we’ve built together — knowing they have someone in their corner who truly understands the grind, that they can rely, and depend on to show up, and can help them perform at their best.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.relentlesssportsmassage.com
- Instagram: @relentless_sportsmassage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551091532717
