Corrie Garnet, RN, LPN, LMT
Corrie Garnet, RN, LPN, LMT, is a dedicated healthcare professional and licensed massage therapist based in St. Augustine, Florida. With a strong foundation in nursing, Corrie earned her Associate Degree in Registered Nursing from St. Johns River State College and a Licensed Practical Nurse certificate from Greenfield Community College. She has cultivated extensive experience in both hospital and home care settings, having served as a Registered Nurse at HCA Healthcare, Flagler Hospital, and Precise Home Health Care Services, where she delivers compassionate, patient-centered care.
In addition to her nursing career, Corrie is the founder and lead therapist at Corrie’s Barefoot Massage, where she provides a wide range of therapeutic modalities including Swedish, Ashiatsu, deep tissue, hydrotherapy, hot stone, cupping, trigger point, and Reiki. Her expertise in Ashiatsu, a luxurious barefoot massage technique, allows clients to experience deep relaxation and targeted relief from chronic tension and pain. Corrie combines her clinical knowledge with her massage therapy skills to create a holistic approach to wellness that supports both physical and emotional health.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Corrie is committed to fostering well-being in her community. She currently serves as a Registered Nurse Manager at Amada Senior Care, guiding care teams to ensure high standards of service for seniors. Known for her compassionate approach, attention to detail, and dedication to healing, Corrie has built a reputation as a trusted healthcare provider who prioritizes the comfort, safety, and health of every individual she serves.
• Registered Nurse
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Licensed Massage Therapist
• University of Massachusetts Amherst - BA
• Accessibilities Alternatives
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lifelong passion for caring for others. I entered the healthcare field at 18, eager and determined to make a difference. Nursing provided me with a front-row view of both the resilience of patients and the challenges of a system stretched beyond its limits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these challenges became even more apparent. While I cherished the gratitude of patients, the weight of burnout, lack of recognition, and systemic barriers forced me to question whether traditional hospital work was the only way to truly help people heal. I realized it wasn’t.
Massage therapy became both a refuge and a revelation for me. Though I earned my massage license in 2018, it was the pressures of hospital work that revealed how much I needed a practice that honored the whole person—including myself. That realization led to the founding of Corey’s Barefoot Massage. Specializing in Ashiatsu, or deep feet-bar massage, I discovered a method that allowed me to provide clients with powerful, intuitive, and lasting structural relief. For the first time, I felt I could truly help people without being constrained by bureaucracy or systemic limitations.
Through certification with the Deep Feet Bar Therapy organization, I honed the form, balance, and intention behind barefoot massage. Each session reinforced the profound impact of this work—relief that is real, holistic, and deeply human. Today, my practice is grounded, focused, and present. I no longer navigate the pressures of long shifts or rigid protocols. Instead, I witness the transformation in each client, knowing I can make a meaningful difference while staying true to my own wellbeing.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I could offer one piece of advice to young women entering this industry, it would be to listen to the part of yourself that knows when it’s time to move on. You don’t have to stay in a system that is burning you out. Start small—take the next right step—and build something that truly aligns with who you are. Your peace and your purpose are worth the effort.
Don’t be afraid to begin gradually. For example, I adjusted my nursing schedule and worked part-time while building my massage therapy clientele. This approach allowed me to transition thoughtfully and sustainably. Once I had enough clients, I was able to dedicate my full energy to my business, knowing it was built on a solid foundation.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I faced in the healthcare system was that, while patients appreciated my care, the system often did not. Long hours, understaffing, limited recognition—even when hospitals received grant money—took an emotional toll. Politics and insurance barriers frequently got in the way of truly helping people. These challenges ultimately led me to rethink my future. I loved caring for patients, but I realized I couldn’t stay in a system that didn’t support its caregivers.
In the massage therapy field, a current challenge is awareness. Many people have misconceptions about Ashiatsu, or barefoot massage. They often imagine something harsh or uncomfortable. Once they understand how it uses gravity and controlled pressure from the feet, however, they see how therapeutic, effective, and gentle it can truly be. This presents an opportunity to educate clients and help them experience the profound benefits of this work.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most in both my work and personal life are mindfulness, compassion, and intentionality. Even as I’ve carved my own path, community has remained central to who I am. I’ve volunteered with women’s health nonprofits and carried countless stories from my time at HCA—moments when patients saw me, even if the system didn’t. Their gratitude sustained me then, and it continues to inspire me today.
I also value creativity, joy, and dedication. Swing dancing, playing guitar, and building my practice client by client reflect a life I’ve created with intention and perseverance. Transitioning from nursing to massage therapy wasn’t easy. I worked part-time, grew my clientele gradually, and poured my energy into providing people with a different kind of care—one that honors the whole person.