Crystal Abitz
Building a Legacy
story by MICAH PEPPERS photos by PAUL NURNBERG
Business owner, licensed massage therapist, author, doctor, teacher, athlete, mother, and military spouse — to say Crystal Abitz is a force of nature would be an understatement. Raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a skilled athlete, Crystal received numerous Division I volleyball scholarship offers. Having devoted her life to sports, Crystal was burned out and wanted a break; as a result, she declined the offers. However, one of her potential schools, Iowa State University (ISU), let her know that if she changed her mind down the road, they would be happy to accept her as a walk-on. To keep that door open, she went on to attend ISU.
Unfortunately, a knee injury would end any opportunity of ever playing for a D1 school, but she remained at ISU and pursued her bachelor’s in Elementary Education. During her senior year, she headed to New Zealand, where she was able to student teach. When she returned to the U.S., she gained various teaching experiences as a substitute teacher. “I taught from three-year-old preschool all the way up to high school chemistry and physics. I even subbed high school German a bit.” Crystal also taught at a community college. “I taught study skills, test prep, academic writing, and note-taking. I also worked in the student success center as a tutor.”
Crystal missed being around athletes and decided to pursue her master’s in Exercise Science at the University of Northern Iowa. “I enjoyed teaching, but I really missed working with athletes and wanted to advance my education in a capacity that allowed me to work with high-level athletes.” Her research was focused on mindfulness, flow, and competitive anxiety in collegiate athletes. She volunteered in the biomechanics lab, exercise physiology lab, and with the sport psychology student research teams. Her passion for strength and conditioning coaching grew stronger. In addition, while working toward her master’s, she earned her massage therapist license from Body Wisdom School of Massage. Her efforts did not go unnoticed. She was invited to research at a university in Brazil for a few weeks. And after returning to her university, she became the first female to be a strength and conditioning coach for the University of Northern Iowa’s football team. Upon graduating, she became certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and fulfilled internships as a strength and conditioning coach for Brigham Young University’s football team and the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team the year they went to the NCAA championship. Crystal also gained experience working with professional golfers, triathletes, and some members of the Green Bay Packers.
Eventually, her path led her back to Wisconsin, where she began to pursue a Ph.D. while working as a personal trainer and massage therapist for both professional and collegiate athletes. During this time, she reconnected with her high school crush, Tony Abitz. Tony, a United States Marine, had returned home from a deployment and was encouraged to get together with Crystal by Crystal’s brother. They did, and Tony soon received orders to Quantico, Virginia. Crystal moved with him, and the two were later married near Stafford, Virginia.
So, where is Crystal today? Tony’s military orders brought their family (the happy couple and their two young children) down to Beaufort. Crystal has found a way to utilize all her skills and experiences to help others. In 2021, she opened her own mobile business, Legacy Wellness. “Legacy Wellness allows me to serve more people in the way that they need. I work with clients on assisted stretching, massage therapy, and personal training. My clients are typically coming to me in search of ways to reduce their pain, inflammation, or general muscular soreness. Some clients are looking to increase their range of motion, while others are looking for ways to improve their energy levels and overall mind-body connection. My personal training clients include athletes who prefer private strength and conditioning coaching, as well as the general population who are working to reach their weight-loss goals.” Next month, Legacy Wellness will open its first on-site location at 23 Plantation Park Drive in Bluffton. “Having my own space, I can work with my family’s needs while still helping more people. I focus on a more holistic approach to massage and movement therapy, and I kind of think of Legacy Wellness as my clients’ one-stop shop.”
One of Crystal’s areas of expertise is in her art of Thai massage. “It’s not a traditional massage,” she explains. “It’s a gentle and nurturing experience. Clients are fully clothed, and the mat is on the floor. It’s a natural approach. We move through the movement-based massage as the client allows — their breath and energy guide the flow. The sessions also allow deeper pressure as I’m able to use my feet and knees. It’s all movement based and lets me see where their restrictions are.” Thai massage is an ancient practice that helps those receiving the work to experience reduced stress, increased flexibility, decreased back pain, and more. “I work with a variety of clients who may have suffered some form of trauma or who have been diagnosed with PTSD. I’m almost holding them, so it feels gentle and nurturing. Further, with this style of bodywork, I can focus on their pain points. It’s more than a traditional table massage. It’s healing. It’s therapeutic.” With advanced education in not only Thai massage but also acupressure, clinical sports massage, neuromuscular release, orthopedic massage, trigger point therapy, etc., Crystal prefers to work with individuals who have specific conditions or recovering injuries as well as work with caregivers. “I have quite a few clients who are doctors, nurses, and teachers. It’s great when care providers come to see me. They are constantly giving, so it’s nice to be on the receiving end. Legacy Wellness is open to anyone.”
Not one to slow down, Crystal’s day is not a typical 9 to 5. “I run the Legacy Wellness social media account and built our website. I meet with clients and often have public speaking engagements, which could be on several topics, such as overcoming performance anxiety, athlete burnout, identifying personal values, etc. I handle it all.” For most people, that would be more than enough to occupy their time, but Crystal is not most people. In April 2023, she received her Ph.D. in Health Sciences and Human and Sports Performance. Some of her Ph.D. research has been published in the international sports coaching research journal Sports Coaching Review. In August, Crystal will be traveling to Ottawa, Canada, to present her research at the 2023 World Congress of Sociology of Sport Conference.
She also started her own podcast named the “Free-Spirited Doctor.” Her educational and inspirational stories guide her listeners to become the person they desire to be. Crystal is in a place where she wants to enjoy being somewhat of a free spirit. “I ask my listeners to think about how they want to be remembered. Will they be remembered for being burned out and overworked or happy and energetic? I want people to realize that they are their own legacy. We are all the designers of our lives and our legacies.”
Although the military brought Crystal’s family to Beaufort, they have no plans of leaving anytime soon. “We recently bought and renovated a home on Lady’s Island. We love living in Beaufort. The slower pace was a real struggle for me at first because I was used to cramming a lot into a short amount of time. In other places, that was the culture. I still get things done and am still productive, but now my task lists are more manageable. There’s less risk of burnout. The people are friendly and genuine. It’s easy to break into a conversation with a stranger at a restaurant or coffee shop, and the conversation actually continues. We love going to Hunting Island and being outside. We have a record player, and we love dancing and singing with our kids. We just live a life of gratitude.”
If Crystal could give a bit of advice to those living in the Lowcountry, it would be this: Be grateful for what you have and for what your body can do for you. Mindset is key. Smile more. Appreciate the natural beauty around us and do what you can to share your inspirational stories with others.
