When Bea Mikkola became a Vicars instructor in 2024, it was a move that bridged her two existing careers: coaching and massage therapy. She has a degree in kinesiology from Guelph and a Fitness and Health Promotion diploma from Humber College. Later, an internship led her to work as a strength coach at SAIT. She loved the work, but it lacked stability and a clear career path, so she decided to add massage therapy to the mix.

Bea’s RMT, former Vicars instructor Tonia Vipler, told her about our program. When she graduated, she immediately integrated a massage practice into her coaching schedule, spending about half her time in each. It’s a good balance, and teaching is the final piece. Bea says she has always loved the mentorship side of coaching, both teaching and learning from her students.