Hello, my name is Josh Harper, and at 49 years old, I am embracing a new chapter of my life, one centered on service, healing, and community. I recently completed yoga teacher training, and I hold an additional 36 hours of continuing education in Yin yoga. Alongside that, I am building a mobile sauna business in Northern Michigan, offering people access to sauna, cold plunge, and contrast therapy. My personal practices of breathwork, yoga, and meditation have shaped me into the person I am today, and now I am ready to incorporate massage therapy into this journey. I am a strong believer in holistic wellness, and this scholarship would give me the chance to pursue the training I need to serve others with even greater depth and skill. Massage therapy has been part of my personal wellness for over 20 years. In that time, massage has supported me physically through stress and recovery, but just as importantly, it has grounded me emotionally and spiritually. I know the feeling of walking into a session carrying tension and pain and walking out with clarity, lightness, and relief. Because of these experiences, I feel called to learn the practice so I can offer the same sense of healing and renewal to others. Completing my yoga teacher training and pursuing further study in yin yoga has shown me how powerful slow, mindful practices can be. Yin yoga, in particular, teaches patience, surrender, and the value of stillness qualities that translate directly into massage therapy. The hours I’ve spent guiding students through breathing, mindfulness, and long-held postures have prepared me to hold space for people in a therapeutic setting. Breathwork and meditation continue to be central to my daily life, teaching me how to be present, grounded, and compassionate. These are qualities that will shape the way I support clients as a massage therapist. Alongside yoga, my mobile sauna business reflects my passion for holistic health. I have seen how sauna, cold therapy, and mindful rest can transform someone’s energy and outlook. These practices, like massage and yoga, encourage people to slow down, connect to their bodies, and release what no longer serves them. My vision is to weave these elements together—sauna, yoga, meditation, and massage—into an immersive wellness practice that supports the body, mind, and spirit. At the heart of this vision is my community. Living in Northern Michigan, I see how many people carry the stress of hard work, long winters, and limited access to restorative practices. My dream is to create accessible opportunities for wellness—spaces where people feel safe, respected, and heard. I want to serve not only paying clients but also those who might otherwise go without - veterans, caregivers, and people living with chronic illness or chronic stress. Massage therapy would allow me to extend healing in ways that yoga or sauna alone cannot. I also recognize that becoming a skilled massage therapist requires discipline and training. Anatomy, physiology, and technique take time and focus to master. At this stage in life, balancing education with building a small business is a challenge, and financial strain could easily become a barrier. A scholarship would help lift that burden and allow me to give my full energy to my studies. Instead of dividing my attention between money and learning, I could dedicate myself to developing into a safe, skilled, and compassionate practitioner.