- Owner, RN, Nurse Massage Therapist (NMT)
- Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
- Vital Living Integrative WellSpa - Founder, Owner
- PLA#: MT20901877; RN-28057959A
- National Provider Identifier (NPI) #: 1124494505
- Therapeutic Specialist: Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy, Personal Growth through Bodywork
Janet Carroll – A Pioneer in Integrative Health and Wellness
With over 50 years of nursing experience, Janet Carroll brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to Vital Living. Her journey began with 16 years in traditional nursing and evolved over the past 35 years into a career as a Nurse Massage Therapist, Educator, and Business Owner — bridging the gap between traditional and complementary medicine. This marked the beginning of her lifelong commitment to Integrative Health and Wellness.
Recognizing the powerful role of medical massage in pain relief, rehabilitation, trauma recovery, and stress-related conditions, Janet saw a critical gap in healthcare. Physicians often overlooked massage therapy as a valid treatment modality, and professional training was limited. In response, Janet founded the Center for Vital Living (CVL) School of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork in 1990. As Education Director, she developed the curriculum, hand-picked instructors, and secured full accreditation in both Indiana and Ohio. CVL became the first massage school in Indiana approved to offer an Associate Degree in Massage Therapy — a major advancement in elevating the profession. Unlike many entry-level programs that focused on relaxation massage, CVL specialized in result-oriented therapeutic massage, setting a new standard in education and care. Thus, the vision became a reality — the Clinic provided professional Therapeutic Massage services, and the school developed well-trained Massage Therapists who had a strong foundation in “result-oriented” comprehensive therapeutic massage.
Throughout, Janet maintained a successful private practice, specializing in Myofascial Release (MFR), CranioSacral Therapy (CST), and Personal Growth through Bodywork. Her work extended beyond private practice and education: another of her dreams came true when CVL’s holistic approach to wellness earned recognition, leading to Janet being consulted to help design the first hospital-based “Wellness Oasis” at St. Joseph Medical Center in Fort Wayne, IN. Her influence also reached into the broader region, as CVL’s education model became a benchmark in massage school curricula—testament to the advanced education system Janet developed.
CVL closed the school in 2007 but continued the Clinic to provide continuity of care in their professional Therapeutic Massage services. Janet partnered with Stacey Elwood, RN, LMT, in 2007 to launch Vital Living Therapeutic Massage, LLC. As services expanded to include integrative wellness offerings, the business evolved into Vital Living WellSpa in 2012.
When Stacey became a full-time Nurse Practitioner in 2013, Janet assumed full ownership of Vital Living. Vital Living continues to be a regional leader in Integrative Health and Wellness, offering services backed by science and proven results. “Everything Vital Living offers has a medical reason behind it — even stress reduction/relaxation massage,” says Janet. “We’re much more than ‘fluff ‘n buff’. Myofascial Release changed my life 35 years ago. That experience led me to leave traditional nursing and pursue massage therapy and integrative health — and I’ve never looked back.”
The clinic accepts HSA and FSA payments for medical massage and specializes in cutting-edge services such as:
• Medical-Grade Infrared BodyWraps – for pain relief, detoxification, metabolic support, and inch loss
• 633nm Red Light Therapy – aiding recovery from post-viral illness and anti-aging
• Body Sculpting – promoting fat loss, tightening tissue, and reducing systemic inflammation
In 2022, Stephanie Florin, BCTMB, LMT, joined as co-owner to help expand the business. Stephanie is a Certified Genetics-Based Program Designer and is completing her certification as a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P) which will greatly expand Vital Living’s Integrative Wellness Services. Janet and Stephanie added Body Contouring and Fat Loss, offering tailored programs using CryoSkin (cryotherapy), Ultrasonic Cavitation, and Radio-frequency Therapy. Clients also benefit from Fit3D Professional Body Scanning for accurate body metrics and tracking.
Awards & Community Involvement
- Voted “Fort Wayne’s Best” by Readers’ Choice Awards – 15 consecutive years (2009-2024)
- Former Advisory Board Member, Ivy Tech Massage Therapy Program
- Former Member, Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP)
- Former Member, National Association of Nurse Massage Therapists (NANMT)
Though Janet officially stepped away from clinical practice in 2014, she remains deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of Vital Living. Her presence, leadership, and passion continue to guide the team and shape the client experience. Janet’s legacy lives-on through the clinic she built, the therapists she’s mentored, and the many lives she’s touched through her work.
A legacy rooted in healing, vision, courage, and heart—Janet continues to draw inspiration from her co-workers and her family, especially her daughter, Lindsey, and her cherished grandchildren, Piper and Tilmon, who, as she lovingly says, “keep me young and make my heart sing.”