80 Battlefield to Bodywork: Confessions of a Neuromuscular Therapist - Leon Botello
Release Date: 08/13/2025
80 Battlefield to Bodywork: Confessions of a Neuromuscular Therapist - Leon Botello
Reality Hub
In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, we welcome one of New Zealand’s foremost neuromuscular therapists, Leon, whose decades of hands-on healing work have changed lives and surprised even seasoned medical professionals. Born in the US and shaped by a diverse and challenging upbringing, Leon’s journey spans growing up in a multicultural but segregated environment, serving as a medic in the US Army, studying advanced bodywork techniques, and teaching across New Zealand. From confronting racism and bullying to unlocking trauma stored in the body’s fascia, Leon shares...
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Reality Hub
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Reality Hub
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71 RealityBites #12 The 7 Hermetic Principles of Reality Series #3 “The Principle of Vibration”
Reality Hub
Welcome to the third episode of a 7 part RealityBites Series featuring and exploring the 7 Hermetic Principles as told in The Kybalion - In The Kybalion, a book first published in 1908 by the “Three Initiates” the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus are conveyed in the study of hermetic philosophy. In Hermetic thought, the movements of the planets are believed to have meaning beyond the laws of physics and actually hold metaphorical value as symbols in the mind of the All, or God, which have influence upon the Earth, but do not dictate our actions; wisdom is gained when we know what...
info_outlineIn this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, we welcome one of New Zealand’s foremost neuromuscular therapists, Leon, whose decades of hands-on healing work have changed lives and surprised even seasoned medical professionals. Born in the US and shaped by a diverse and challenging upbringing, Leon’s journey spans growing up in a multicultural but segregated environment, serving as a medic in the US Army, studying advanced bodywork techniques, and teaching across New Zealand.
From confronting racism and bullying to unlocking trauma stored in the body’s fascia, Leon shares extraordinary real-life stories—from veterans reliving battlefield moments to mothers releasing long-held post-cesarean pain. We also explore his philosophy on self-healing, mindset, and the innate intelligence of the human body. This is part biography, part masterclass in holistic therapy, and part celebration of a life lived on purpose.
Topics Covered
- Early Life in the US
- Multicultural upbringing without initial racial divisions
- Impact of enforced integration and the emergence of racism
- Growing up Native American–Mexican in a society that encouraged cultural camouflage
- Early lessons in self-defence and protecting others from bullies
- Military Service
- Joining the US Army during the Cold War and serving as a medic
- Specialized skills: medical trauma care, weapons maintenance, vehicle operation
- Life in Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall
- Lessons from basic training and camaraderie among soldiers
- Path to Neuromuscular Therapy
- Personal injury led to the discovery of massage therapy
- Training in advanced modalities, including trigger point therapy and myofascial release
- Influence of Dr. Janet Travell & Dr. David Simons’ work on referred pain patterns
- Healing Stories & Case Studies
- Veteran reliving battlefield trauma during fascia release
- Post-cesarean patients completing “unfinished” birth processes
- Restoring fertility through fascial unwinding
- Emotional releases linked to stored trauma in abdominal tissue
- Supporting athletes to improve performance through iliopsoas work
- Mindset, Healing, and Self-Responsibility
- The role of belief systems in recovery
- How cultural programming and language shape health outcomes
- Importance of diet, hydration, movement, and supportive relationships
- Advice for questioning authority and seeking multiple opinions
- Life Beyond the Clinic
- Teaching and travelling extensively in New Zealand
- Work with high-profile clients, from professional athletes to celebrities
- Experiences in Hawaii, Houston, and luxury wellness settings
- Philosophy of living naturally and embracing opportunities
Want to connect with Leon for bodywork sessions or teaching inquiries?
You can reach him at [email protected]
or on his New Zealand mobile +64 21 080 84448.
- Connect with Rob and Steve: Our instagram handle is @realityhub.love
- YouTube is http://www.youtube.com/@realityhub-love
- TikTok is @real8yhub, and naturally enough, our website is www.realityhub.love