Expertise, experience, dedication, enthusiasm and good will – all these describe physiotherapist Iza Gobar, whom we invited to talk to us on the occasion of the World’s Physiotherapy Day.
1. First of all, please briefly introduce yourself.
My name is Iza Gobar, I am a qualified physiotherapist, co-founder of Fiza, a lover of nature, movement and everything that is related to understanding human beings and how they function.
2. How did you discover that physiotherapy would be your career? Through time or was there a defining moment?
The desire to know and understand the body has always been in me. Even as a child I often offered to massage my family members. That was without any prior knowledge of course, but it is how I started developing these kinds of motor skills at a very early age. Then, in high school, I discovered and started with aerobics and Pilates. At the age of 16, I became an aerobics instructor and that is where I was exposed to anatomy and the body in motion for the first time. So, when I later decided to study physiotherapy at the Alma mater Europaea, it was just an obvious course.
3. Tell us more about your work. In which field do you work most, who are your patients?
At the moment I work in two fields, but they complement each other quite well.
The first one is physiotherapy, especially neurophysiotherapy, where I work with people who have had an injury to the central nervous system, and the other prevention, where I carry out “body restoration” treatments according to my own method, called Fizaterapija. My clients are very diverse, from generally healthy people who want to feel better, to those with chronic pain or post-injury. There are no age restrictions, I work with all age groups. I am very active in the field of “body restoration” treatments. People still tend use a too general term “massage” for it, but it is a refined, holistic approach to alleviating certain health problems, or it is an effective means of relaxation and health maintenance at the same time. I am also currently working with Alma mater Europaeo, a higher education institution, where I teach the basics of classical massage and am actively involved in the promotion and development of massage in our society.
I also occasionally take part in international massage competitions. I received a very positive feedback since I won the freestyle category at the World Championships in Denmark 2021 and this year I won in the classical massage category at the Balkan Championships in Serbia. These are all events that bring out my creativity and new ideas, but the most important thing at the moment is to collaborate with and learn from experts who have already made their mark in this industry.
4. Would you tell us more about the field of neurophysiotherapy?
Neurophysiotherapy is a specific branch of physiotherapy focused on the treatment and relief of diseases and injuries of the nervous system.
I had come accross neurological patients many times before while working in physiotherapy. After completing the Bobath basic course at the Ljubljana Physiotherapy Centre, a whole new perspective on the approach to treatment opened up for me. I realized that all body systems are inextricably linked to the brain, and that knowledge of these systems can lead to better results in rehabilitation, not necessarily only in the case of damage to the central nervous system. After several years of working in the field as a physiotherapist, I have noticed that this specific field is rather understaffed. There are, for example, about 3000 people experience stroke per year in Slovenia alone. Unfortunately, only a small number of them are able to receive quality neurophysiotherapy treatment in the long term, which is crucial for recovery and maintenance of the condition.
5. Fiza massage brought you the first place in the freestyle category at the World Massage Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. Tell us more about this technique.
Fiza massage or Fiza Body Restoration Therapy is the result of 10 years of practice and research into different techniques and approaches in classical physiotherapy and complementary therapies. The key lies in the holistic approach to patients. The treatment is adjusted to the needs of an individual but contains all the key elements needed to bring the musculoskeletal and mental systems into balance. Classical massage techniques, massage and stretching of the spine, mobilization techniques, acupressure techniques and passive stretching complement the therapy. Fiza massage is also an officially registered therapeutic procedure and part of a concept where the aim is to promote health awareness and is constantly evolving and improving.
6.What makes you the most happy at your job?
The success of the completed rehabilitation, the client’s smile after the therapy, the gratitude, the genuine joy, the feeling of relief, all these are the rewards that keep me going. Above all, the opportunity to meet the amazing people, whether they are clients or teachers. Every little piece they contribute to the mosaic of my therapeutic journey is priceless and that is what motivates me so much at my job and in general.
Thank you for taking the time. We wish you every success in your career and many satisfied patients!
