Tammy Marquez doesn’t just help athletes recover—she is one. As the owner of Kinetix Body Science, a premier sports massage service in Austin, Texas, Marquez has built a reputation for getting athletes back to peak condition. But when she’s not working with NFL players, NBA pros, or elite CrossFit competitors, she’s in the gym herself, chasing personal records in bodybuilding and powerlifting.
A competitive bodybuilder and record-setting powerlifter, Marquez’s resume speaks volumes. She placed 4th in the Light Heavyweight division at the 2011 USA Championships, won Masters Overall Physique at the 2015 Phil Heath Classic, and set multiple state and competition records, including a 193 lb bench press in the 148 lb weight class at the 2015 Jill Mills Alamo Classic.
She even dominated the Gods of Iron 2017 meet, setting records in Full Power, Squat, and Bench.
Balancing elite athletic training with running a thriving sports massage business isn’t easy, but for Marquez, movement, strength, and recovery are all part of the same system. We sat down with her to discuss how she manages to excel in both worlds.
Q: You work with some of the top athletes in the world. How did you get into sports massage?
Tammy Marquez: It started with my own journey. I’ve been lifting and competing for decades, and one thing I learned early on is that recovery is just as important as training. I got into sports massage because I wanted to understand how to keep my own body performing at its best.
Over time, that passion turned into a profession. I started working with athletes who had the same goals—whether it was bodybuilders needing soft tissue work before a show, NFL players dealing with high-impact recovery, or CrossFit athletes managing overuse injuries. I wanted to give them the same kind of treatment I wished I had in my early years. That’s how Kinetix Body Science was born.
Q: You’ve set state records in powerlifting and placed in national bodybuilding competitions. How do you balance that with running a business?
TM: It’s all about structure. My schedule is tight—there’s no room for wasted time. Mornings are for my training. I get up, hit the gym for two to three hours, and focus on what my body needs that day. Whether it’s heavy squats, bench work, or bodybuilding hypertrophy sessions, that time is sacred.
After that, it’s straight into client sessions at Kinetix Body Science. I might have NFL guys coming in for deep tissue work, or a track athlete needing active release therapy. Every client is different, and that keeps things interesting.
I’m constantly switching between my athlete mindset and therapist mindset. When I train, I push myself to the limit. But when I work on clients, my focus shifts to understanding movement, pain points, and biomechanics. In a way, it makes me a better competitor—because I know exactly what my body needs to recover.
Q: You work with a lot of high-level athletes. What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about recovery?
TM: That it’s just about stretching or foam rolling. Recovery isn’t passive. People think, “Oh, I’ll just rest, and I’ll be fine.” But real recovery is active—you need soft tissue work, proper hydration, controlled movement, and smart programming.
A lot of athletes don’t take recovery seriously until they’re injured. That’s why I try to educate my clients early. If you wait until you’re in pain to take care of your body, you’re already behind. The best athletes in the world are the ones who recover just as hard as they train.
Q: You’ve been featured on Muscle.com, competed at the highest levels, and now run a successful business. What keeps you motivated?
TM: Growth. Whether it’s getting stronger, building my business, or helping an athlete reach their goals, I’m always chasing the next level. I don’t believe in being stagnant.
When I was competing, I pushed myself because I wanted to see what I was capable of. Now, I push myself in a different way—by building Kinetix Body Science into the best recovery center in Austin. Watching my clients get stronger, seeing them recover faster, and knowing I played a part in that? That’s what keeps me going.
Q: What’s next for you? More records? More competitions? Expanding Kinetix Body Science?
TM: All of the above! I’m always training—lifting will always be part of my life. I might step on a bodybuilding stage again, I might push for another powerlifting record. But my main focus right now is continuing to grow Kinetix Body Science and helping more athletes perform at their best.
We’re bringing in new recovery techniques, expanding our services, and looking to help even more athletes—from high-level competitors to everyday fitness enthusiasts. I want Kinetix Body Science to be the go-to place in Austin for serious recovery and performance work.
