Today we’d like to introduce you to Clara Brown.
Clara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I got my first massage when I was 19 years old and pregnant with my daughter. I loved it so much that whenever I felt morning sickness, I would think of being back on that massage table, with the dimly lit room and the plants snaking along the walls.
My nausea disappeared. That ignited my interest in becoming a massage therapist. It didn’t happen until over a decade later after moving back to Arizona from Germany. By then, I worked a desk job, the stress really got to me. Having an anxiety disorder didn’t help. I tried to tough it out. In 2017, I ended up in the emergency room. I knew I had to make changes to my lifestyle if I wanted to be healthy. I decided then to enroll in massage school.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My first day at work as a massage therapist was the day that everything shut down because of covid. I was out of work, I lost a good chunk of my savings.
When things opened back up, I started working three days a week so I wouldn’t tire myself out. But I still dealt with terrible fatigue that my body had to adjust to. I gradually added more days to my schedule.
Another thing I struggled with was getting clients to rebook with me. I didn’t like doing a “sales pitch” at the end of the massage which was a requirement for our studio. It never worked for me, so I stopped doing it, and only then, did things change. I had the highest client satisfaction rating and also the highest overall rebook rate for the 2nd quarter this year.
Having time to post on social media is a challenge when you have a family and a home to care for. But I understand that it comes with owning a business and it is an amazing tool.
The first time I had to leave work because I didn’t feel good, I felt guilty. I had to overcome that, to understand that I am human and that things sometimes come up, even when they aren’t convenient. I needed to practice what I preached: self-care.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been writing and making art longer than I have been a massage therapist. I believe art is the intention, it has a purpose to the creator that may resonate with others. I want to bring that same creative energy to massage.
I don’t see massage as one-sided as many do, with the client at the center, and the therapist as the service worker, massage is a mutual exchange. LMTs form close relationships with our clients. Massage can be more effective if you know and trust your therapist.
At Nurtured Touch Massage, I work as an independent contractor. Maryann Tidwell is the owner, she has taken me under her wing to teach me how to thrive as my own business. I’m excited to learn from her.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
Business owners have to take financial risks all the time. There is always a risk that a massage therapist spends $15,000 putting themselves through school and it wasn’t what they thought it would be when they start working, which happened to a few of my fellow classmates, unfortunately.
I spent a lot of money buying my own supplies so that I could work independently. I ended up buying some things I didn’t need. I spend money on death doula training that I was not sure was for me but it worked out.
I think it is challenging using language that people are not familiar with. Everyone has likely heard of “deep tissue” and “Swedish massage” and “hot stones.” But what about PTSD massage? Oncology massage? A death doula? I get questions about these all the time, but I am happy to answer them. I am excited to break away from “the norm.” I wouldn’t be happy otherwise.
Pricing:
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$85 60 min massage
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$110 90 min massage
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$95 aromatherapy 60 min
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$125 aromatherapy 90 min
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Death doula, complimentary for massage clients
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.massagebook.com/business/7903078/select-product/?provider_id=10898987
- Instagram: @cocoon_of_tranquility
Image Credits
Christopher Luke
