Meet Robin Wooten and John Sanders of Next Level Massage Education in Tempe and Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Wooten and John Sanders.

Robin and John, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
JOHN: I have been a massage therapist for over 26 years. I have been teaching massage therapy for over 17 years at The Cortiva Institute (formerly Arizona School of Massage Therapy). I operated a successful Massage Private Practice while being a full-time instructor, and, have been the organizer of a massage team to work with a Major League Soccer (MLS) team.

As a young person I was involved with coaching in various sports with kids, excelled in Junior Achievement in high school, even became an Eagle Scout. I have earned a college degree in Marketing. I have small business management experience, and was a computer programmer for almost 15 years before moving into sales. But, I think I found my true calling as a motivator while working with Special Olympics.

Merging all that experience along with working with my awesome business partner and friend, Robin Wooten, I now combine my passion for massage therapy with the skills of coaching and motivating through Next Level Massage Education, by teaching Massage Continuing Education workshops.

ROBIN: My motivation to become a massage therapist was sparked by my husband, who encouraged me to enter the field. My experience with massage and receiving bodywork was limited to my own self-care techniques and infrequent visits to a spa. I have been an athlete all my life in various sports, most recently triathlon and endurance running, it was not until I became a massage therapist, that I truly understood the benefits massage therapy has to offer. After finishing massage school and starting my own Private Massage Therapy Practice, I was asked to return to the school as a teaching assistant. I graduated from The Arizona School of Massage Therapy (now Cortiva Institute) in 2011 and have been a Teaching Assistant there ever since. My passion for the industry and the human body has motivated me to launch a career with my business partner and friend John Sanders. Together we have created Next Level Massage Education, and have a passion to pass on our knowledge and experiences of massage therapy to massage therapy practitioners.

Next Level Massage Education was always a “sticky note” in the back of John’s mind. It was not until we met, that I helped him turn that “sticky note” into a reality. In 2013 we were given an opportunity to present our Sports Massage for the Triathlete workshop at a local massage therapy conference. That conference was our launching pad, and we continue to develop our menu and create workshops. We love teaching and motivating massages therapists to “NOT BE AVERAGE”.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not always been smooth. Marketing and networking is always challenging as we try to reach our Target Markets. We have two markets we focus on; the Massage Therapist working at the many franchise and privately-owned spas who want to separate themselves from average Massage Therapists. And those Massage Therapists who want to own, operate, and grow their Private Practice. The major challenge for this latter group is so many have never operated a business before. Numerous therapists have never networked, and several have no clue how to create a business plan. Across the country, millions of dollars are being made by the corporations and thank goodness, they provide employment for many, but, we believe many Massage Therapists, young and older can learn to create and maintain a profitable part-time or full-time Massage Private Practice.

Teaching continued education in massage therapy is a competitive one. Our challenge to bring innovative techniques and share our unique style of massage to massage therapists is suppressed by the corporate massage companies who offer masses of therapists discounted education. It is difficult to compete with FREE. Our passion to communicate successful massage bodywork and business practices to new and experienced Massage Therapists keeps us motivated to provide quality education.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Next Level Massage Education – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Founded in 2013, Next Level Massage Education LLC., teaches continuing education to licensed Massage Therapists. The state of Arizona as well as many other states mandate each licensed therapist must complete 24 hours of massage continuing education every two years. John Sanders and Robin Wooten are certified instructors through National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

Next Level Massage Education specializes in helping inexperienced Massage Therapists formulate a business plan, create checklists to ensure their business goals are being accomplished. We also specialize in innovative and unique hands-on workshops, such as Sports Massage, Stretching, and Chair Massage. Through the years we have created innovative hands-on techniques that are very different than what most therapists learn in massage school. One of our mantras is “Don’t Be Average”. We teach diverse hands-on techniques that will blow away most therapist’s competition.

What sets us apart is we cater to small class-room sizes. In the industry of Massage Continuing Education (CE), most Instructors pack as many students as they can into a classroom, tease them with partial education then sell impulse buy DVD’s, books and tools. Our Business workshops can be taught to large class sizes but our hands-on classes are so different and unique we teach with a value of QUALITY, not quantity.

Another thing that sets us apart is we organize and conduct charity events with groups like the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), American Diabetes Association, Various Cancer groups, Foster Care Organizations, Veteran Groups, Local Elderly groups through the City of Tempe and more. We do not make a dime with these events. It is our small way of giving back to our community.

Finally, we add fun tax deduction adventures to some of our classes which includes; a Tandem Skydive jump in association with a Business Building Workshop. Our motivation is; if you can jump 13,000 feet out of a perfectly good airplane, you can do anything. Take that same motivation and apply it to your business, and become and UNAVERAGE, Awesome, Badass of a Massage therapist!! We teach classes inside Chase Field where after the class, we go watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play. Classes inside Boyce Thompson Arboretum followed by walking tours.

We conduct meet-n-greets with professional organizations to provide an opportunity for licensed and student massage therapists to learn from the Head Athletic Trainers of the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Phoenix Mercury.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We will continue to improve our hands-on classes that include short but informative anatomy instruction that caters to the many different learning styles. We want to keep our prices affordable, so finances are not a deterrent to taking our classes. We will engage in money making massage appearances showing therapists how our techniques can make them money in the real world.

We will attend future conventions teaching workshops to large groups without compromising quality. Create some of our non-hands-on classes in on-line education format. Maybe create a small convention here in Arizona built with other local Arizona Massage Continuing Education instructors. We hope to add another Meet-n-Greet to our agenda involving Tom Moore, Head Athletic Trainer of the Arizona Cardinals. And, in the distant future, create vacation CE workshops in Hawaii or a 3-day cruise ship somewhere in Mexico or Alaska. We are lifelong learners and will continue to learn and grow as massage therapists and instructors.

DON’T BE AVERAGE….Peace Out!

Pricing:

• 2 Hour Workshops a Very Affordable $30
• 3 Hour Workshops $40
• 6 Hour Workshops $90

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nextlevel-me.com
• Phone: 4802413509 or 6023702236
• Email: John@nextlevel-me.com or Robin@nextlevel-me.com
• Instagram: johnmbb or robinwlmt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextLEVELMassageEdu/notifications/

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.