We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I knew that I wanted to own my own practice before I went to massage school back in 2021. I realized that I couldn’t work for others after many years of working in bars and restaurants, and I absolutely needed a career change. When I first became a licensed massage therapist, I worked for a spa while simultaneously starting my own business. It did not take long for me to feel burnt out at that job, and resign. The spa world is fast-paced, money centered, and just not for me. I believe in not over-working myself, and allowing for proper recovery time between appointments. For example, in most spas, you are only given 10-15 minutes in between sessions to allow your client to dress, clean-up the room, reset the room, and get yourself physically recovered and ready for your next client. Some therapists enjoy this style of work, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Personally, I think I would have burnt out in less than 2 years by solely working in that atmosphere. In my practice, I give myself a minimum of 35 minutes between my appointments; sometimes taking longer for sessions that require longer clean-up. Massage therapy is a physical job. Every massage is a work-out, and giving myself time to rest and recover between feels important. By taking care of myself in this way, I am able to better serve my clients. Starting my own business has allowed me complete control, and I have yet to feel burnt out since working solely for myself.

The creative freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur was a huge draw for me. I love the process of marketing and creating my own ads, as well as making posts for social media. Coming up with the service menu, choosing pricing, and customizing each session to my own preferences means a lot to me. I like to keep my prices affordable, so that massage can be more accessible. I also include hot-stones, aromatherapy, hot towels, massage guns, and pain-relief cream at no extra charge. These things are usually considered add-ons by most therapists/businesses.

Overall, I am incredibly grateful to own and operate my own practice. Making the leap to quit the spa, and becoming completely self-employed was scary. I’d be lying if I said it was easy. It has taken a lot of my time, energy, and resources, and has definitely come with it’s fair share of hiccups, but I have absolutely no regrets!

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is called Flowing Hands Massage. I offer Integrative Massage, Ashiatsu, Prenatal Massage, and Reiki. I believe a massage session bound by a specific time restricts the therapist from healing to their full abilities. For that reason, most of my massage appointments are booked as blocks of time instead of a set time. For example, instead of booking a 60 minute session, you have the option of a 45-60 min or a 60-75 min. On my table you will never feel rushed, and your problem areas will always be addressed. I’ve heard clients say they feel they have to sacrifice the relaxation aspect of a massage when they need deeper work, but I specialize in helping you achieve a relaxed state even during therapeutic sessions.

The name stems from my other passion in life; Flow Arts. If you are unfamiliar, ‘Flow Arts’ is the intersection of a variety of movement-based disciplines including dance, juggling, fire-spinning, and object manipulation. Prop manipulation changed my life in ways that are hard to put into words. I’ve gained confidence, self-acceptance, strength, and a love for movement fueled by a passion for music. Dancing with fire is a feeling unlike any other. In a state of pure bliss with my props, I discovered a flow state. Headspace perfectly defines a flow state as “the sense of fluidity between your body and mind; where you are totally absorbed by and deeply focused on something, beyond the point of distraction. Time feels like it has slowed down. Your senses are heightened. You are at one with the task at hand, as action and awareness sync to create an effortless momentum.” For a long time I was unsure if anything else in life could make me feel like flowing, then I began practicing massage. The way my hands work on someone’s body has become an effortless momentum fueled by a passion for healing. My session’s combine a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy, with the fluidity and focus of a flow state, for a truly unique experience.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When friends visit I love to take them to live music of some kind, especially at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater! There are so many other great venues here and we’re blessed with lots of great shows.

I also love to hike, Hanging Lake and St. Mary’s Glacier are two of my favorites.

For great food and drinks I like to take folks to Linger, Ace Eat n’ Serve, Breckenridge Brewery, Williams and Graham, and Guard and Grace.

Hot Springs are one of my favorite activities to do with people visiting as well! Iron Mountain, Strawberry Park, and Mt. Princeton are the best.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be the massage therapist I am today without my incredible school that I graduated from in 2021, the Colorado Springs School of Massage. As well as the continued education experiences I have had with the Deep Feet Ashiatsu School, Juniper Moon Healing Arts, and the Colorado School of Healing Arts.

I also have to thank my partner, Aaron Wilyer. His continued love, support, and encouragement got me through an incredibly tough program, and the wild ride of starting my own business. I couldn’t have done this without you, Aaron. I love you!

Website: www.flowinghandsdenver.com

Instagram: @flowinghandsmassage

Facebook: www.facebook.com/flowinghandsmassage

Image Credits
Emily Elizabeth Photography (she took the outdoor photos) Danny Lucia MoonManVision Photography (indoor/office photos)

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