We were lucky to catch up with Ryan Shroyer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ryan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

I believe the most prominent fallacy that Corporate America gets wrong in the massage industry is that every person that comes into your clinic is not just another number. Every treatment should be uniquely tailored to each client’s individual needs, and those needs can change in any given session. I will also mention that a lot of corporate entities do not permit massage of the abdomen, gluteal, or pectoral regions of the body due to the potential lawsuits around the sensitivity of those areas. I’ve had many clients come into my clinic saying they’ve never had any of these areas worked, and those ended up being the primary areas of discomfort. The final thing I’ll say is the bottom line for most corporations is money. In my experience, a big heart fills up the spiritual bank account more than massage will ever fill an actual bank account. This is one of many reasons why massage therapists can burnout quickly. If you don’t love what you do, it’s not sustainable.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I knew from a young age I was going to be in the healthcare field. I had a great appreciation for anatomy through classroom dissection work and physiology through understanding the innate intelligence of the human body to heal itself. I started out my education at the University of Wyoming thinking Pharmacy School was my calling, but after my Sophomore year, it became clear I was taking steps in the wrong direction. I made my way back to Colorado Springs to pursue a Health Science degree at UCCS, which gave me the foundational knowledge to prepare for my current path into bodywork practices. I graduated from the prestigious Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy (CIMT) in 2019 and have been an instructor for their anatomy and bodywork classes since then. One of the reasons this school is prestigious is they not only offer the coveted Neuromuscular certification, but are physically connected to the Institute for Anatomical Research, where a lot of big minds in the field and students at CIMT convene to perform hands-on dissection and palpation of the human form and where I continue to volunteer my time when I can. I have also been volunteering with LifeSpark Cancer Resources by providing Reiki treatments to those with cancer, Craniosacral for veterans the Healing Warriors Project, and teach assist for local Craniosacral classes at the Upledger Institute.

I chose massage therapy because the license gave me the freedom to pursue other modalities I was interested in, including Craniosacral, Reiki, Visceral Manipulation, Thai Massage, Hot Stone, Lymphatic Drainage, and Cupping. After 2 years of practice, I became Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork through the accreditation of NCBTMB. I have worked with osteopathic doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other massage therapists while building my own practice. This year makes 5 years of instructing and providing massage therapy under my belt with the intention of many more glorious years to come!

In my practice, I am able to tailor each session with a variety of modalities that I offer to better suit the body’s individual needs. For this reason, I charge by the hour and not the modality so I can give myself that freedom to give the most effective treatment without the confusion of cost. Every client comes in with a unique set of challenges, therefore, every client deserves a personalized treatment plan.

Outside of the treatment table, I also offer electrolyzed reduced water to my clients before and after a session to reduce oxidative stress and hydrate the body on a cellular level. I have clients coming in with jugs to fill up before their next appointment as well as letting clients borrow the machine to allow them try the water in their own home for a month. I’ve been an educator and advocate for this water for 5 years and the results and quality of life that this water has provided for myself and my clients has never ceased to amaze me.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I graduated massage school in 2019, I was still working as an administrator full time at UCHealth. For me, it made more sense to slowly transition from a stable income to an income that was not as stable starting out. When I was not working at the hospital, I would work shifts at a chiropractor office while starting my own practice out of my basement. I went through about 5 other locations before I found the perfect spot for my private practice 3 years later. During that time, I could not afford traditional marketing options, so I solely relied on word of mouth. Once I had a more established presence online and in my community, started my online booking link, and found my affordable little suite, it became the perfect trifecta to fully transition from my admin job into teaching and practicing massage full-time the following year.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele base is by far word of mouth advertising. After finding a website with a solid SEO architecture and receiving many good reviews on Google, my online visibility has increased and more people have been finding my website.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.holisticarebodyworks.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticarebodyworks

Image Credits

All Image Credits go to Brenna Skattebo