We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lorna Douglas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lorna below.

Lorna , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

The best advice I gave to a client was to take care of themselves. It was a reminder to myself as well because it is easy to get caught up in taking care of others so much that we neglect ourselves. Clients are always excited to turn their phones to silent before their service begins to remind them that this is their time, with no distractions for the next hour. Sometimes that is all the time we allow ourselves to have so we make the best of it.

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

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. I am an entrepreneur, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, the list goes on. When I was younger, I did not have a clear determination for the career path I wanted to later pursue. I did not have the assertive negotiation skills of a lawyer, I did not strive to become a doctor or teacher. Before entering high school, I applied to a technical school which required you to choose between eight career academies, from health, business, technology, and agriculture. I chose the Academy of Business and Finance. Even though I did not have a solid career path planned out like everyone else around me, I did know that I had a strong desire to help others. Once I decided on what that was going to be, I will, later on, turn it into a business, so I continued to pursue a degree in Business Administration in college. I learned a lot by taking business courses and going through the social norms of being on a college campus. After college, enrolling in massage school was the best decision I could have made. There are many successful paths and opportunities within the massage therapy industry. Over the past ten years, I have learned a great deal from working in spas, wellness centers, chiropractic, and plastic surgeon offices. I started my practice because I wanted to create a comfortable work environment, as well as have a schedule that will allow me to still be heavily involved in my daughter’s life. Creating a work-life balance is very important and I work towards finding the correct balance every day. My business is allowing me to live through my purpose. The services in my practice focus on helping those with compromised conditions feel welcomed in a non-medical setting. I currently see clients diagnosed with Cancer, Lupus, Lymphedema, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, just to name a few. It has been very rewarding to be able to create a comforting service for someone experiencing uncomfortable treatment side effects. Massage therapy and skin care services have great benefits. Massage helps to reduce pain, alleviate stress, and improve mood and quality of life. A facial service can help the skin to recover after harsh treatments and side effects of medication, and treat acne and blemishes.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Working through your purpose. After realizing your passion and how much it can affect you as well as others, you work harder to achieve specific goals that you may have once been too afraid to accomplish. A client once told me, “if you were not scared to do it, you would not think it was worth it” Enjoy the process. It is hard but rewarding so you have to see it through. Some days you do not want to get up or answer the phone. Finding a balance between taking care of yourself and asking for help also allows you to make it through those difficult times. Working with a purpose gives space for success to follow.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

In order to fund my business, I saved by working part-time as an independent contractor with several companies at once. It allowed me to create a flexible schedule that was not permanent. I contracted with mobile massage companies and filled in at chiropractor and plastic surgeon offices several days a week while working part-time for my business seeing private clients. I researched what was needed to open an office and added the costs to my budget plan. I started small by doing mobile massages, then afterward I rented massage rooms in other establishments until I eventually was able to afford a larger commercial space on my own. Building clientele and customer retention have been very important in order to maintain financial upkeep for my practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.archwellnessmt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archwellness_massage_therapy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archwellnessmt
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-douglas-lmt

Image Credits
Photographer: Martha Archer Model: Lanisha Mora