We recently connected with Anna Smart and have shared our conversation below.

Anna, appreciate you joining us today. Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your field completely flip-flop or change course on something?

I have been a Therapeutic Bodyworker for almost 25 years. I went from renting a space to building a space out in the rolling hills of Central Wisconsin on my family’s land. My mom and I had a partnership and everyone told us we were crazy to think people would travel to us for their services. They were wrong! We built a great business clientele mainly because of the body work we do. When Covid started my mom was retiring and we were in the middle of the buyout of her half of the business. Being a Medical Professional I was able to continue to see clients. Of course, we had to navigate the different levels of comfort with clients willing to still receive bodywork during that difficult time. It was a scary situation for me! Choosing to take on the full monetary responsibility of our business in such uncertain times made me contemplate if this was really what I wanted. We had the space paid for and now I would be going back into debt. I have other interests that I decided to pursue, along with continuing my therapeutic bodywork.
I remember watching the movie “Practical Magic” and thinking to myself that someday I was going to have a shop selling medical products made from my own gardens and recipes. I’ve always had a passion for gardening and a focus on herbs and foraging for medicinal weeds and plants. This brought me to the Master Gardening classes and of course my own gardens. I also realized that I already have my own shop! Our bodywork practice focuses on helping people to heal from injuries or repetitive use issues, my products also focus on healing and helping with symptoms of issue’s. I had already been making some of my own products for personal use. Being in more of a “ natural” field with my career, my products fit right into the space. With the uncertain times due to Covid, less income coming in and soon to be more overhead to come with my partnership buyout, it was time to generate more income with the passions I have. The work I do is also very hard on my body, and 20+ years already in the industry, thinking of the next stage is definitely on my mind.
I dug down and began to make my recipes on a level that could be retailed. This is where “This Shitz’ The Balm!” Came from. The focus of my products is Naturally derived or Organically sourced, limited ingredients and medicinal. I have different balms, lotions, salve, tinctures and more. I use hemp, herbal infusions created by me, essential oils, and organic bases.
My products range from topical pain balms, hormonal remedies, diaper rash and restless legs products to simple tinted lip balms. They all fall under my Trademarked name of “This Shitz’ The Balm!”.
I’m in the beginning stages, doing sales through my office retail, working with other local businesses and wholesalers. I am slowly switching my bodywork practice to a larger scale wholesale retailer just as I had started out working in someone else’s space to creating my own.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Healthy Prelude LLC my therapeutic Practice name and office where I’ve been a bodyworker for 20+ years. We built the space with multiple therapy rooms, yoga and a mixture of other modalities. My mom and I started out together and now as sole owner, I have added more therapists and retail. Our work is not “Spa”, we’re known for our therapeutic, deep tissue and intuitive bodywork. We work on a wide range of clientele from athletes, factory workers and the Amish community. They all need our services to keep them doing what they do! As more therapists join the practice I’m able to shift from my own bodywork practice to my medicinal body products, “This Shitz’ The Balm!”
My passion has always been to help people, I started with the bodywork and now I’m able to help with topical products that help with symptoms naturally and heal others.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My clients are all individually treated. There isn’t a “routine”, we give them. We give the treatment they need specifically by being “Present” in that room focused on the person. It doesn’t matter if I’ve had a bad day or I’m tired, etc. that all gets left at the door when I enter the room to work with someone on my table. This has brought continued clientele from simple word of mouth from the time I started in this field.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think that we need to leave our ego at the door, stay present while working with others and to always remember that in life we get back what we give. I live my life by these rules, and it’s always worked for me!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thisshitzthebalm.com, www.healthyprelude.com
• Instagram: Smartcat442, healthypreludellc
• Facebook: This Shitz The Balm, Healthy Prelude LLC Yoga