We recently connected with Carly Rogers and have shared our conversation below.

Carly, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I always wanted to own my own business. I had a hard time finding a job that felt fulfilling for me. Even once I landed on my passion and was working in the industry, there was always something lacking and I bounced around quite a bit. I knew early on that the only way I would get to work in my ideal environment was to create it myself. Luckily, I had such an incredible support system at home and that dream always felt realistic and within reach. It still blows my mind a little that I was able to achieve this by the age of 25. For a while I had imposter syndrome. How could I possibly run my own business at such a young age?

In the last 2 years of having my own business, there have been many long days and lots of times that I ask myself if I really want this level of responsibility that I signed up for. I know many talented people that opened a small business feeling very ambitious to share their craft and closed a few years later purely due to the added pressure that ultimately ended up taking the enjoyment out of their passion. I can truly understand this! And at the very same time I can not imagine throwing the towel in. The pros always outweigh the cons for me. When I think about the future, I am my own boss.

One of the reasons I love being a business owner is making my visions come to life. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bit particular. I thrive off of my surroundings and I believe that it’s all about the experience. People come to me for pain relief but they also come to me for the details. They want the aromas, soothing sounds, heated bed, and naturesque decor. They want to feel immersed in the service. And I want to give that to them!

As a business owner I have learned who I am at my core. In jobs we often filter ourselves in some way, but I am able to fully express myself in the way that I want to be perceived. To see it being received positively by my community is what motivates me. When you are yourself, you attract your tribe. Through opening my own business and speaking my truth, I have found clients/friends that resonate with my work and share common interests.

I think a misconception about being a business owner is that you’re in it alone. I have created most of my connections through opening my business. I think we can all admit starting your own business is hard. I am grateful to have found other business owners that want to see me succeed and have shared their wisdom with me. I have not yet faced competition or negativity within my business. I don’t believe in competition. People will come to my business for me. If they don’t resonate with me, then there is someone else out there for them.

I hope to start a goddess group in the near future for other local female business owners in my area. This will create a great opportunity to share stories, seek support, cross promote, and empower each other. These last 2 years (opening my business) have absolutely been the hardest years of my life. There were so many questions and learning curves. I would have loved to have had a local support group where I could ask questions about the hard stuff that has nothing to do with my passion. Like taxes, grants, and payroll. Instead of figuring it out alone, we should be sharing our experiences.

At the end of the day, the never ending ideas and inspirations I have in regards to my business clarifies for me that I am on the right path. As nice as it sounds to show up to work, do a few massages, and go home to enjoy my peaceful night with my family (especially not having to do my own laundry!)…. I would never sacrifice the goals and visions I have as a business owner. Seeing how far I have come is what drives me to continue even on the most exhausting days.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a licensed massage therapist, holistic esthetician, Reiki master and owner of a wellness studio called “The Remedy Studio – Holistic Wellness” in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. I have curated a shop full of herbal and metaphysical goods while simultaneously perfecting my craft. I specialize in myofascial release (the John Barnes method) and will soon be diving into Maya abdominal therapy/Maya healing (Dr. Rosita Arvigo techniques). My passion is to offer people effective approaches to pain relief and internal balance. My facial rituals are gentle and I focus on the Chinese herbal technique known as “gua sha” while utilizing plant based products that I source from other small business/herbalists.

So how did I get here? I’ll start from the beginning…

I was one of those teenagers that really struggled through high school. It wasn’t that I couldn’t get good grades… it was more the social aspect. I decided after my sophomore year that 2 more years was something I just could not handle or accept. I was always 10 steps ahead of myself and far from patient. I got the bright idea to graduate a year early. I’m not sure where it came from or why I thought it was possible. Nobody had ever graduated early from my school. So why would they let me? It wasn’t like I was an honors student after all. Nonetheless I proceeded with my grand plan. I presented it to my parents and like always they encouraged me to give it my all. I had wanted to go to school for hair anyways and had no plans to attend college. This would allow me to get a head start on my dream. All I needed was a high school diploma.

Step one was approaching the principal. She was not a fan of mine and immediately shot me down. I didn’t take no for an answer. I spent days writing a well thought out letter to the superintendent of the school. I explained to him how I had struggled. I told him my game plan for after graduation. I begged and pleaded for him to believe in me. And he did! He said yes, but not without warning me that I may regret missing all the senior festivities. I worked my butt off that next year and took on all the extra classes I needed in order to fulfill my requirements, skipping all the “fun” extracurriculars. I graduated at 17 in 2015 (I never went to graduation) and never looked back. I have never regretted my decision.

I grew up in central NJ (near Princeton!) and I was always mesmerized by Manhattan even as a little girl. I told my parents from a young age that I would live there one day. That time could not come soon enough. As I planned my graduation, I also planned my next steps. I had wanted to be a hairstylist from a young age. It was just sort of instilled in me at that point. I had said it so many times that I never imagined a different route. I loved the creativity and freedom that came with it. My mom had a hairstylist while I was growing up that was a huge inspiration for me. She was funky, eclectic, and comfortable in her own skin. I wanted to be just like Amy when I grew up.

My parents had suggested vocational school for me while I was still in high school, but I had bigger plans. I found the Aveda Institute located in SOHO in New York City and begged my parents to let me move to New York at the young age of 17 to pursue my dream in a big way. If I was going to do hair, I had to do it in the most elite salons among the most talented professionals. I had big dreams and I wasn’t backing down. My parents supported me along the way and made it happen for me. I still can’t thank them enough. I don’t think I realized until later in life that many are not as lucky.

So at 17, I moved into my own TINY place in Manhattan. I actually lived in the famous “New Yorker” hotel in Midtown. They had select floors for student housing (most of the students were international). Entering a gorgeous lobby everyday complete with a door man felt like a fairytale. I was living my Carrie Bradshaw, NYC dream. I was thriving in school, making friends, and embracing the city life. I even scored an awesome job in the upper west side where I enjoyed my lunches in Central Park. I went out to late night dinners, sat at bougie wine bars (despite being 17), and explored art museums on my days off. I was fearless and I had no intentions of leaving. I loved every aspect of my life there, but it was quickly getting expensive and I was growing tired of the nonstop lifestyle. I never realized how much it affected me until I would spend a weekend at home in solitude. I was burning the candle at both ends and quickly growing exhausted.

When I finished cosmetology school, I was itching to travel. I had friends attending college that were deciding to study abroad and I felt like I was missing out. I didn’t have this option. After doing some research, I discovered a make up artistry course (something I was also interested in exploring) in London that caught my interest. I was always drawn to the UK and loved the idea of taking a sabbatical before committing to a hair salon in the city. Most Manhattan salons require you to assist for 2-3 years and If you don’t stay put, you end up starting over again and again. It was a cut throat industry. So this was my opportunity to go! I planned the whole trip and geared up for a month abroad. My mom flew out with me and we visited Paris and Venice together (you can take a train anywhere over there!). I loved London, but I was also going through a break up and felt homesick most of the time. I was ready to return to the US but I was unsure about returning to New York. And this truly blew my mind. I struggled to admit that I wasn’t happy there. I had always envisioned my life there.

When I returned home, I decided to stay put in NJ for a bit and move back in with my parents. I wasn’t thrilled about it. Not because my parents don’t rock, but because I was “miss independent.” I completed the requirements to get my cosmetology license in NJ (in case I decided to stay) and worked in the field to gain some experience. Looking back, I really cherish that time I had with my family. I figured out a lot about myself in that year. I struggled a lot with anxiety and through that I somehow stumbled upon a “Reiki” certification class in Philadelphia. I had never heard of Reiki and I had spent very little time in Philadelphia. Despite that, I decided to sign up and I took the train an hour into Philly 2 days week for a month to learn about this strange healing modality that was completely foreign to me. That was one of the most pivotal moments in my life.

Through my Reiki training, I learned a few important things. One being the importance of human touch and energy exchange. I also learned that I was unhappy in my work environment, but Reiki offered me a way to comfort and protect myself. Hairstylists are hands on with so many people in a day that it can be very energetically depleting. I was able to use Reiki to cope with my anxiety. I never imagined I would use it for anything more than that. Completing my first Reiki certification was one of the most therapeutic, healing experiences for me. It was the first time this idea of healing/wellness entered my realm. I think back on it often as I now offer Reiki for a living. Its a huge part of my practice and why many people seek me out. I will actually be teaching and offering Reiki certification courses in the new year so it really has come full circle for me.

After spending so much time in Philadelphia for my Reiki classes, I realized it was the perfect balance for me. Not quite as crazy as New York, but still eclectic and buzzing. Before committing, I got a job at a low key hair salon in South Philadelphia and commuted back and forth for a bit. I started to shift away from the luxury salon atmosphere and preferred a more down to earth vibe. One day after work I found a perfect apartment just a few blocks away and didn’t hesitate to take it. My journey in South Philly had begun! I quickly felt right at home there.

Eventually I met my husband and we began dating while I was in the process of buying my first home. We spent our time pouring our love into our south Philly row home and building our fur family. I was happy at home, but I slowly started to resent the hair industry. My days were long and draining. I was struggling to find my drive with work. I started to gravitate towards a more holistic way of living and my work didn’t seem to align with that. Every time I had a client scream at me in the mirror because their highlights weren’t bright enough, I questioned my purpose. I was always the type that needed to find value in my work and I was no longer resonating with the hair trends that people were consumed by. I started to gravitate away from the beauty aspect and more towards wellness. Yoga and meditation helped me immensely during this time. I had worked at salons that also had a spa and I always found myself more at ease in the spa. That’s when I decided to get my esthetics license and dive into skincare. I had struggled with my own skin and I was determined to help others feel beautiful in their skin. With no make up at all.

I loved doing facials and working in the zen, quiet atmosphere of spas. I was learning a ton and enjoying my days more than ever before. I got into doing body scrubs and Turkish baths at one of my favorite jobs. That was my first introduction to bodywork. For the Turkish bath, we would literally be doing the treatment in a large, ornately decorated steam room. It was an incredible experience. I fell in love with the aspect of making someone feel totally relaxed. The idea of going back to school for my massage license crossed my mind, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around learning all the muscles in the body. I didn’t feel capable of that. How could I possible go back to school AGAIN?

I was working as an esthetician, making a lot of money, and finally happy with my career. And then Covid hit. I’m not a news watcher so one day I got to work and they said they were closing for 2 weeks. Long story short, I never returned. 2 weeks turned into months. We didn’t know when or if we would be able to do facials again. Eventually when people did go back to work, they were required to be fully masked and social distance. 2 things that were impossible in my line of work.

The first few months at home with my husband and our 4 cats were really lovely. We cuddled, did yoga, worked on projects, and watched a ton of Netflix. But something shifted during that time. Our neighborhood has become more unsafe than ever so we rarely left the house. We were craving nature. We needed a change. If you can’t already tell, there is a theme of impulsivity with me. So I decided I wanted to living in the mountains. I wanted to be surrounded by trees and not people. And my husband (fiancé at that time – we got engaged during covid!) backed me 100%. We drove up to the Poconos one day to explore and set our sights on Northeast Pennsylvania. We didn’t want to leave the state but we wanted to be far away from suburbia. So the Pocono Mountains it is! Just 2 hours from our loved ones and full of breathtaking hiking trails.

Once we found a rental and got settled, I started to rethink the idea of going to massage school. I wasn’t quite sure when I was going to be working full time again so I had the time to commit to studying. It was still unclear when facials would make a comeback because masks were still mandated so I used this as my reasoning to dive into a new modality. And I loved every minute of it! I even remembered (most of) the muscles! I surprised myself a lot during this time and experienced some big changes within myself. I worked at a well known spa resort to get some practice once I was licensed, but I knew early on I wanted to have my own practice and envisioned it as a woodsy wonderland.

I created an Instagram account to drum up a following and called it “@theremedywitch.” I always resonated with witchcraft, Wicca specifically, so it seemed fitting. I didn’t have intentions of this being my business name but rather just something I identified with. My massage instructor actually went out of her way to warn me about using it as my business name. She said I would turn off a lot of people by using the term witch. I took that into consideration, but I think it also made me want to use it more. I didn’t understand it because I felt like it was an accurate representation of me. And didn’t I want to attract clients that would vibe well with me? So when I found my first office space to rent and it was time to get my LLC, I very confidently went with “The Remedy Witch LLC” and never looked back. I get compliments on the name all the time and only ever had one person express concerns with the name. We weren’t a good fit and that’s ok. Many people choose to come see me over another massage therapist because they resonate with my energy and my vision. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I ran my business out of a small office within a wellness center in the area. I rented the space and was able to do whatever I wanted to with it. I got to play around with the ambiance I wanted to create and had a ton of fun setting that space up. I opened my office barely knowing anyone in our town. We had no friends and family in the area and I really didn’t have a good reason to believe my business would succeed. Nonetheless I threw my all into it. I refused to work another job in fear that it would distract me from my goal. I knew if I dedicated myself to it fully, I would build a clientele. It took time, but I did get very busy. I was still working on my craft and deciding how I wanted to specialize. It was a really exciting time for me full of new beginnings. I went on to become a Reiki master, I gained a lot of my clients from the other holistic practitioners in the building and made long lasting connections.

A few months after massage school I traveled out to Sedona to spend 3 weeks learning about a technique called Myofascial Release (something we briefly spoke about in massage school) from John Barnes himself. I fell in love with the work (and Sedona) and I couldn’t wait to introduce my clients to this form of healing that could touch on physical, emotional, and energetic traumas. MFR shows us everything is connected. The energetic manifests physically and vice versa. I felt like I was bringing my knowledge of Reiki healing and massage therapy together into one effective service. I quickly started utilizing it regularly and now I have a steady stream of clients who see me for Myofascial Release. It has become a key component on my service menu. My clients will brag about how their physical therapist or chiropractor is impressed with their progress and I can always give credit to the Myofascial work.

About a year after opening my little office I was ready to expand! I wanted more space. At the same time that we found our house that we ended up buying, I also found a storefront space to rent just around the corner. I had enough space to rent out an office and still have my own office and a shop/reception area. A friend of mine and someone I had worked with in the past joined me and opened up her massage business in my additional office space. We work extremely well together and have very similar style so I knew it would be a great fit. I have created the space to resemble the forest with the iconic fern in the logo. I decided to call the shop “The Remedy Studio – Holistic Wellness” because it became more of a collective. I still operate as “The Remedy Witch” and have gained my following around that name. I am now booking about a month out and some days I get too lost in my business and forget my own self care. It has been difficult for me to find balance but I have gotten better at limiting my availability to create my own boundaries. My service menu consists of massage rituals, myofascial release, Reiki healing, and Herbal facials.

The shop has grown into a wonderland of goodies from organic skincare, to essential oils, sage, incense, crystals, and so much more. All hand selected for our customers/clients. The space is inspired by the magic of the forest, which is my peaceful place. it has developed so rapidly. I have even brought on a receptionist who keeps the days running smoothly and takes some of the work load off of me. I envision eventually having more space and more holistic practitioners apart of the business. I’d love to be able to host retreats as well as in house continuing education and workshops. Everyday I am inspired by something new so I imagine this is only the beginning!

In October I will learn Maya abdominal therapy and integrate that into my practice as well. It is a technique I have been drawn to for a long time and I believe will be a core part of my work going forward. I hope to travel to Belize in the near future to meet Dr. Rosita Arvigo and immerse myself in the culture. I always enjoy learning from the source. Maya healing has helped me reconnect with my divine feminine in many ways.

My goal with my work is always to create a safe space for relaxation and healing. I work intuitively and customize every experience for my client. I am so happy to be on this journey as a young female business owner especially in an industry that is so needed right now.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has been teaming up with other practitioners (physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc) to cross promote. I have gained a lot of clients through referral. Working with other wellness practitioners is great because you can help your client/patient achieve even better results working together. We can’t be good at everything ourselves but we can team up with someone who has a skill set that compliments ours.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation in the community is based on the quality of service I give and the attention to detail. I have taken all the knowledge I gained in 5 star salons and spas and implemented it into my small business in some way while still keeping it down to earth and laid back. I keep my pricing reasonable and have never had a negative review. I try to create a bond with my clients and they have come to know the things that set me apart. When you are truly authentically yourself, you can’t help but make an impression. Social media is a great outlet I have used to create my brand style and express myself in a genuine way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theremedywitch.com
• Instagram: @theremedywitch @theremedystudioholisticwellness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theremedystudiowellness

Image Credits
Photos by Ryan McKean