We were lucky to catch up with Chantelle Love recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chantelle , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

Well …shortly after I got licensed as a Massage Therapist, I worked in a few spas and I was not finding myself fulfilled. The workload was very demanding compared to what the therapists were compensated and the work with the clients so impersonal. I took a sabbatical from the spa industry but continued to be of service to my friends and family who wanted or needed massage on the side while focusing more on my career in administration and education. During my last year cheering for the Washington Redskins, now know as The Washington Commanders I started to pick up my clientele many of those being the girls that I danced with on the team at that time. My passion for the healing that massage therapy reignited and grew my last year on the team and when I retired I was able to focus more of my attention on growing my business. After a year being a dance teacher and arts educator in the Baltimore City and Prince George’s County Public School Systems and a little push by the pandemic I decided I wanted to go after my love on my terms. The main steps I had to take started with little things like selecting my business name, registering with the state, setting up my email and website all of the boring entrepreneurial stuff lol. I wanted to be taken serious and be looked at as a real professional. I would say my main challenge was learning the business side of things (I could not just look at this from a Massage Therapists standpoint). As well as attracting and keeping clients, my tribe. My advice for a young professional and something I would have done differently would be to get a mentor!!!! A mentor will support you, cheer you on, provide feedback, advice, and help guide you through your entrepreneurial journey.

Chantelle , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a mother, dancer, teacher, body worker from Columbia, MD. Currently I am also the Social Media Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts. I attended Howard University as a Physical Therapy major and when I graduated I decided not to pursue graduate school at that time because I moved out of state and was having issues trying to find a graduate program to transfer to. That is when I started to look for other holistic forms of living and being that I could incorporate into my studies. When I researched massage therapy I was intrigued so I enrolled in the full time program at The Baltimore School of Massage now know as Cortiva Institute Massage Therapy & Skin Care School. There I got introduced to energy work, acupuncture, crystals, mindfulness, the power of energy and even herbalism which I dived into heavy. I provide massage services with the focus being mostly a combination of deep tissue, myofascial, stretching, energy work and acupressure techniques. Stretch therapy sessions, intuitive movement and dance, couples massage sessions and childrens’ sessions. I provide wellness services like massage and yoga for events, corporate occasions or retreats. This past November I launched my Sacred Boxes which contain handmade products and mindfulness gifts to help you find balance and practice self-care. In 2023 I will roll out my products officially online and in stores and launch a couple of other products currently in the works! The problem that I strive to solve for people would be eliminating pain and trauma in the body from a holistic approach using massage, stretch and movement. I am also plant based although, I know that is not the goal for everyone, I do promote incorporating more plant based options in your everyday life as well as healing herbs and plants as medicine. I feel like what sets me apart is that I know intuitively that everything in our lives is connected, we are multifaceted and we are made up of many pieces that encompass our total wellness. If just one of those is out of alignment it will affect the other and will manifest in your physical body which I work to bring back in alignment. I am most proud that I have a beautiful tribe that trusts me with improving their physical, emotional and mental well-being while teaching them how to maintain balance holistically.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

WORD OF MOUTH!!

I think with all the technology of today people still forget how powerful word of mouth is and how it can literally make or break your business or brand. No one shares an ‘OK’ experience. People share the things that make them happy or upset. When you create a product or service that people love and can stand behind they tell everyone and recommend you to anyone that needs what you have created. Before this year I still had most of my business come from referrals.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Definitely hands on experience…The body is complicated and there are never ending things to learn about it. No two people are the same and as you’ll learn working in the field, you’re going to come across people that you don’t know how to help right away, but one of the things we are tasked with is being a problem solver….a healing detective! With advanced knowledge of how problems can be caused variously by postural issues, repetitive motion, overuse, bad furniture, and the effects of stress and trauma on the body – the well-trained therapist discovers the source of clients’ problems and resolves them incredibly well. And I believe the more hands that you have on bodies gives you that experience and works your intuitive muscle in listening to the body with your hands.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sacredtouchwellness.net
• Instagram: Sacredtouchandwellness
• Facebook: Sacred Touch and Wellness
• Twitter: @SacredTWellness
• Yelp: Sacred Touch and Wellness

Image Credits
Damon Rice Jeffrey Perkins Khamaree Owens