We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elisha LightAngel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Elisha, appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

I have been a massage therapist for 15 years and counting. Over that time, I have worked for establishments and worked for myself, bouncing between those two depending upon life’s circumstances. The first time I worked for myself was not intentional. I was working two jobs. One job was waiting tables, which is what I was doing prior to schooling and throughout school. The second was the first massage establishment where I was hired out of school.

After a few incidents with one particular manager at the food job, I was fed up, and I quit with the intention of working full time doing massage. Much to my surprise, the massage establishment I was working for called me before my next shift to let me know that I didn’t need to show up as they were closing. I was in full-on panic mode. I was a single mom to a 3-year-old at the time, and I did not have the option to not work and have income.

I was not versed in running a business, keeping track of income, or any other logistics and nuances that come with working solo. It was a figure-it-out-as-you-go kind of business. Needless to say, it was not the best way to operate. In my panic survival mode, I advertised on Craigslist, and I do not recommend that for any massage therapist. It is definitely the place creeps like to hang out, but I didn’t know that at the time. I became good at recognizing when I was being asked for a legit massage or for other illegal services.

During that phase of life, I would tote my table all around the city and set up in people’s homes, hotel rooms, and even offices to give massages. Being a traveling massage therapist was fun for a while. I got to see the inside of some very elaborate and ornate homes and some of the most expensive hotels. These are places I would never have the opportunity to set foot in for any other reason in life. I met cool people from all walks of life and got to hear stories about people’s jobs, lives, and world travels.

After a couple of years, I tried to rent an office space, and that worked for a time, till it didn’t. I then transitioned to working from home. Working from home was the easiest, but it can also not be the safest when you are bringing in a stranger for the first time. Fortunately, I never had anything bad transpire as I had learned to vet people prior to meeting for the first time. If I were to ever work from home again, it would be toward the end of my career, and I would only accept clients with whom I have built a relationship over the years, never a new person.

As life would have it, I found myself moving to a different state to where it took me a while to get a reciprocity license. I did other jobs for a bit, and when I did get my license in the new state, I was able to find a job at a local spa. I worked at the spa for nearly three years. During the last year of working there, I decided to start my solo business. It was a slow progression that led to the unfolding of my business as it now stands.

I purchased a new home and created a massage room out of a spare bedroom. I was only taking a couple of people one day of the week to get extra money. These were people I knew. After a few months, I found a nice space to rent from a local yoga studio. It ticked everything I was looking for in a space at the time. A large room to work in, a place for people to wait outside, a restroom, and a lovely next door yoga studio.

Beginning a solo massage practice might be easier in many ways than other industries. There is less overhead than a regular business, and the main hurdle is marketing, getting your name out there, and finding the right clients. There are several ways to market, and what works can vary depending on the region one is located. I was fortunate enough to have several clients follow me from the spa where I was working.

With my second go-round in doing business, I had learned a plethora from all the mistakes that younger me had made. Here are some things I learned that have significantly helped me run a better business and create greater success for myself.

1) I keep records of everything, either in a spreadsheet or software created for that purpose.
2) Good money management. Setting aside money to pay taxes and even give myself a bonus, or re-invest in my business at the end of the year. I recommend that all people going into business for themselves read the book “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz. I got lots of my knowledge from that book.
3) I built a good online presence by creating a website and a Google business listing. This makes me easily searchable in my town when someone is looking for a massage.
4) I keep networking, which gets me more clients and allows me to collaborate with other local business owners.
5) I have built great relationships with my clients, both with in-person charm and sending out emails with things such as self-care advice, weekly openings, a birthday “gift”, and other bits of news on an as-needed basis.
6) If a client wants a regular session, I get them into a “standing appointment slot” that allows them the same time and day on whatever time interval rotation they like. This is a win/win for the client and me.
7) I have set days and time frames that I work. This creates boundaries that allow me to be fully present and at my best for each person who comes to see me. Boundaries are a very important lesson I have learned in working for myself.

As a result of doing business better than my younger self, I have been able to establish a thriving business, and I am booked out at least a couple of weeks at a time, if not longer. The success allows me to pour out my creativity in my office space and create an atmosphere that feels relaxing from the moment someone steps foot in the door. Success also allows me to envision the future, as I hope to one day scale my business into a full wellness spa and bath house.

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.

I am a licensed massage therapist, certified aromatherapist, certified hypnotherapist, meditation guide, breathwork coach, sound healer, and self-care enthusiast. I run a solo practice providing massage, bodywork, and energy work as well as sound healing, breathwork, guided meditations, and individualized aromatherapy product creations. I often combine different modalities into one session to assist in healing and relaxation for my clients.

The list of certifications may seem long, but it is fueled by my thirst for knowledge and desire to help others when and where I am able. As a multi-passionate individual, I am able to provide services and knowledge to my clients from a broader perspective. Just because someone is lying on my table for a massage doesn’t mean they can’t learn many other things from me through conversation. I enjoy helping people and sharing anything I have learned throughout the years.

People often ask me how I got into massage therapy, and I feel my story is different from most individuals who are in this profession. I never dreamed about massaging people or helping them in this capacity. I had other dreams when I was young. Notably, I was planning to move to California and become a famous actress. Life had other plans for me. I got pregnant and had a beautiful little boy in my mid-20s. One cannot pour their soul and free time into acting “for experience” when they have a little human depending upon them. I gave up my dreams of fame when that happened.
I still had no plan B.

I had a dark night of the soul, which led me to where I am today. I soon found myself as a single mom. I was working two jobs and barely scraping by. I became miserable, wondering if this is what life was about. Should I spend most of my days working, stressed that I might not make bills or be able to buy groceries, and have no time for family or friends? This seemed like doom and gloom at the time. I entered into a dark place within myself, but I knew I had to keep living, if only for that adorable little human.

I decided I wanted to be a naturopathic doctor as I already had an interest in herbology and thought it would be great to help people in this capacity. I began searching the internet to figure out what it would take for me to become a naturopathic doctor. With my terrible Googling skills back in the early 2000’s I could only find websites of ND’s who were already established. One thing I noted from each website is that every single one was also a licensed massage therapist.

I thought “Oh crap! Do I need to become a massage therapist in order to be a naturopathic doctor?” So I decided to look up massage training and see how much that would cost and what it takes to become a licensed therapist. I filled out s form for some school I found online, thinking they would send me an email with some info. They called me 20 minutes after I filled out the form and asked if I wanted to come by and tour their school. As fate would have it, I had plans to be near their school, which was 45 minutes from my home, the very next day. So I said “yes”.

After doing the school tour, I impulsively joined their next class that started in a month. After a couple of months of schooling, I found that I had a real talent for massage. I was the person that everyone in class wanted as a massage partner. Once I was in the working world, it was easy. Everyone who came to see me for the first time always came back and raved about my work. Apparently, this was what I was meant to be doing.

I have now been licensed and doing massage therapy for over 15 years. I have had the opportunity to increase my skills and knowledge, and will continue to do so. I’ve worked for establishments, and I have worked for myself. Today, I have had my business as a solo therapist for a little over two years.

I get to pour my creativity into my business through the services I offer and the atmosphere I provide. I have created a space that helps people to relax as soon as they open the door and cross the threshold into my space. Relaxation starts at the door. The building looks unassuming from the outside, but inside, I have created a hidden oasis, an escape from everyday life. People get to come and take a 60-90 minute vacation in my space and on my table as they receive. It’s one of the best things I could think to provide for others, and I feel blessed to have this talent to share.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Growing a clientele can be the most difficult when first beginning a solo massage therapy practice. I was fortunate that I worked at a spa that did not have me sign a non-compete clause. I was able to let my regular clients know I would be leaving and branching off on my own. The majority of my clients chose to follow me, although some stayed at the spa as they are loyal to the owner. This gave me a great start, enough to be confident I could pay my bills with the number of people I had as clients.

There are a few ways I have attracted new clients after my initial leap into solopreneurship. I live in a college town with approximately 50,000 residents and an influx of around 40,000 students per semester. Most of my clients are townies, but I do occasionally get a college student.

1) Word of mouth, which is key in a smaller city/town like the one I live in. Friends trust recommendations from their friends. Sometimes it is a simple recommendation, and other times they might purchase a gift certificate for someone, and then that person begins to receive massage therapy more regularly. I also offer $10 off if a person refers a friend to me. It’s never the incentive to tell friends, but it is a nice way to say thank you to an already established client, and they are always appreciative.

2) Google is where people who don’t have a friend to recommend a person look when they are searching for a massage therapist to meet their needs. I have a website and a Google Business set up. This allows anyone to find me with a quick Google search of ‘massage near me’. I cannot overemphasize how important having an online presence in our modern techy world is. I have gotten several new clients this way.

3) I rent my massage room from a local yoga studio. The building has a weird layout. This means that when I am not using my space, the yoga students walk through it to use the restroom. I have had some yogis become clients because they saw my space and liked the vibe. The yoga instructors also recommend me to students. Renting in this space has helped me be successful.

4) Since I have access to the yoga studio, I sometimes teach classes or meditations. I always do an introduction and let them know my main gig is massage therapy, and I work on the other side of the door. I would say I usually get at least one new client from every class I have taught.

5) I network when I can. This means attending different events around town and meeting people. I have conversations with people, and when they find out I do massage therapy, they will ask for a card. The card taker might book an appointment, but sometimes they also just refer someone they know.

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

Massage therapy, like many licensed careers, requires continuing education in order to renew the license. This not only helps to keep information fresh but also introduces new techniques and ways of working the body. I have learned a lot from each and every new thing I have taken. I take these techniques and integrate them into what I am doing. This has transformed my bodywork over the course of time.

Training is great and all, but some of the best learning has been done by receiving a massage from other licensed therapists. If I could recommend one thing to new people in the field of massage therapy, it would be to receive as many massages from different people as possible. Here are the reasons and benefits of doing so…..

1) As massage therapists, we are selling relaxation, bodywork, and pain relief as a form of self-care. It is imperative that we also keep our bodies cared for in order to effectively do our work.

2) Receiving a massage is always a wonderful reminder of how good we are making our clients feel. If you forgo getting a massage, the memory of that good feeling fades over time, and you are more likely to burn out. Therefore, receiving bodywork from others helps to avoid burnout.

3) There is no greater teacher than experience. The ability to feel what another therapist is doing. Maybe there is a move that feels particularly good, and you can incorporate it into the work you do. If there is something that does not feel good, then you can make a mental note of what not to do with people on your table.

4) Receiving a massage will make you a better massage therapist overall. That can be due to learning by feeling, being inspired by other, or getting ideas in what direction you desire to go for your own career.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.elishalightangel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elishalightangel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LightAngelHealing
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ambBaxzoOWEyf3KN3iuhQ?view_as=subscriber
• Other: https://linktr.ee/elishalightangel