We recently connected with Leslie Menges and have shared our conversation below.

Leslie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

In the summer of 2022, I attended the National AMTA Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. It was there where I had the opportunity to hear Barb and Becky speak on the topic of Reflexology. While I didn’t fully subscribe to the concept that our feet are directly tied to the rest of the body, I was intrigued to learn more. Barb and Becky showed such passion and knowledge for Reflexology and how it connects to the whole-body system that I felt led to attend their Reflexology school in Okemos, Michigan…The Branch Reflexology Institute. Their curriculum placed me in Okemos, Michigan 5 weekends throughout the course of a year. It was through completing the required practicums, that I started to see for myself how there is a direct correlation between congestion found in the reflexes and the client’s overall health.

Reflexology is the science that deals with the principles that there are reflexes in our hands and feet that are connected to every organ, gland and part of the body. By working these reflexes, we are identifying congestion in the reflexes and working to help break the congestion up in order to improve circulation and blood flow to not only the reflex, but the whole body as well. There are over 7,000 nerve endings in your feet! When we administer Reflexology, those nerve endings are getting stimulated and help to “wake up” the rest of the body.

Through completing the practicums and working with clients, I started to see how Reflexology can be a beneficial modality in the medical field. We can tell a lot about the client’s health just by looking at their feet, because congestion can be seen in the form of swelling, calluses, redness, cracked skin, bone changes, etc. Learning Reflexology has also total transformed the way I work with massage clients. Needless to say, I became a true believer of Reflexology.

Upon graduation, I reached out to a private physical therapy business that operates out of a local wellness center providing physical therapy to patients. While I still work at the spa in my local town, I have expanded my business to also work with this team of women at the physical therapy practice. As a massage therapist and certified Reflexologist, I am not in a position to diagnose, prescribe or treat, but I am in a position to explain where congestion is seen and felt in their patient’s reflexes. The physical therapists then use this information to help formulate (or adjust) their patient’s treatment plan. It has proved helpful and useful in seeing greater results when they are working with their patients.

Reflexology has become an exciting adventure for me. It continues to amaze and excite. Not only does it help improve the balance of your whole body, but your feet feel amazing afterwards as well!

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

I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Ohio since 2008. At that time, I was a full-time Intellectual Property Paralegal and Office Manager. Shortly after becoming Licensed in Massage Therapy, took on a part-time Massage Therapy job at a downtown Cleveland luxury spa. My weekday was spent at the law firm, while my Saturdays were spent at the spa. The spa became a retreat from the monotony of the deadlines, but when my third child was about to be born, I stopped working at the spa. The demands of the family took precedence in my life. For five years, I did not do much at all with my Massage License other than maintain its active status. Then, when my youngest became five, I had an opportunity to rent a massage room at the spa in my small rural town. The spa sits directly across the street from my kids’ school! By the time 2022 came around, I retired from the paralegal world to just focus on family and my growing massage practice.

Since becoming an Independant Massage Therapist, I have become a FarmHouse Fresh Certified Practitioner, Reiki Master and Certified Reflexologist. I love being able to help people find relief from their daily aches and pains.

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

Word of mouth is everything! It can make you or break you in any industry where you are dealing with the public. A lot of my clients started seeing me, because of my co-workers at the salon and spa. Be good to your co-workers!

Next to that, I would say education is key. Clients get excited about hearing about new things we are learning as practitioners and are curious to keep coming for services. I believe this has also helped my clients to grow their confidence in me and the massage therapy I am providing.

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

Perserverance and Humility. When I was just starting out and I didn’t have any clients at all, there were some hard days. There were so many days early on when I would doubt myself and wanted to give up, but I kept showing up! Even if I didn’t have any clients on the schedule, I would show up to the salon and spa anyway. I would use that time to study and market myself on social media. This also allowed people in the salon and spa to see my presence, and it prompted them to ask questions, which created curiosity about the new massage services being offered. This period of time was very humbling. There will be hard days, but nothing bad ever comes from showing up for yourself!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lesliemengesmassagetherapist.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieMengesLMT