We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Colosi recently and have shared our conversation below.

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

I started my massage practice in September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spa I was employed at shut down in March, much like everything else. In those early moments, I knew I couldn’t go back to that boss and that type of spa setting. My massage background had always leaned more towards a medical approach, with a practical focus on bodywork. Being unemployed allowed me the space to wonder what a practice of my own could look like. I thought of my aunt and cousin back home, both of whom are hairdressers and work from their homes. My first step was to determine whether the state of Tennessee would permit a home massage practice and if the room I had in mind would be large enough for a massage table. After conducting an extensive search on Google, I discovered that operating an in-home massage practice is permitted, and massage therapists are regulated by the Tennessee Board of Health. This means that I would need to obtain an establishment license to proceed. My biggest struggle during that time was the paperwork surrounding taxes. I made sure to connect with my cpa to ensure I filled out everything correctly and filed my business appropriately. I highly recommend anyone thinking of starting a business to consult with a cpa. They are here to help you succeed. The only thing I would do differently is give myself more grace during the process. Especially in the slower phase of the practice, when it was just starting up. I had to rebuild a client base, which isn’t easy, especially for a business that isn’t on Google. I had decided to be referral-only. I was nervous about making sure it didn’t feel weird for clients to walk into (essentially) a stranger’s home. Lucky for me, I have 2 adorable pit mixes who are the official welcoming committee! With a little time, it felt more normal and easier to have clients in my home. September will be Ahimsa’s 5th anniversary, and I don’t think I’ll ever look back! Working for myself has been life-changing in some challenging but incredible ways. I would tell any young professional to go for it. The autonomy and freedom you gain are worth every moment.

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?

Hi, my name is Lisa, and I am the sole owner and operator of Ahimsa Wellness. It all started back in 2008, when I was working at a bank on Long Island, NY. I had taken a year off from college, not wanting to continue as a math major, but also had no clue what major to switch to. I always had an interest in the human body, but didn’t know how to pursue the curiosity that bubbled up from time to time. One morning, a girl from high school came into the bank, talking about how she just graduated from massage school, which immediately piqued my interest. I got the information from her and went about my morning as usual. Later that same day, my father called to let me know he saw a commercial for a massage school and had jotted down the information for me. When we hung up, I went ‘huh’. It was the same school that the girl had mentioned. I believe in signs- if your heart is open, and you choose to listen, your path will be easy to see. The very next week, I had an interview and a tour of the school scheduled. Walking into the school, I knew this was it. I signed up for the next trimester of classes, and for the following 2 years, I hustled through work and school full-time. I graduated in 2010, ready to start my new career. It’s crazy to think that was over 15 years ago, and I can easily say I still love what I do! My passion for the human body has always been about how every piece functions separately, the physiology of it all, and how everything works together to stay in homeostasis. The complexity of muscle groups working together, the intricacies of the skeletal system, and how they collectively create our everyday movements. My goal for clients is to live pain-free, able to move how they wish and need. Whether it’s a marathon runner training for their next race, a postpartum mom exhausted and achy from late nights, or a hairdresser who has pain when lifting their hair dryer arm, I want them on my table. I want to release the muscles that might be misfiring, causing dysfunction and pain. I want to encourage movement in healthy ways. Ways that feel good to your body and mind. I love to create the space you need for yourself. A space where you feel safe and heard. A space for you to connect back to yourself in a world where we are all so very disconnected.

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

The one thing I find most important, other than training, is the ability to listen. Every client is unique and has different reasons for being on the table. Actively listening to the client allows me to create the space they need to relax.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes! Oh goodness, the book “Radical Healership: How to Build a Values-Driven Healing Practice in a Profit-Driven World” by Laura Mae Northrup has truly taken all my thoughts on building a healing-centric practice in a capitalist society and put it into a book! One of my biggest struggles in running a business is the cost and profit for myself. Finding the balance between staying affordable so clients can receive the care they need, and charging what I need to live comfortably without burning myself out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ahimsawellness.co
• Instagram: @ahimsawellness_

Image Credits

Staci Smith