We were lucky to catch up with Loren McKay recently and have shared our conversation below.

Loren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My father raised me as a single dad. He was the best “daddy” for a little girl, and now that I’m an adult he’s the best dad and friend anyone could ever ask for. He instilled a very hard work ethic in me as he was headmaster of International and national schools for. Over 40 years. Without his advice and guidance I would not be where I am today. He is incredibly professional and instilled in me very strong and pro work ethics. Today I’m transitioning from Massage Therapist to Spa Director. I’ve been practicing for almost 20 years and that combined with what my father taught me about quality, standards, kindness, people skills, and professionalism is brought to this next incredible step.

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 went into this industry at 21 years old, 19 years ago. I had no idea what I wanted to do out of high school and after some college, massage therapy was suggested. After going to school for massage and working in the spa industry,a new door opened to a whole new door of things I never knew existed. I then went to school for skin care and took classes to be a Reike Master, CranioSacral practitioner and aScarwork practitioner. I worked at one of the top spas in the Silicon Valley for 13 years, the last 5 I was the lead therapist, after that I moved back to the East Coast and now work at one of the top spas in the country.

I think what sets my work apart is my innate sense of exactly where to put my hands and how to manipulate that muscle or bone when doing CranioSacral. My firm touch in all massages also sets me apart.

I’m very proud to be associated with the places I’ve/I worked/work and I’m also so proud that people I help and people I work with can see that I care about what I do.

Massage and certain holistic therapies can really help to get to the root of problems physically and emotionally. I’ve seen months of work heal years of physical and emotional trauma. I also feel that it should be accessible to everybody regardless of income structure because this is absolutely beneficial for everybody!! I also believe that there should be more of a spotlight on these kinds of therapies for animals. They deserve so much love and care, and can live longer, healthier lives with some of this work.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I was 34 I left the West Coast after living there for 19 years. Even though I was coming back home to Pennsylvania I knew nothing would be the same. I had been practicing massage for 13 years and was the lead therapist at 1 of the top spas in the silicon Valley pand only had to work about 18 hours a week. When I moved back here, my family didn’t have a whole lot of time which I understood and I also didnt know anybody so I had plenty of time to work. I knew that to be able to pay everything on my own. I was going to have to work harder. After 13 years of working only 18 hours a week, I had to start working 40 as well as leav an entire life behind. Not only that but I wasn’t able to practice for 2 years when I moved back because of the regulations and bureaucracy of Pennsylvania. I was made to go back to school for 90 hours and pay another few tbousand out-of-pocket even though I had been practicing for thirteen years!! I did treatments that didn’t include massage for those two years buWait was pretty tough as most of the time I wasn’t booked. Two years later I finally received my massage license and can continue caring for clients at a beautiful spa in Pennsylvania.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Yes, I would go back and choose the same professions. I was at one time also an Esthetician and I plan to renew my license. I’m a Reiki Master, a CranioSacral, and Scarwork practitioner and will be going back to school to learn CranioSacral and Scarwork for Canines and Equines. I do feel that healing is my calling and Iabsolutely love caring for people and seeing how resilient they are with just a little bit of the work that I do. I’m so fortunate to be able to do this and help people and hopefully I’ll be able to help animals too!! There are still many more things in the spa/holistic industry that I want to learn!!

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