We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ortavia Taylor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ortavia, thanks for joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?
In the clinical portion of school I was always booked with a list of people wanting to get a massage. My instructor who we didn’t see eye to eye in the beginning because we were to strong mined women. We became great friends and I was her go to massage therapist. We are still friends and she is my mentor.. She had a few connections and put in a good word for me at the chiropractor’s office wellness experience. I started out with $30 an hour that was a lot for someone who was just finishing school. It was a great experience, I was not intimidated because I knew that I was finally fulfilling my purpose and not to mention I would work on a friend of mine very large friend who use to box in his days, he was very muscular and I was determined in my mind if I can work on him I can work on anyone. I stayed very busy doing 10 massages a day3 days and part time at another office. I had a lot of people wanting me, but I loved being in the chiropractor setting as I learned a lot from the Dr., and I was able to get quick results from those suffering from chronic pain and injuries. I have always desired to have my own facility but fear of failing and finances were a huge issue. I was very happy and glad I made that decision to work at the wellness experience of Wellington.
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’m an ordained Prophet of God, a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 6. I’m very compassionate about seeing people healed and whole by way of prayer and touch. It started at the age of 5 , my great grandfather would give me $5 to rub his legs with witch hazel,He nicknamed me Haze)then my uncles had me walking on their backs, so I would say my grand father was grooming me for this time. I went to school for patient care technician and graduated as valedictorian of my class so I worked in the medical field and then cosmetology where I would incorporate a great scalp massage and my cousin would say you need to go to school for massage. I was a single parent I wasn’t interested my focus was on my children. After surviving a domestic violence relationship I decided it’s time for a change so i went to school and mastered massage therapy. I opened a 1 room office before I stepped out in faith and moved to Georgia, where I worked at massage solutions for the first 5 years of being in Georgia. I have always been a visionary and so I begin to make a pain relief massage cream. I asked if I can sell it in the office I was working at only to be told no that it’s a liability. It wasn’t true as she made a balm and I’m insured. I begin to sell fajas the compression garments that are so in high demand, she shot that down. So I begin to pray, if what i bring to the table is being shut down then what am I supposed to do I asked God? I got a peace in my heart that it was time to move. I put my notice in and then she fired me 2 weeks later. I could have begged for my job because the location I was going in fell through, but I didn’t because I trust God. 103 Jonesboro rd popped up in the search all of a sudden and bingo I ended up right up the road from where I was currently working 2 years later I’m going strong and hiring a solid team to meet the needs of the people. I’m so proud that I was obedient and that I’m doing it afraid. I provide body work on clients that suffers from chronic pain to just wanting to relax, I sell my haze cooling blend massage cream and essential oils , along with custom shirts coffee, mugs, etc. What sets me apart is my humbleness and keen insight in relieving pain in 1 session, I get to the root cause instead of working surface level and I pray silently over every client. Every session is Holy Spirit led. I want people to know that I am HAZE, it’s not just the name of my business it’s who I am . Healing massage in a peaceful (zen) environment. I can’t express enough how passionate I am about the service I give and the products that I create. I am my brand I want the world to get to experience in one facet or another. Healing and zen was birthed in 2021 and I plan to be global with several locations. Haze will be a household name. Coming from a background of domestic violence so often the the victims live in fear and I was determined that would not be my story that I will let people see that you can live beyond the cycle of abuse and find emotional healing . Now I empower them as well you can do it even if you do it afraid. Trust the process and of course it did take me having to rediscover who I was because I lost my identity because I was lost. I hope that helps someone.
Can you open up about how you managed the initial funding?
I chose this question because true story I didn’t have any capital or credit. I would save my tips and purchase 1 at a time the things I needed to start my practice. I would store it in the garage. When I found the location I used my last tax check I received to put the deposit down to rent. My schedule was already booked before I opened so I was able to use that to purchase paint, then God touched people’s heart to be a blessing I opened my business debt free, no credit and no capital. Just the favor of God and He still continues to blow my mind.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
To succeed you must have a pure , compassionate heart to succeed and discernment. Touch can unlock and release old trauma that’s locked up in the body. Being prepared to handle situations like that in the professional way creates a lasting impact on the person.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.healing and Zen Experience.com
- Instagram: Healing and Zen Experience
- Facebook: Healing and Zen Experience
- Other: I’m an author do that information can be found on justtaylormade.com and my nonprofit organization that empowers individuals and families to break the cycle and live beyond the abuse can be found on voiceoftheunspoken.org
Image Credits
Tara Harp Photography and King of Visualz