We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tara Kukla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tara below.

Tara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

I chose this question because I couldn’t think of just a simple answer.

My clients are just amazing. Some I have known and grown with over several years as their massage therapist, or felt like I’ve known them for years when meeting them for the first time.

I have so much gratitude for them. I appreciate that they always value my time, bring great conversations, their stories about how they bragged about me to their friends and constant referrals, and I can just feel the support and warmth that they bring.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Tara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Tara Kukla, licensed massage therapist, and owner of East Valley Therapeutic Massage in Mesa, AZ.

My parents owned a Day Spa where I started as an esthetician giving skin care facials, body scrubs, and body wraps. Later on, I graduated massage school and did both massage and skin care as an employee at my parents Day Spa. Then, in 2020, I left to open my own massage practice specializing in the relief of back and hip pain.

Not only do I help people with upper back pain, lower back, and sharp hip pain, my practice is now the 1st and only eco-friendly and sustainable massage practice in my area. Less waste, less plastic in our oceans, and eco-friendly products. 💚

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

We can’t serve any one and everyone.

I mean, we can, but our bodies and brains were not built to significantly make a difference in every person’s life.

There is so much to learn about the body as a massage therapist. Every joint, muscle tissue, pain, cell can be very complex, and it can take hundreds of years to learn almost all there is to know.

Massage school teaches very basic education. It is up to the therapist to take advanced classes after school, which is where you learn all of the good stuff.

I have taken hundreds of hours of advanced education across the country, and there is still so much to learn.

Some massage therapists try to be super woman (or super man) and attempt to solve every problem every person has, which is impossible, and they can be very hard on themselves for not solving it.

It is OK. You can’t learn everything in one lifetime. Not even doctors know everything. Doctors can be wrong. Massage therapists can be wrong.

Pick something you are good at solving and stick with that.

My specialty is back and hip pain, that is my focus, what my advanced classes are focused on, and I know SO MUCH about back and hip pain.

Knee pain or foot pain? I’ll refer you out to someone who understands more about the complexity of those areas.

It is okay to refer out. You don’t have to solve every problem.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Just be real, be you.

Your greatest clients chose you because of your personality. Because they like YOU.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eastvalleytherapeuticmassage.com
• Instagram: @eastvalleymassage
• Facebook: East Valley Therapeutic Massage

Image Credits
@carmelajoyphotography