Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Vanderford.
Hi Linda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I had worked 22 years in the service industry in every role possible and when my beloved restaurant closed in December 2021, I decided I’d done enough. At the prompting of a friend who’d been a massage therapist, I enrolled in school! It was one of those defining life moments when on my first day, I knew. I knew that this was what I was intended to do. The kinesiology, the body movements, the way muscles behaved- it just made sense from the very beginning. I ended up being asked to give the commencement speech at graduation and was the most awarded student of 2022! This was it. This was my calling.
A friend opened up a medspa and gave me my first opportunity as a professional! I am forever grateful to her and all I learned, but I felt there was something missing. I wanted to focus on just bodywork and that wonderful team works best when everyone works with every department. I moved on to a chain massage studio and loved getting to focus and hone in on my craft! It didn’t take long for me to see that the system was not designed for our clients. I had many trying to work through there 20+ credits accumulated from COVID, many coming every week because canceling their membership resulted in loss of credits they’d paid for! That felt so wrong and I wanted to do better than that.
That’s when I realized that my rental in Bishop Arts fit the requirements to work out of it. January of 2024 I begun renovations on what would become Bishop Arts Massage!
I opened on March 16th with a Grand Opening featuring an open bar, food, and a raffle for free massages. Despite the torrential downpour that day, over 60 people attended. This was good, this was going to work. I hoped.
My main things I wanted to provide was not only tailored massages to every clients needs, but also an atmosphere of welcoming, community involvement and ethical membership plans. There is a community bulletin board featuring any local business that wants to, an art wall displaying art from local women artists available for sale, and most importantly- my memberships. Any member that needs to pause or cancel their membership will retain any credits they’ve accrued for as long as I am practicing. I do not believe in my clients paying for something and then having stipulations or time limits to use them. Another vital part of my plan is that I wanted to make sure massage was available to as many people as possible. I know I could charge much more, but massage is such an integral part of self care, I want to make it available to people who maybe can’t afford $100 for an hour massage.
It took less than 10 months to hit 200 clients that I’d worked on. What a milestone! And it’s only gone forward from there. I am now nearing 400 clients! So many of my referrals have come from my clients or because many PTA’s and other businesses know I will always give gift certificates to help raise money, or support local businesses. If we ALL shop and support local, we ALL can be successful! Being a part of Oak Cliff and Bishop Arts and being able to support my community has always been a focus of mine.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has and it hasn’t. I have found my calling and what I am very good at and also love doing! But opening a business will always come with that fear and uncertainty of “what if new people don’t come try me out?” or “am I doing enough?”. Imposter syndrome is a dangerous monster. But through the support of the community and the many referrals from clients, I was able to be self sustaining nearly from the first month!
The biggest struggle for me I think was understanding that I am very good at what I do. I have multiple members who tell me constantly that they have brand new range of motion and relief but it’s still sometimes hard to put myself out there. Even now when I know I’m many people’s go to!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in combining multiple modalities into every massage. Not every session can be solved through the brute force of deep tissue, or trigger point therapy, or stretching alone. True benefit comes from understanding how the body works and behaves in each clients lives and where the help is best placed.
I am known for my ability to find tension and issue in places my clients didn’t know they had! I “see” with my hands and I always find what needs help. I would also say I’m known for my involvement in the community and desire to see other local businesses thrive!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I would actually love the opportunity to support OTHERS, not the other way around! If anyone wanted to display their art, or business information, all they need is to reach out to me and I’d love to support them! I don’t make anything from displaying art, and I love to connect my clients with other local businesses! I just want to help others succeed and thrive and be well!
Pricing:
- Hour Massage – $80
- 90 minutes – $120
- Hour membership – $70 billed monthly is one credit for massage. Additional massages outside of credits are $60
- 90 minute membership – $110 billed monthly for 1 session credit and additional 90 minute sessions are $96
- Cupping – $30 and CBD lotion – $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bishopartsmassage.net
- Instagram: @bishopartsmassage
- Facebook: @thebishopartsmassage
