Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly McElveen.
Kelly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Many years ago, when I was about seven years old. My mom decided to go back to school to become a Licensed Massage Therapist. I watched her help hundreds of people over the last two decades. She was so inspiring that I decided that I wanted to continue to carry on the legacy of helping people with my hands. I worked in the dental field for a little over five years before I realized that there was so much more out there for me. I took a leap of faith & left the dental field to become an LMT back in 2018. I searched all over for a school that would provide me with both a great education & a hands on learning experience… that’s why I chose HandsOn Therapy in Mesquite, TX where my mom completed all of her schooling back in the 90’s. All of my certifications have also been through HandsOn Therapy, taught by my instructor & mentor, Toni Oliver. Toni was my rock through school, she pushed me to become the therapist that I am today. She has helped me get through all of my courses & I plan on having her help me get my Medical Massage certification in April 2020. I worked for a few places before I decided to start my own business as a LMT. Now, my work home is at SierraGypsy Skin in Terrell, TX. I work alongside an esthetician combining our services to benefit our clientele.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has not always been a smooth road. I feel like the road that I tend to travel on has a roadblock or some sort of struggle. From school, leading all the way up to this point… There have been many days that have gone by where I wanted give up because of no-shows or dead business days… I would go days, sometimes weeks without appointments & then all of a sudden, I would have two or three really good weeks that would make up for those slow days/weeks.
I knew starting up a business on your own would be really hard, but then doors started opening & I found something that makes me truly happy. Now where I work, I have been able to build a steady clientele & started working alongside side of total boss babe who has helped guide me in the right direction. She has taught me so much already & I continue to learn something new from her every day.
If you are just starting out as a small business owner… there are going to be tough weeks & then there are going to be great weeks. Do not give up because those great weeks turn into great months & then eventually great years. I look forward to see what the year of 2020 hold for my business @ SierraGyspy Skin.
I believe if you do what you truly love, with all of your heart & soul… people will love your passion & they always come back for more services. My advice is to find something that sets your soul on fire when you find it… Do it greatly & ALWAYS set goals for yourself, then turn around & crush every single one. Never, ever give up on your dreams… I wouldn’t be where I am at today if I didn’t decide to come back to school when I was 25 years old.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Holistic Massage Therapy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
So as a Licensed Massage Therapist, we are immediately certified for the Swedish Massage Technique. We then are allowed to take other certification once we become LMT’s.
My certifications as an LMT are:
• Deep Tissue
• TP (Trigger Point) Therapy
• Hot Stone Therapy
• Reflexology
• Pre-Natal Massage (14+ weeks)
• Myo-Facial Release
• Sports Massage
• Chair Massage
I plan to continue to further my education as a massage therapist so that I can make sure my clients are receiving the best of the best.
I think what I am most known for my Deep Tissue Massage. Everyone holds onto the stress from their everyday life right in between their back, neck + shoulders. I love helping people who struggle with the stress + tension from their everyday life when they come in to see me & for me to have the ability to help them let go of some of that.. is what helps me get out of bed every single morning.
I think the real purpose of giving a massage is to foster more depth of feeling for one another in order to bring out the love that often lies buried beneath the pain of everyday suffering.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Honestly, this one is a hard one for me… I guess what I feel like the biggest barrier today for female leadership is thinking that you aren’t able to do something if someone has told you that you can’t do it.
I have had people recently come up & converse with me about how they could never or would never massage someone unless it was their spouse/partner… that it’s weird or gross, I have even been told before that it’s wrong to do because I’m married… You know I have heard it all. I have even had someone tell me that I shouldn’t leave the dental field to pursue massage therapy & that I needed stay with the career I had already chosen because it was more stable for my family. Well, I can promise you that when I am asked what is my WHY in all of this.. it will always be, “because I know I was put placed here in this world to help others holistically, touching hearts + souls with my hands.” I believe that you can do anything you set your mind to. You have the power & control to do anything your heart desires, so please do not let anyone tell you any different. Stop listening to those negative voices that tell you that you can’t do something or that you shouldn’t do something. You show them they are wrong & never settle for less!
Pricing:
- 60 Minute Massage $65
- 90 Minute Massage $90
- 120 Minute Massage $110
- Salt/Sugar Scrubs: Hand + Feet $10-$15
- Wax Paraffin Treatments: Hand + Feet $10-$15
Contact Info:
- Address: 353 S Virginia St
- Terrell, TX 75160
- Website: https://square.site/
book/5E4ZVMXSCDFXH/holistic- massage-therapy-terrell-tx - Phone: 9727508731
- Email: kellymcelveenLMT@gmail.
com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/kellymc.lmt/ - Facebook: https://m.facebook.
com/kellymcelveenLMT/
Image Credit:
Arielle Humphries Photography
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