Today we’d like to introduce you to Cortney Phillips.
Hi Cortney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been a licensed massage therapist for 24 years, and while I truly love what I do, it was not the career path I originally envisioned. I graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, fully intending to pursue a master’s degree in social work and become a licensed professional counselor. At the encouragement of my honors thesis professor, I took a year off before applying to graduate school—a decision that would quietly reshape my future.
During that year, I enrolled in a yoga teacher training program and began massage therapy school. What started as exploration soon became a calling. Rather than returning to graduate school, I chose to build a wellness-focused business, teaching yoga and offering therapeutic massage. I also embraced my entrepreneurial side, designing yoga mat bags that I sold in local studios and online. While retail ultimately wasn’t where I thrived, the experience taught me the value of taking creative risks—and the importance of learning from ventures that don’t unfold as planned.
Today, my work is centered entirely on my massage therapy practice. Following the pandemic, sustaining in-person yoga classes became increasingly challenging, leading me to step away from teaching. Still, yoga remains an integral part of my life and work. I maintain a personal practice and weave the principles I’ve learned into my sessions, offering clients tools that support not only their physical health but also their mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
In the spirit of “it’s never too late,” I am now seriously considering returning to school to pursue that long-postponed master’s degree. My hope is to one day offer a more holistic approach to mental health—one that honors the interconnectedness of mind and body and includes movement and massage as essential tools for healing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have faced many challenges throughout my career. Being self-employed means living without traditional benefits—no paid vacations, no sick leave, no insurance, and no guaranteed income. Building and maintaining strong client relationships, as well as ensuring client retention, requires confidence and courage, as marketing my services ultimately means putting myself forward. While we do learn about the business side of this profession, I am not a naturally gifted businessperson, which led me to seek out additional education and business coaching along the way.
I also took a significant risk by launching a side business designing and selling yoga mat bags. While creatively fulfilling, the venture did not grow into the business I had hoped for. Then came the pandemic, which presented one of the greatest obstacles of my career. I had taught yoga at our local community college for 19 years, but the spring semester of that year became my last. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the fitness world shifted dramatically, with online platforms rapidly gaining popularity. It became clear that it was time for me to step away from teaching yoga and devote my full energy to my massage therapy practice.
More recently, my challenge has been rebranding my business and increasing my presence on social media. While I am thrilled with my website, social media remains a struggle—it is far outside my comfort zone. Still, I continue to show up, knowing that growth often requires discomfort.
Another challenge I continue to navigate is the uncertainty of how long my body will be able to sustain such physically demanding work. As I get older, I am increasingly aware that massage therapy requires not only skill, but physical endurance. I take care of myself through regular exercise, massage, yoga, and chiropractic care, yet the physical nature of my work remains a constant consideration. Not knowing how many more years my body will allow me to practice in the same way has encouraged me to think thoughtfully and proactively about the future.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed massage therapist with 24 years of experience, specializing in therapeutic massage that supports not only physical wellness but also mental, emotional, and spiritual health. My approach is deeply influenced by my background in psychology and my ongoing yoga practice, allowing me to offer clients tools and techniques that extend beyond the massage table. I focus on helping people relieve pain, reduce stress, improve mobility, and reconnect with their bodies in meaningful ways.
I am known for creating a personalized, holistic experience for each client. I take the time to listen carefully to their needs, assess their physical patterns, and integrate movement, breathing techniques, and mindfulness into sessions when appropriate. My goal is always to empower clients with practices they can carry into their everyday lives, not just provide temporary relief.
What I am most proud of is the trust and long-term relationships I have built with my clients. Many have been coming to me for years, and seeing the transformations in their well-being over time is incredibly rewarding.
What sets me apart is my commitment to blending bodywork with mind-body awareness. My background in psychology, combined with decades of experience in yoga and massage, allows me to take a truly holistic approach. I am always learning, adapting, and bringing creativity to my practice—whether through specialized techniques, movement integration, or simply creating a safe, supportive space for healing.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk doesn’t come easily to me, but I’ve learned that staying stuck can be riskier than trying. Each step I’ve taken toward building my business has stretched me in new ways, but it’s also strengthened my confidence and deepened my commitment to the work I do. Those risks have allowed me to create a space that truly reflects who I am and how I care for others. I view risk through the lens of faith and trust. Many of the biggest risks I’ve taken—starting my business, rebranding, and leaning fully into my calling—came from a place of prayer and discernment. Risk, for me, isn’t about fearlessness; it’s about obedience and trust that stepping forward, even without all the answers, can lead to something far greater than staying comfortable.
Pricing:
- 45-minute massage $75
- 60-minute massage $100
- 75-minute massage $125
- 90-minute massage $150
- 2 hour massage $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cortneycaresbodywork.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortneycaresbodywork
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cortney.phillips
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortney-phillips-151213329/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cortney_cares?lang=en
Image Credits
Kelly Moore
