Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Lutes.
Hi Amanda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My family life growing up was full of love, laughter, and hard work. I am the youngest of five children, and we were all expected to pitch in, whether it was at home or at my parents’ businesses. My mom and dad owned and ran their own businesses for nearly their entire careers. This made it feel achievable to me as a young adult to start my own business.
I was always drawn to massage from a young age. Both parents were always massaging my neck, shoulders, back, etc. growing up as a very active and athletic kid. So, I would also love massaging sore shoulders, hands, and feet for my family and friends. I discovered early on that I had a gift that I loved to share. Around the age of 12, I KNEW I wanted to be a massage therapist, professionally. I graduated from massage school in Missouri in 2004 and immediately embarked on my now 22-year journey to share something that I love every day, while getting paid. During that time, I have been an employee and manager for wonderful people, a partner in a wellness center, and an independent business owner. Working for myself for more than eight years has been a great joy, providing freedom and a deep sense of accomplishment. I believe one of my greatest character traits that has led to my success is my endless curiosity about learning and my love of sharing with my clients. Outside of work, I have the honor of being a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend to many amazing, beautiful people. I really enjoy weight training and living a healthy, balanced life. Reading ANYTHING, from a fun novel, to moving poetry, to a science or philosophy paper is one of my favorite hobbies.
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?
What road is ever smooth? LOL!
I truly believe I have had it “easy” in some ways. But I have definitely had my share of tough times. I have started over rebuilding a client base 4 times because of moving to new cities and a big move here to Texas from Missouri. That was a tougher move because massage therapy is regulated and licensed differently from state to state. After getting to Texas and applying for licensure here, and trying to wait patiently to be approved before being able to work. Meanwhile, I continued to travel regularly back to Missouri, working on my clients to maintain my income. Massage therapy is not your typical career with sick leave, vacation pay, etc. If I don’t work, I won’t bring in my regular income. There have been times when I couldn’t work because of illness, family tragedies, or maternity leave. Getting shut down during the pandemic was tough. But, through it all, I always knew I could get back as soon as possible and continue pursuing what I love.
We’ve been impressed with Ahh Inspiring Massage, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am an independent massage therapist and owner of Ahh Inspiring Massage in Plano, TX. With 22 years of experience, I have worked with many people and many issues. I am known for my deep tissue and therapeutic work. Helping solve soft tissue problems is a joy. Working with pregnant clients is a passion of mine; I have extensive training in prenatal massage, from the basics to the most advanced techniques, as a Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner. I believe that in our fast-paced, high-stress, over-stimulated world, quality massage is not just a luxury; it’s a nervous-system-regulating game-changer for your daily life. From the moment we connect, schedule, and you walk into my office, I am asking, learning, and listening deeply to what you need and want. Ensuring we make the most of our time together, every time. My clients often comment on how incredible the massage is: My hands are “magic,” and I just “know” where the problem areas are, how much pressure to use, when to move on. But they also truly value my character, how I show up for them, and how I honor their time. I love to chat, or not; I love to just listen or go deep on an area of concern or interest. I want every person leaving my table to feel like they can go back out into the wild world and be the absolute best version of themselves because they feel loved, seen, and heard, physically, mentally, and emotionally. They feel nurtured and in a more relaxed, balanced state.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
What a fun question! I have fond memories of camping trips with my family growing up. We belonged to a camping club and would regularly travel with friends and family. I loved fishing, horseback riding, hiking in the mountains, floating on the rivers, and, of course, sitting around the campfire, stargazing, and making s’mores!
Pricing:
- For pricing please visit my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amandalutesco.com
