Meet Joan Black-Van Zandt of Knots Knead Out Massage in Bedford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Black-Van Zandt.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Joan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Previously, I was a licensed insurance agent. I worked as a freelance agent and was licensed in 48 states. I traveled to many states working for different Insurance companies doing open enrollments for large corporations such as Dillard’s and Health south just to name a few. I was had landed a sweet position working from home enrolling exclusively for Dillard’s department store with a company out of Chicago. Eventually the Healthcare market began changing because of the new Health Care laws. The Chicago Company outsourced the Dillard’s case to company in Tennessee. I was left with no job. I had to do something fast so I went to work for a healthcare company in Irving Texas.

This was a go nowhere fast type of job and it really didn’t satisfy my desire for helping people. During the time I with the company in Irving I decided to go back into the Insurance business. Starting from scratch I left the large Dr’s office and went back on the road. My heart was not in it and Healthcare reform was making a large impact on the way health insurance was being sold. Many Insurance sweat shops were popping up and the only time to do open enrollment was between October and December of the year. The stress was more then I wanted and one night I was woken from a deep sleep by a load voice. Two words I heard, Polynesian Massage.

I pondered over these words for a few days and during that time I looked up massage schools in my area. That is when I decided to go back to school at the age of 52 and become a massage therapist.

Has it been a smooth road?
Actually, school was a bit difficult because of a nasty fall I took in 2008. I was taken to the emergency room with a concussion and the concussion affected me pretty bad. For two weeks I could not talk. My husband Michael told me if I didn’t start talking soon he was going to take me back to the hospital. Eventually, I did start talking but the healing took a while. Learning was more difficult. I had to work harder and hire a tutor. I am grateful for that tutor. I also choose not to work during the time I was at massage school. This enabled me to devote the time and energy I needed to my academic curriculum while I was in school. Also, I ended up with a bulging disc while I was in school and had to have chiropractic care and decompression on my lower spine. In the end I overcame and came back even stronger.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Knots Knead Out Massage story. Tell us more about the business.
My company started out with just myself. I didn’t want to go and work for any other company. I work a lot with people with deep tissue massage, Trigger point, active release, and Myofascial release. There are a number of people suffering from pain because their muscles have been overworked. I have found this to be where I thrive best. Because, I too suffer from problematic muscles in my neck in back, I find I have a better understanding of my clients’ pain and suffering.

My company is growing and this April I hired my first Therapist. Her name is Bri. She is amazing. She came into the company with a can do attitude and is a team player with a great outlook for the future of Knots Knead Out Massage.

We cater to athletes, and the corporate world. Many people sit behind a desk between 8 and 11 hours a day without taking many breaks. We teach them about stretching, drinking water, how to move while they are at their desk. We always give a full hour to our clients and offer first res-ponders, active and inactive military discounts, as well as senior discounts. We work by appointment only and we like to say we are there for you.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I would like to train up more therapist who have a passion for people who are in need of becoming free from restrictions of sore, tight, painful, and inactive muscles. At this point I have myself and Bri. By the first of the 2018 I would like to bring on an additional therapist as well as increase the space I have. Currently I am leasing two rooms and it is my plan to lease 2 more rooms. In the next five years I would like to have expanded into additional areas in the metroplex. It is my vision to eventually be located in the Las Colinas area. There is a great need for therapeutic deep tissue massage.

Pricing:

• Therapeutic deep tissue massage= 1 hour $95
• Therapeutic deep tissue massage+ 1.5 hours $135.00
• One hour relaxing massage $75.00
• 90 minute relaxing massage $110.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 2516 Harwood Rd
  Bedford, TX. 76021
• Website: knotskneadout.com
• Phone: 469-999-3051
• Email: knotskneadout@gmail.com
• Facebook: knotskneadout

Image Credit:
Joan Black Van Zandt

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