Remember when I mentioned we were resetting things at Sole Shine? We’ve spent some time reflecting on what we’re creating for you. 2017 is the 10 year anniversary of Sara, Susy, & Alicia joining the profession of massage therapy. I started this not really knowing why or what I would be doing in the future. If you count the years I’ve been receiving massage and learning about yoga and meditation, it counts back to 2002! I’ve learned many things about life and love and receiving and giving and nourishing souls–both mine and yours.
I think I’ve worked in every situation you can imagine and many of you have traveled the journey with me and I’m very grateful for that.
Because of all of my experience, I’ve grown this intense love for massage therapy and the people providing this space for others to relax and unwind. I love when I meet the therapists that have an insatiable love for the body and how it functions.
There have definitely been times I’ve been burned out and then a lovely client like yourself comes along and reignites my love for this crazy, fulfilling world. Or something happens in my personal life and I find reprieve in the same self care tools we teach you.
I’ve heard many stories about how clients end up on or website or at our door. One of the things I hear more than I would like, is their therapist quit massaging, moved, or disappeared. I’m very much an advocate of increasing the professionalism of this industry but the fact of the matter is, the type of person attracted to this profession tends to be one with their own story that led them to being comfortable touching people. We are usually artistic and sometimes flighty. I know more therapists that deeply struggled with anxiety and depression and found that massage therapy was the only avenue to save their life. They were so moved and compelled to share this with others, they found themselves completely enthralled with this work.
One thing I, as the owner of Sole Shine, would like you to know is…..We will always have therapists come and go but you can expect me to always be here. That’s the nature of time and the nature of employment. We know there are special bonds that form in those massage rooms. People share some serious things with us and we will always keep your information private and without judgment. These relationships require a specific set of boundaries and given all of my experience, I think I’ve seen or heard of it all. (I wrote this last week and I experienced something recently that made me say, “Hm… I’ve never heard that before!” So I take it back but hopefully you get my jist.) I’m here to help you and my staff navigate these boundaries. I always welcome you to share your experience or questions with me. There isn’t anything that’s too weird or awkward. One of the biggest challenges I face as someone who employs and supports massage therapists, is the schedule. I want to provide enough therapists to be accessible to our clients but also enough clients so the therapists are not sitting around–not getting paid. It’s a delicate balance that I’m constantly at odds with. We have struck a nice balance thus far and plan to keep that moving in the future.
As Sole Shine and barefoot massage therapy grows in St. Louis, please know that we are continually looking at how we can remain true to our mission. “Creating a space for our clients to remove the obstacles preventing their best life while creating a opportunity for massage therapists to thrive in their career.” You can trust that we are always coming back to this statement to ensure every move we make is towards this goal.
Sole Shine Barefoot Massage Therapy is the premier place for the most professional and safest place to receive barefoot massage. We pride ourself on integrity and honesty. We’re not here to heal you. We’re here to help you discover your own potential.
With all of this, if you’ve ever considered a career in massage therapy, please reach out to me. I have become an ambassador to the massage therapy profession and have many resources to help you decide which path to take. I’m invested in this world and I want to see every single therapist not only making money but LOVING the work they do. I do. And I know it’s possible for you to as well.
To health,
Sara Newberry, LMT