Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Coleman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am often asked the question, “Why did you want to be a massage therapist?” To be honest, I didn’t know right away that it was what I wanted. During my time at St. Olaf, I was on track to graduate with my degree in Exercise Science and move on to become an Athletic Trainer. When I discussed this with the head of my program, I was told that the nearest school to get my Master’s Degree was in Nebraska. I was NOT going to Nebraska! So I had to come up with a plan. I had done a project in another class where I researched 3 different professions relating to my major, one of them being massage therapy.
I had received my first massage when I was 16 and there was NO turning back! It was life-changing for me! I had discovered that my own massage therapist attended Sister Rosalind Gefre’s Schools and Clinics of Massage, so I contacted them shortly after graduating from Olaf. They had a 3-month introductory Swedish Massage class that I could take with no commitments. If I wanted to pursue the remainder of the 18-month course, I had the opportunity to do so. So I did. That 18-months took me 3 years to finish! Halfway through, I was so burnt out that I couldn’t fathom opening up another textbook… so I went on “hiatus”. I worked at a local Casino as a cage cashier on graveyard shift. I hated myself for it. Was this my life? I had a Bachelor’s Degree and was halfway through massage school and I worked in a casino doing a job that had absolutely nothing to do with what I had just spent 4.5 years of my life pursuing. I couldn’t take it! So I went back to massage school during the day/evening and working overnight, and I graduated with a certificate in Professional Massage Therapy in January of 2008.
I gained experience working in a wide variety of clinic and spa settings, but none of them were quite right for me. I finally found a place where I was comfortable, but the dream of going out on my own always lingered in the back of my mind. Then in 2017, I got an overuse injury. I busted my body working 30 hands-on hours a week and I paid for it. I thought I was done. There was nothing else that I wanted to do! I LOVE massage! I mean, I really, truly LOVE what I do! I help people to live their best lives and I was NOT about to give that up! So after a little over a year of rest and just two and a half months after giving birth to my son, I opened the doors to my own studio! And I had no clue what I was doing! I’m one who tends to “wing it” but I quickly learned that running a business isn’t as easy as it looks! I began work with a business coach which gave me the confidence boost I needed to learn how to work the business side of my practice. It’s still a learning curve, but now, almost 3 years later, I am thriving and constantly working to improve myself as a practitioner.
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?
Being in business for myself has definitely been a learning curve. The main struggle during this last 3 years was the mandatory shut-down due to COVID. I took advantage of that time, though to re-brand my business and create what I wanted my ideal practice to be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in pain relief for women simply because I am one. Being a wife, mother of a toddler, an active runner, and business woman, I understand that life is a balancing act and we truly do carry the weight of the world on our shoulders! So whether they’re suffering from chronic pain, or just need a break from the stress of daily life, I am here to provide them with the pain relief and relaxation their body needs. I pride myself in my technique – a combination of therapeutic deep tissue and relaxation – which I have developed over my 13+ years as a massage therapist, as well as the experience that I have created for my clients. From the moment they walk through the door, I want them to feel cared for and that their unique needs will be addressed regardless if it’s their first session or I’ve seen them 100 times!
What does success mean to you?
Success is being number one in the search for “local massage therapist”, lol! But really, if I have established trust and respectability within my community, that to me is the ultimate definition of success.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@anniecolemanmassage.com
- Website: www.anniecolemanmassage.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/anniecolemanmassage
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/anniecolemanmassage
- Other: https://anniecolemanmassage.as.me/
