Our Founder’s Story

We began the interview process when my private practice was at its prime. My business partner, Kara McAllister, and myself were turning multiple clients away each week for lack of availability. It was such an exciting time to realize that we had finally arrived in a successful place and we were stoked to put out our first ad: “LMT for hire! If you worked here, you would be HAPPY NOW!” The résumés rolled in and we eagerly began the interview process.

Fast forward two years…

We were still looking! We simply couldn't find the set of qualities that we were looking for in a new hire. Multiple candidates were proficient in one area and lacking in another. We knew that we wanted to hire someone who was the full package. Someone like us. So we held out. Our work has always been of the utmost importance to us and we weren't willing to settle. We never did hire that third massage therapist.

But a few years later, while I was working on a much adored client, I had one of those life-altering moments of knowing. My mind was empty and I was completely with the client's body, and like an explosion out of the dream I saw our school. It filled every bit of my being, my senses were literally alight with the fullness of the vision.

My mind and my heart were chanting, “I’m going to open a school!” It was a moment of such deep, direct knowing that I never looked back. It was simply going to be. This beautiful creation.

The next day, I arranged a meeting with the owner of my former massage school, Diane Palmer, and told her of my wild idea to be of service in this beautiful new way. A way in which I could pass on the essence of my work and inspire a deep reverence for the craft of massage therapy that would elevate the status of our profession. We met for coffee the following week and Diane said, “I’ve been waiting for you!” and handed me a flash drive with my former school's curriculum fully loaded. She said I could do whatever I wanted with it and that it would be a great start. I told her she was nuts and that I couldn’t possibly accept it. She said, “Sweetie, men have been doing this for always, and don’t be an idiot! Take it, you deserve it, it’s your legacy!” And so I did and I never looked back. I have also never respected another woman more.

Many thanks to Diane Palmer – without you, I would never be the me that I am today. I love you.