Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2013 I applied to a massage school in Asheville on a whim, and from day one I was hooked. Everything clicked into place and I knew I was meant for this work. When I graduated, I mostly worked in boutique day spas for the first few years gaining valuable hands-on experience. During that time I would still see a few clients on the side from my home office, and that’s where Soma Bodywork was born. It wasn’t until I moved to Raleigh in 2020 that Soma really took off. That’s when I stepped away from spa life and rented a small private office in North Raleigh. Business picked up quickly, and only a year later I moved to a larger office with other wellness practitioners. That space became Soma Wellness Collective, an eclectic group of individual wellness practices. We’ve been there for about three years now, and it’s going great!
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?
It’s been a smooth road for the most part, but I find most of my challenges in the business side of things. I’ve never been more thankful for booking platforms like Vagaro (which is what I use) to make that side of things more streamlined. I also struggle with advertising in this social media centric modern world. Right now I’m working on getting my Instagram up and running and that has not been easy! Lucky for me most of my clients are referrals, so that takes some of the stress out of advertising.
The easiest part of my job is the hands-on work. I love what I do, and that makes it feel nearly effortless.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Soma Bodywork?
I’ve experimented with many modalities over the past 12 years and in that time found that I really enjoy integrative massage, which borrows techniques from several different styles of massage. I tend to gravitate toward deep tissue massage, so trigger point work, stretching and myofascial release are some of my most often used tools. Even when the goal of a session is deep work and pain relief, I work in a soothing flow to keep the muscles relaxed and meld techniques seamlessly. My philosophy is that a great massage will put both myself and my client in a state of meditation and equilibrium.
Last year I took a trip to Thailand to learn more about Thai massage, and now I offer hour-long sessions. This type of massage is experienced on a floor mat and is very stretch focused, although there is some opportunity to get deep into the muscles as well. I do a few sessions each week and have grown to love it just as much as table massage. If you’ve never experienced a Thai massage, I’d highly recommend it!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to support my practice is to book a massage! I’m still growing and hope to add another therapist to Soma in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.somabodyworknc.com
- Instagram: @somabodyworknc
