Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Hyman.
Hi Carrie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story is fairly simple. HTK was started in January 2021 with a vision to provide wellness needs to members of our community. I graduated from Massage school at Wake Tech in April 2022. The Board will fully license me by May 2022. That’s when the fun began. I loved geriatric massage so much in school that I wanted to spread that type of joy to residents of my community. I presented the benefits of Geriatric Massage and submitted it to multiple assisted living, rehab, and memory care centers in eastern NC. I was fortunate to sign my first-ever contract through HTK with Prodigy Transitional Rehab Center in Tarboro, NC. They took a chance on a small black woman-owned business, and it’s been a fantastic journey. I adore every one of those residents who allow me into their space to service them with massage therapy. This was wonderful for my confidence level, so I rented a room in a local beauty bar and began promoting my massage therapy business. I also started working with life coaching clients and studied to become a certified Doula(I have yet to accept any clients). I started promoting different spa party packages (networking with a friend/esthetician as needed), and I have found that people like spa days, which makes it easy for me to customize any spa day for whatever the group wants or needs. As time has continued, my clientele is steadily increasing, and I look forward to servicing more people. I am currently ready to move into a space of my own.
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?
The journey to where I am today has been a challenging road. The biggest struggle I have encountered along the way has been a mental struggle within myself. I dared to step out on faith and trust the process. Starting a business is always challenging self-doubt almost deterred my path. Still, a wise friend told me, “girl, you got it, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” Since that moment, I have been promoting and sending presentations to several different sites. Some of the struggles I have encountered along the way include feeling discriminated against while looking for a permanent space to service my clients, having people wanting to be serviced without paying the prices and reaching members of different ethnic groups and those with a language barrier.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Holistic Therapy Kneads client-centered and focuses on providing community members with a holistic and non-pharmacologic approach to total body wellness. I am a certified Life Coach, Certified Doula, and a Licensed Massage Therapist. I have had a few successful life coaching clients and have yet to begin as a practicing Doula, but I am known for being an amazing massage therapist. I am proud to be a black female business owner, self-made with no inheritance or generational wealth. What sets me apart is that I give an amazing massage; also, I care deeply about my clients’ well-being and truly enjoy the type of work I do. I can relate to my prenatal clients because I have had children, am a certified Doula, have battled bodily image changes, and understand the pain. My goal for the future is to have a fully functioning wellness center offering multiple modalities of care, including but not limited to massage, life coaching, doula services, yoga, counseling, behavioral management, and Zumba.
Are books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I don’t have any favorite books, apps, or podcasts, but I have a favorite quote. I heard my cousin Tiffany use this quote when I was in high school, and it has stuck with me since. The quote is, “Don’t judge my praise until you’ve heard my story.” This quote has been with me and helps me daily because it reminds me that everyone is privately battling something that I may not understand, but a simple smile and hello could brighten their day.
Contact Info:
- Website: htkmassage.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-hyman-5908b4132
Image Credits
Tarrell Perry, Leelah Perry, and Jordan Knight
