My Story…
I began my career in massage almost by accident, when I started working as a receptionist in a therapy centre & school in Manchester in 2008. As part of my role I was taught how to carry out treatments on the public in order to fill in for the main therapists. It was interesting and rewarding at times, I learnt a lot, and became qualified. But mostly, it was exhausting. My training, like most massage courses, was solely focused on using my hands, and before long I developed wrist pain, a common cause of career death for massage therapists. As well as this, the courses, like most, did not teach business skills, so I was dependent on working for others (for a terrible wage). I became burnt out and decided to find another job. I started a series of 9-5 office jobs, then went to uni as a mature student to learn and teach languages.
But as you might have guessed, massage made its way back to me! Over the years I often encountered people in real need of treatment to remedy pain and low mood. The kind of treatment which gets people back to themselves and moving again. I also wanted absolute freedom in my working life, after so much full time work, so after my degree I decided to go self employed as a massage therapist alongside my languages tuition. I lacked business know-how and the skills to massage without causing myself injury.
But over the years of my journey into self employment, I picked up extra techniques and studied other therapists on how to massage using my forearms and elbows. These are firm and soothing moves which protect wrists and hands from overwork. So much easier! And I took more massage courses, as well as a business course, and paid for mentoring to learn how to make more money. This phase was a game changer.
I am grateful for going through this jagged learning curve with massage and business, because from this journey I learnt how to do things properly. And I got fired up to design a course my way. A course which teaches simple and effective moves, as well as tons of therapy business skills, so that you can make it big from day one, and keep going… without taking 15 years to work it out!
And why the Lakes? Ever since I can remember I have desired countryside scenes and enjoy leaving the city for days out in greenery. I am extremely lucky and have been given the opportunity to live in the Lake District. I am overjoyed and happy to be holding my workshops and courses in this inspiring location.
I look forward to showing you how rewarding, grounding and transformative massage can be.
Devon x


