Scott Gould - **Hand Over Hand Massage & Wellness, **Loves Park, Ill.
Favorite healthy food? I just polished off a bag of baby carrots as I reached this question.
Favorite indulgence? My indulgence shares the same name. Indulgent Trail Mix.
Favorite activity? Actually, I am just going to refer you to the section below on what I do for fun.
Favorite movie/book? My favorite book of all time is called the “Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield. Movies are a different story. I love horror movies, some science fiction, and I have a weird fascination with apocalyptic movies involving weather. I would have to say that my favorite movie is a tie between “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Twister”…and possibly a couple animated features here and there.
Favorite music for doing massage? I pretty much like music that has sounds of nature in the background. It seems to be the most relaxing for both me and the clients. I did get caught off guard with one CD when a goat starting bleating in the background. Both the client and I started laughing.
Favorite music to listen to? OK, I really don’t listen to music much on my own time. I should listen more, but I don’t. Given the choice, I would probably have to say that 80s rock is probably my favorite. I’ll blame that one on my sister who entered her teenage years in the 80s.
Favorite kind of ice cream? Something with chocolate and espresso.
Background in massage?
I graduated in June 2012 with an Associates of Applied Science degree in massage therapy from Rasmussen College in Rockford, Ill., and have my NCTMB. I am a private massage practitioner/owner for Hand Over Hand Massage & Wellness. In addition to this, I am a part-time physician’s aide with Morsay Medical & Rehabilitation and a baker with Schnuck’s Markets.
What do you like best about doing massage?
I like seeing and hearing my clients describe the changes they experience after receiving one or more massages. It is beyond satisfaction to hear that I had a literal hand in making someone feel better.
What inspired you to get into this industry?
This is a good question, one for which I’ve come up with a few answers. When I was younger, I used to give family members back massages and rubs. My father always insisted that I give him those hand-made coupon books for back massages as a Christmas gift. I also helped with my mother’s physical therapy at home after a car accident left her paraplegic. Because of this, I experienced first-hand the power of human touch in a person’s healing process. Now she walks with a walker and is difficult to keep up with.
Despite these two truths, the fact that I was at a crossroads is the primary reason I entered the field. I recently left a restaurant managerial position that I was in for 10 years and knew that I wanted something different. My father was pushing me to go into the medical field. My interests lay in complementary and alternative medicine, so I got intrigued when I came across massage therapy in a college catalog.
What do you find are your biggest challenges – as a therapist? as a business owner?
I think my biggest challenge is that I want to do it all. Massage therapy is a vast field with many different branches and branches within branches.
As a business owner, I think marketing might be my biggest challenge, learning what works and what doesn’t without spending your entire budget.
What one thing would you like to change/improve about the massage industry?
As I said before, a massage therapist can choose any direction from an infinite selection of possibilities. Without limiting this, I do believe that a minimal education requirement needs to be set for the field.
What are you most excited about/interested in using with MassageBook?
I want accounting, SOAP notes, CRM, campaigns, e-mail, online booking, etc. While all of these things are available online, I found myself using multiple programs just for one client and session. I am most excited to find a program that integrates all of this, doesn’t nickel-and-dime me as some others, and remains consistently progressive to the needs of the massage therapists who use MassageBook.
How do you think MassageBook can help with your business?
As I just mentioned, almost everything is in one spot. MassageBook has ALREADY helped me immensely with this in allowing me to cut my business expenses (from other programs) to minimal. For a sole massage practitioner with minimal start-up, this was and is extremely important.
Who are the important people in your life?
My partner, my family, and my best friends have all been incredibly supportive in my growth. I couldn’t have done any of this without them. I am also very thankful for the wonderful instructors I had, several of whom I am proud to call friends.
What do you like to do for fun?
I have to admit that I am a massage therapy nerd. I like to hear, read, see, and do massage therapy. Outside of that, I definitely have a “thing” for social media and I really like to work out at the gym.
How do you like to relax?
The obvious answer is to get a massage. I am so glad I know people to trade with. A lot can be said, though, about taking a moment to be alone outside listening to the birds, etc.
Laurie Volkmann