Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Batista.
Hi Melanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Massage Therapy just came to me. Many people have stories of how they grew up knowing what they were going to do. I didn’t have a hobby or a love for something that strong to know it was going to be part of my life or even my career. What I did have was the guidance and love of my family. When my senior year of high school came by and I had to decide on colleges and what route I was going to take. I asked my dad for some help with what he thought I should study. He told me “You want to do something that when you look back at your life in old age, you wanna know you helped people ” and that’s exactly how I feel with Massage Therapy.
In 2017 I graduated from a Massage Therapy program at Queensborough Community College in Bayside, NY. I started the program not sure if this was it. Told me “I’ll just try this out to see if I like it.” I fell in love with learning how the body works and studying Human Anatomy. My first job was at a Massage Envy where I worked for about 2 years. From there, I moved back to NYC and explored all different practices wanting to learn more and grow as a therapist. I worked at high-end spas, medical settings for Massage Therapy, and alongside chiropractors. I was living in the hustle of NYC working and working; my mind was always “go,” then covid hit. It was a pause in life and the hustle making me reevaluate where I was in life and what mattered. So, I moved to Orlando, FL, where most of my close family is. In Orlando, I was able to find jobs in massage therapy but was never satisfied with the company I was working for. I felt limited in the way I can better help my clients. I would visit my esthetician, Gloria who owned her own business called Studio Glo. She would always encourage me to start my own business. With her encouragement, guidance, and prayer, I was able to make it happen in a matter of 2 months. I opened Mellow Bodywork on June 11th, 2022. The first week I was Blessed with clients, but like any other business, I had the slow weeks and the good ones. Doubt started to hit, and the constant fire I had in me would dim. But of course, I had my family that would come and book with me to support my business.
One day I got a call from my grandma and my aunt. They wanted to support and book massages with me. I had them come in, and I massaged my grandma first. Once it was my aunt’s turn my grandma stayed in the room and just watched me. I started doing cupping on my aunt’s back, and my grandma remembered from her childhood that her mom, my great grandmother used to do the same for her community in the countryside. My family is from the Dominican Republic, and my great-grandmother, back in the 1940-the ’50s, used to provide bodywork for her community when her neighbors would complain of lower back pain, etc. Knowing this confirmed to me that being a Massage Therapist did not only find me, but it was a part of me all along. Mellow Bodywork will continue to thrive and hopefully be passed down to generations to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a bumpy road! Being new to the state of Florida, I had to learn new laws and regulations for massage therapy and owning my own business. Not knowing many people and not having a lot of clients to start this business was very stressful! But I did it anyways, and I’m proud I pushed through.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Mellow Bodywork?
Massage is my passion. I love all types of massage and combine different techniques and bodywork into one session to better help my clients. I have experience in all fields of massage: Therapeutic, Medical, Sports, Relaxation, and Prenatal. I like to incorporate Cupping Massage in my sessions. I’ve found them to be very useful, and clients love them! What I’m most proud of brand-wise is the help I’ve received in my branding. It’s all been help from my beautiful creative family. My uncle is into graphic design and created my Logo and business cards. My sister is a natural when it comes to content creation on Instagram. My dad is a carpenter and helped my vision of my small massage suite come to life. And the list can go on.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
My friend and esthetician Gloria was my little cheerleader throughout the process of starting my business. Whenever I came to her with a problem, she always had a solution, and I’m so grateful for her. My sisters and immediate family never doubted me through this process. Most importantly, God has Blessed me and allowed me to have such great friends and family. I strongly believe he put me here to help people through Massage Therapy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mellowbodywork/
Image Credits
Makaela Falter
