Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominic Richards.
Dominic, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve had various careers in my life but my most successful ones involved assisting others on a one-on-one basis. I moved to San Diego from Phoenix during 2011 when the recession forced me to shut down my real estate brokerage. It was a wonderful opportunity to start over in a city I’ve always wanted to live. I met many people involved in holistics in San Diego and for the first time ever thought about it as a career option. On a whim, in the fall of 2012, I set up an appointment with a counselor at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM) and within a month I was attending school to be a Holistic Healthcare Practitioner. I absolutely loved the school, the people and the subjects. I realized this is where I was meant to be. After a two year program and almost 1500 hours of education, I started working for a few spas and ended up the Knotstop in Hillcrest as a subcontractor for two years. During that time, I began taking on my own clients at my home and grew my business quickly. The home business keeps unnecessary expenses down and offers a very relaxed environment for my clients.
Has it been a smooth road?
Developing your style and understanding what makes you stand out from the thousands of massage therapists takes time and means getting your hands on many bodies. To do this, most massage therapists start out working for others and taking a very small cut for the work they do. I was working as many as 8 massages a day to make the income I needed to survive. It takes a leap of faith to decide to work for yourself, but the awards are well worth it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Healing Hands story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a one person team. When you book a massage with me, it is with me. I do not subcontract other massage therapists, so you always know what you’re getting. My emphasis is on therapeutic massages, so clients know they can get relief from all types of muscular issues with me. My specialty is working out neck issues and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (caused by nerve impingement). My clients can also count on me to prepare them for an athletic event or for muscle repair after an event.
My education is Asian based, so I focus on “stagnation release” via gua sha and cupping. These methods are super effective in alleviating unusual body pains and aches. My clients have to be willing to show some external marks for a few days, but its well worth it!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I enjoy assisting people in staying healthy. I believe I will continue my education and increase my skills in this area. Two years ago I got certified as a yoga teacher and I am considering a Personal Training certification. These skills serve to expand my knowledge and ability to maintain my clients’ health. I don’t think I will work for anyone again or manage others. I enjoy my independence too much.
Pricing:
- $100 for 60 minutes
- $120 for 90 minutes
- $160 for 120 minutes
Contact Info:
- Address: 3656 Villa Terrace, San Diego CA 92104
- Website: http://dominicrichards.amtamembers.com/contact-me
- Phone: 619-701-0377
- Email: dominicrichards1967@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healinghandsbyDominic/
Image Credit:
Dominic Richards
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