Meet Ronda Harris | Therapeutic Massage Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ronda Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ronda, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Over the past 35 years, I have worked within various realms of customer service. Always seeking employment or becoming affiliated with establishments that were known for providing outstanding products and services. Through all of these experiences, I have always felt as if the structure of the companies I worked for prevented them from truly fulfilling their mission to provide the highest level of customer service. Upon following the guidance that led me to become a massage therapist, I found this industry to be very much the same. I chose to venture out and establish my massage practice so that I could have the freedom to do all of the things that I felt other facilities lacked.

What should our readers know about your business?
Sunny Stream Wellness started while I was in school, initially I placed ads to gain bodies to complete my homework and clinic hours. After school it became my side gig, helping to provide for my family while I was enrolled in college, it also allowed me to maintain contact with my small following of clients. After a few years of operating as Sunny Stream Bodywork Studio, I acknowledged the term “bodywork” offered a limited scope and although I am still not clear on the whole extent of what Sunny Stream Wellness will encompass, I knew it would surpass bodywork.

I operate Sunny Stream Wellness on the premise of providing others what I would want for myself. For instance, if you book a 90min session you receive 90min hands-on time, consultation, dressing, check out, and rescheduling time is not deducted from your service time.

With the removal of just focusing on bodywork, Sunny Stream Wellness can grow with me. I believe the concept of wellness is not broken up into segments. I believe the body, mind, and spirit make 1 whole Being, and to focus just on one aspect allows imbalances to develop in the others. With that being said I am constantly adding to my educational toolbox. I am currently taking a 10-month Functional Nutrition course, which will allow me to counsel my clients on their nutritional intake and what can be done to assist their wellness journey.

It has been 12 years since I placed my first ad while in school, and my journey as a mother and the primary provider for my boys has been riddled with challenges. While my boys were dependent on my financial stability I took minimal risk, I took a break from school and maintained multiple jobs to ensure our basic needs were covered. Once my youngest son graduated from high school in 2020, I began to focus on Sunny Stream Wellness transitioning to it being my full-time job in January 2021. Although it is just over 14 months, I am excited about the progress that has been made. I look forward to building my team in September.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Thankfully Sandy Springs is part of Metro-Atlanta, which means activities and eateries are abundant. In addition, we are a short drive to the beach and the mountains. So when my family & friends visit we stay busy, I take them to all of my favorite places. I’m not real strict on timelines as I believe a vacation should just flow, but a sample week would go as follows.

Sunday – Breakfast at Cafe Vendome Atlanta & High Art Museum & Dinner at Kimball House

Monday – Breakfast at Egg Harbor Cafe & Body Scrubs at JeJu Spa & Korean BBQ at Seo Ra Beol

Tuesday – Breakfast at General Muir Sandy Springs & Illuminarium & Dinner at Battle Cat

Wednesday – Breakfast at Bagelicious & Chattahoochee Nature Center & Dinner at Casi Cielo

Thursday – Breakfast at Buttermilk Kitchen & Massages at The Spa at The Whitley & Dinner at Sushi Nami II

Friday & Saturday – We would hang out in Savannah & at the beach on Tybee Island

If it happens to be something like the forth of July, we would head out to the mountains. There is nothing like a firework show at high elevations.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, there would be no story if it wasn’t for the many blessings bestowed upon me from the Most High. Through the actions of my mother, I learned perseverance and to always put 100% of myself into anything I do. My amazing instructors at Gwinnett College shared their passion for helping others and still offer support to this day. I thank my peers that are always available to be sounding boards. Most notably Michelle Carter of My Therapy By Michelle as we frequently have brainstorming sessions. I can’t forget all of my clients and definitely not my two largest supporters, Benedict Financial and Courtney Johnson, DPT. Lastly, I thank all of those businesses that propelled me forward, and my children for giving me purpose – inspiring me to grow.

Website: www.sunnystreamwellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnystreamwellness

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunny-stream-wellness

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SunnyStreamBW

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunnyStreamWellness

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunny-stream-wellness-atlanta

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtPnabA426wgh_rEOalMyPA

Image Credits
FB: @LDouglasPhotography LDouglasPhotography.com