Meet Chelsea Lloyd | From Master’s Degree to Licensed Massage Therapist & Business Owner.

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

Hi Chelsea, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I began my professional career by graduating with an undergrad in Psychology from Villa Julie in ’05. I worked in the non-profit space where I held titles “Executive Director” and “Assistant Director” for 8 yrs. I completed my Masters in Public Administration in ’13. I have always been a dreamer and extremely ambitious; I am the person who has been asking myself “what’s next”, “why not”, and “what’s the worst that can happen” my entire life. So, when the non-profit I was working for purchased a new software (CRM), I loved it so much that I went to work for them. I always had a passion for technology, problem solving, people, and anatomy thus I pivoted professionally and transitioned into project management within the healthcare software space in 2012; I remained in software until 2022.

After an extremely successful corporate career, I still felt like I wasn’t making a “real” change; a lasting difference. Massage came into my life after a lot of tears, prayer, & introspection. I wanted to remain in healthcare, I wanted career flexibility, and I wanted to make my own schedule. I also knew that I didn’t want to give people medications, needles, or deal with healthcare politics. I’ve always loved anatomy (my first major was biology then I switched to psychology, so after nights of googling, massage school popped up. I read the curriculum (it was all anatomy) so, I went and gave it a try. After my first class, I knew this was the side of healthcare that brought me joy. Like most GREAT things, massage was a decision from the heart. I knew I wouldn’t make as much money, that I would literally be starting over in a completely new industry. But, I am a business woman and I say all the time “business is business”. If I can manage budgets, million dollar non-profits, and the rollout of multimillion dollar software deals with state governments, I can certainly figure out the “beauty/spa” industry.

Massage turned out to be the answer to my heart’s desire to make a real difference. Corporate America was full of red tape and burnout; Massage has been the very opposite. To me massage is two people connecting with the same desire to be “LEFT BETTER”. It’s immediately gratifying; in 60-90 mins my clients transform and leave relaxed, lighter, happier, and physically better. My approach to massage is from a therapeutic standpoint; not a traditional spa approach at all.

My target audience includes:
Women
Post-Op Patients
Chronic Pain Sufferers
People coping with Anxiety & Depression
Geriatric Population
Profession/Semi-Pro/Student Athletes
Corporations

From a branding perspective, I am the antithesis of a spa; I don’t rush, I don’t upcharge, I do what’s best for everyone. I have sympathy for the burnt out; I was that workaholic. My undergrad in psychology has come full-circle as I am innately a listener; my clients know that they have a safe place to unload. Somedays, they talk my ear off, some days they come in and go right to sleep, and some days I open the door and they are already in tears. I recognize the mind-body-soul connection; not in a “hokey” way, but in a scientific manner. My massage school partnered with Emory for clinical studies about the physiological impact of massage; what was proven: massage increased the good hormones that make us happy; dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. Massage is the conduit to increasing these neurotransmitters in our systems.

For athletes, massage decreases pain, increases recovery time from injuries (in conjunction with physical therapy), increases oxygenated blood, provides nerve stimulation, decreases blood pressure, helps to decrease delayed onset muscle soreness, and increases range or motion.

For post-op, post-partum, and breastfeeding mothers, (my primary clientele), I provide a specialized massage technique called “Manual Lymph drainage” aka “MLD”. Simply put, it displaced fluid (swelling) and congestion from injured areas of the body. The technique was coined in 1936 and has been in practice informally, much longer. As Licensed Massage Therapist, we have to have continued education in order to maintain an active license; I have devoted the bulk of my continued education on medical massage. This subset of clients is particularly vulnerable so, I am fantastic at providing them relief; but I have found that they certainly need softness, an unrushed environment, and someone that provides attention to detail. I am their advocate and they know I have their best interest at heart.

In short, I love “leaving people better than I found them!”. That’s my business slogan. These are the words I live by- not just within my business but with life. Seeing smiling faces, talking to clients about the worst parts of their lives, cheering clients on when they have a WIN; that is massage!

It’s MUCH bigger than applying a therapeutic touch; it’s a genuine connection. In a world that is going so fast; all my clients have a place to come where time stands still. That’s the world I needed for myself and that’s the world I have created for my clients.

Here is one review that sums up why I created my business:
“I don’t know where to begin! Chelsea is an angel sent from heaven and is the BEST massage therapist I have ever been to. I have chronic shoulder pain due to an under treated injury from years ago and it has slowly caused issues with my neck and upper back but Chelsea makes me feel brand new every single time and helps me understand whats happening with my muscles. The massages are customized to fit your needs and she goes above and beyond to make sure you feel better than you felt coming in. She’s knowledgeable, friendly, and kind. She provides high quality service without breaking your pockets which allows me to get massages more regularly. I could go on and on but I’m so grateful to have found Chelsea, she is truly amazing a what she does and is a beautiful human!”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began my professional career by graduating with an undergrad in Psychology from Villa Julie in ’05. I worked in the non-profit space where I held titles “Executive Director” and “Assistant Director” for 8 yrs. I completed my Masters in Public Administration in ’13. I was an Executive Director of a small, million dollar non-profit at age 27. I have always been extremely ambitious. I know what I want, I know what feels right, I have a keen sense for business. I can walk into an under-performing business, observe their processes, and develop a project plan to close their gaps/bottlenecks, increase productivity, streamline workflows, and ensure everyone has fun along the way. I’ve always been a kind, compassionate leader; I am going to “get dirty” with my team and make sure they understand the vision. I listen. I ensure everyone around me feels heard and seen. My professional career has always been illuminated by my ability to make something out of nothing. In non-profit, budgets are tight and in corporate America, I have always been tagged to create new departments, new trainings, new– That is what I do. I am innovative and love the freedom my corporate career afforded me– leadership at every level along my corporate career have always given me the freedom to “make it happen”. Fast forward, as a business owner, all the things I have learned from my professional career have carried over into my business. For example, I already knew how to set up my POS software, I understood how to set up my SEO, I understand google analytics, I understand the importance of policies/procedures, and I understand BI (business intelligence) and reporting. So, while my resume is diverse, when I look back, every position has contributed to who I am today. Nothing was lost.

I am still building my business and I have learned to “go with the flow”. That is an overused cliche, but it is really true; you have to go with the flow; be ready to pivot. I’ve had some hurdles and I am still working on the bigger vision. Ultimately I want to own a home that is dual zoned for commercial/residential so that I can stop paying for studio rent. Renting retail space is extremely expensive and can cut into your profit margin. In order to make my next deal a great deal, I passed my GA Real Estate License exam earlier this year. I do not want to sign another contract (lease/purchase) without being able to advocate for myself. I overcome challenges by becoming more knowledgeable; being a business owner is not all about the specific craft, it’s about knowing how to successfully run all aspects of your business (HR, Training, Marketing, Procurement, etc). As you grow, naturally you cannot do it all; however, I know that I need to know about the key aspects of business in order to make informed decision.

Lastly, I want the world to know that I am NOT a spa! I am not a traditional business. I have a heart for people. I am not in this for money and as a result, money continues to come. If you do what is right; what is genuine, and what you are designed to do, success undoubtably follows. I intentionally keep my prices affordable for regular Americans; I am not and do not plan to price-gouge because I am in Atlanta. I provide high-quality services, I treat everyone from my high-end clients to my regular working-class client the same. Everyone gets my absolute BEST. For example, I take my time with EVERYONE. And, I ALWAYS give more than what’s expected. I don’t charge my clients for the organic products I use, I don’t upcharge for cupping, I don’t upcharge for Castor oil packs. I don’t over-charge for the Epsom salt compresses or contrast therapy. I just do what’s needed. People come to feel better; so do what’s needed. That is my philosophy. I provide a therapeutic touch based on anatomy. I do not HURT anyone. You can’t unlock 1 year of stress and tension overnight, but we can leave you better and better after each session and reset your body’ s baseline over time. This business model isn’t what you’ll hear on some 10 second soundbite on IG; but it’s what keeps my clients booking every 2-4 weeks without me forcing some plan or package on them. They book routinely and that’s the best business outcome for a Licensed Massage Therapist.

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?
I love Atlanta! I have hosted friends/family on many occasions.

For a fun weekend that includes, casual, upscale, active, and scenic I would start with brunch at Gocha’s Breakfast Bar, head to Puttshack, eat dinner at Food Terminal. Day two, wake up early and drive to the Vineyards; I love Kaya and Montaluce winery (great pizza at Montaluce). Day three, Beltline! Eat at Breaker Breaker, walk and take pictures of all the art. Take a nap. Then, get dressed to eat at Zakia in Buckhead. After a nice dinner, head over to Tesserae to enjoy one of the best views of Atlanta. And day four, sleep in, go to Ponce and have your pick of some great food ( I like Miso Ko, Lady Ha, and H&F), and end the weekend at 12 Cocktail Bar.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have an informal mentor (she would humbly believe that she isn’t my mentor) Mahalath Moore; Owner of The Perfect Recovery By Mbode. She has trained me, answered questions, helped connect me to many key people within our industry, and has been a shining example of doing what’s right!

I also give a lot of credit to my massage school classmate, now friend and colleague Christina Frances; LPN and LMT. She has been my go-to for medial questions and she handles client needs outside of my scope (ex. drain removal, looks at lipo burns and provides medical advice for treatment, suture removal, etc). She is also my go-to as a listening ear when entrepreneurship gives me a gut punch.

Mahalath, Christina, and I are the dynamic trio. We all have our own businesses, unique skillsets and specialties, but we support each other with love & respect. We are proof that women can work together without competition; we share what we know and hope/pray we all grow and succeed.

Lastly, my husband and son are truly the backbone of what I’ve been able to accomplish. They support my hippie dreams and I am forever grateful to have them in my life. They know me best and they know I don’t fail. So, on my hard days, they remind me of who I am, what I’ve accomplished, and what is still ahead.

Website: www.LeavingPeopleBetter.net

Instagram: @LeavingPeopleBetter_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsealloydlmt/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChelseaLloydLMT

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chelsea-lloyd-lmt-chamblee

Other: Google: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VeaMCJdc7Ts1uzJz8

Image Credits
Auston Robinson Visuals