Meet Sarah Downing | Licensed Massage Therapist, Tour Guide, Translator/Writer

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

Hi Sarah, what do you attribute your success to?
My business has been blessed with success wherever I go. I am dedicated to keeping abreast of the latest techniques through classes and exchanges with other therapists. I also offer unique and effective modalities that aren’t that easy to find.

However, I think the primary factor behind my brand’s success is my authenticity. I truly care about each and every one of my clients, and I have built some beautiful relationships with them. I think a client can feel if you are just going through the motions as opposed to being truly invested in helping them. I take the time to do a thorough intake with my clients and truly listen to what they are saying. As an intuitive, I am also able to glean some of what is unsaid and customize my treatments accordingly. This is not just my occupation; it is also my vocation. I believe in the healing power of laughter and, as an actress and entertainer (in my career as a tour guide), I sometimes have my clients in stitches in the massage room.

Last but not least, I truly believe that the energy you put out is what comes back to you. As a business woman, I choose collaboration over competition because I feel that competition comes from a scarcity mentality. I believe, when you are good at what you do, the right clients will find you, and that has indeed been the case for me. I don’t hesitate to help my fellow therapists when I can, and I’m delighted to refer clients to another therapist if I’m not a good fit or don’t offer the modality they are looking for. In turn, I’ve been honored and surprised at the amount of therapists who have been kind enough to refer clients my way. Ultimately, a profession in the healing arts requires a lot of dedication, and those who have chosen this path are truly needed in today’s world. It is for this reason that I would like to lift others up instead of tearing them down.

What should our readers know about your business?
My massage technique has often been described as incomparable. This is because I offer a unique range of modalities and seamlessly blend them to create a customized bodywork experience for each client. How did I get where I am today? I have a constant desire to learn and progress, and this has helped me become a more effective therapist. Furthermore, my business acumen gained through launching my own translation and writing business in 2001 and my marketing skills gained by working various marketing jobs have given me the tools I need to sell my skills in an authentic and accessible way. Ultimately, having an attractive and user-friendly web presence has definitely paid dividends, but what has helped me grow time and again is the word-of-mouth recommendations I have received from so very many satisfied clients. Even in hard times, I have never forgotten who I am and what I am capable of. Nobody gets to take that from you. My logo is very symbolic of who I am with its welcoming and vibrant rainbow colors and a touch of whimsy. I know this energy has attracted many like-minded people to my business. Last but not least, the mentoring of generous and wise colleagues and teachers has been invaluable in this profession. I’m happy to say I’ve also been able to mentor colleagues and help them grow. What goes around truly does come around.

As for the tours, reading, researching and listening have made me a better tour guide. Taking other people’s tours has shown me what to do and what not to do. And just connecting with the local community has helped get the word out about what I have to offer. Many people enjoy the fact that my private tours offer a more intimate atmosphere for those who prefer to do a tour with just their group as opposed to one of the larger, less personal groups one sees throughout Savannah.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, admittedly I have an advantage here because running my own tour company, Savannah Soul Encounters, has taught me a lot about the history and culture of Savannah. So, first and foremost, book a tour with me:-).

1. The bus tour with Old Savannah Tours is a great place to start for an overview of Savannah. As far as I know, this is the only locally run bus tour in Savannah. Don’t bother with the hop on and hop off option because you really don’t need that – Savannah is sufficiently walkable. Talking of tours, my friends usually like to take my ghost tour too – it stops at some of the main sights, but gives you a slightly different perspective – plus they like to see me in action;-).
2. The Prohibition Museum is actually one of my favorite places to take visitors because it’s such a fun and interesting museum – I believe it’s the only one of its kind in the US. And the connected speakeasy, Congress Street Up, is designed in the style of a 1920s speakeasy – it’s a lot of fun! Talking of cocktails – some of my favorite places in Savannah to imbibe in a tasty tipple include Alley Cat Lounge (bonus because it’s open late at night), the Artillery Bar and the Savoy Society (delectable small bites).

3. I would also walk with my guests around Forsyth Park and walk Bull Street right down to Starland Yard, which is known for its fun music and food trucks, one of my favorite being Strange Bird, which has recently opened its own wonderful restaurant inside a vintage diner. Of course, when it comes to walking, don’t miss a stroll down River Street to check out Plant Riverside, the geodes in JW Marriott and the pralines at City Market with perhaps a frozen cocktail and a couple of rooftop bars along the way.

4. Savannah also has some fun art and house museums that are definitely worth checking out. The Owens-Thomas House features entry to three different attractions – the house museum and slave quarters, the Jepson Center and the Telfair Academy.

5. When it comes to favorite food places, in no particular order – Cotton and Rye for southern farm to table food with a twist, Cuban Window for authentic hole in the wall Cuban food, Crystal Beer Parlor for a local hangout with good comfort food, Betty Bombers for a fun 1940s-style diner experience, Ukiyo for creatively delicious Japanese food, The Gryphon Tea Room for those who like high tea (they do a really good job of it and it’s not too expensive), Repeal 33 for delicious food and a speakeasy atmosphere, Wyld Dock Bar for gorgeous views and yummy and fresh small plates combined with a drive down Bluff Drive to view the gorgeous Isle of Hope Marina, Mint to Be Mojitos for fresh and customizable mojitos and a fun surprise of a speakeasy, Mata Hari’s for another speakeasy, Olympia Café for delicious Greek food, Mrs Wilkes’ Dining Room for a down-home family-style southern meal where you get to sample Savannah’s best fried chicken and a plethora of side dishes all for one price, Alexander’s for brunch (they bake in-house), Troupial for delicious Venezuelan cuisine for brunch (in-house bakery and freshly squeezed juices). I have to admit that having lived here since last June of 2021 I soon grew tired of southern food, and my body also seems to do better with ethnic foods as they are not as heavy. Many guests also like to try out The Pirate’s House, Vic’s on the River, The Olde Pink House and The Grey, Savannah favorites, although you usually have to book ahead of time for the latter two (though they may have some first come first served seating available if you wait in line).

6. A tour of Bonaventure Cemetery.
7. Destinations outside of Savannah might include Tybee Island (the light house, the beach, a dolphin tour, lunch), Bluffton (fun consignment stores, great to walk around and one of my favorite farm to table restaurants, Farm), Jekyll Island/St Simon’s Island, Cumberland Island to see the wild horses and, of course, Florida’s beautifully hispanic St. Augustine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Where do I even start? There are so many! Sometimes I think we don’t even realize how we impact others, and just do our best to put out love into the world. From the teachers and mentoring bodyworkers who encouraged me to keep on keeping on in massage school (and beyond) when I was struggling to finish because of two classmates bullying me, and a teacher whose teaching style didn’t vibe with my learning style. After we established this, she reiterated the things I didn’t understand, accelerating my learning to the point where I could even explain things to my classmates. Let’s not forget Christian Zetterberg, the owner of the gym at my first job at a wellness center who believed in me so much he took the time to support and mentor me, helping me gain confidence in my anatomical knowledge and certain stretching and athletic exercises. He truly turned me into a better therapist, and his partners, Vinny and Eric, taught me so much also. Then I think back to the times when I was chronically ill and struggling to get out of bed, but was lucky to be able to work with a range of amazing holistic practitioners on my journey to regaining my health and paying it forward by ultimately helping others. Last but not least, my amazing clients who entrusted me with their healing and became true friends. Without a doubt, it has not always been easy, but every time I help another client on my massage table, I remember exactly why I entered this field in the first place. And, truly, I can’t forget my parents who instilled in me the desire and courage to be independent and work for myself. I grew up with a dad who was self-employed, so it seemed the most normal thing in the world. Self-employment has enabled me to thrive and help clients in my own unique way.

As for the ghost and history tours, I have been mentored and learned from some very generous and kind tour guides, and I’m also grateful to the people and businesses in Savannah who send tour guests my way – Michelle Waters (who is so talented and dedicated she deserves to own her own tour company), Melynda Loomis and, in particular, Enocha Edenfield who helped me navigate the bureaucratic minefield involved in founding your own tour company.

Savannah and its residents have not always been welcoming to me and my businesses, and so it is easy to focus on the less than friendly encounters I have had. However, I believe an attitude of gratitude is crucial because, when we really think about it, we have many more people on our side than we actually realize!

Website: www.limegreenlotus.com and www.savannah-tours.com

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

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

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

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lime-green-lotus-savannah and https://www.yelp.com/biz/savannah-soul-encounters-savannah

Other: Lime Green Lotus Google: https://goo.gl/maps/iHKpikGRYbxfgoat6 Savannah Soul Encounters Google: https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4JALmjhLm2ga8j37 www.limegreenlotus.com www.savannah-tours.com 551-404-7994
sarah@limegreenlotus.com    551-404-7994