Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Reeves.
Hi Maya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been a Licensed Massage Therapist since passing the New York state board in 1998. I started my career with working at several spas and wellness clinics in New England. Then I decided to get away from the cold so I moved to Las Vegas to work in a few luxury spas.
In May of 2007 I visited my sister in Austin and instantly fell in love with the cool weird vibe of the town and the explosion of wild flowers everywhere. By July I’d moved my family here and made it my home. Austin has inspired me with its big city/small town feel.
I was working at a franchised spa at the beginning of the pandemic. When businesses started opening back up there were many of my clients that simply didn’t feel comfortable going back into public settings. That was what inspired me to open The Pampered Platypus in September of 2020. Starting out exclusively going to client’s homes, and then expanding into a private office a few days a week.
The Pampered Platypus is now a hybrid Massage and Wellness Business. Offering both Mobile in home massage and my beautiful Private Spa like office on North Lamar. My focus is to guide my Clients to better daily well-being through focused bodywork, skin care and coaching on self-care between sessions. I have always believed that massage is for Every Body. It is important to me to provide a safe and inclusive environment for everyone
What I love most about my chosen career is how individual it is. I dedicate all my education and experience to creating the perfect session for each client. My clients’ needs can change week to week and I love meeting that challenge. The therapeutic relationships I build with the people who choose me as their practitioner bring me true joy. I love maintaining the well-being of the people who keep the rest of the world running.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t know if any new business opens without at least a couple bumps. My biggest hurdle at the beginning was simply creating the sanitation and travel protocols to run everything smoothly. I was driving between 500-800 miles a week. Seeing clients from New Braunfels to Round Rock. There is also always the challenge of being a solo practitioner. I cover every roll from appointment setting to laundry, and believe me massage generates A LOT of laundry!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have spent so many years honing my skills in both massage and skincare. Each massage or skincare service I provide is completely customized to my client’s needs. I combine several modalities I’ve been trained in, in every session to give my clients the best results possible. I often preform a mixture of Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, and other techniques.
I think what I am most proud of is that my clients feel safe, cared for and seen. I have studied trauma informed bodywork practices. I also often go down rabbit holes of research and get additional training if a client requires specialized care. I have many clients dealing with Long Covid, POTS, cancer, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, hormonal changes (e.g: Transition or Menopause), fibromyalgia, and more. I make sure to commit time to addressing each of their needs. I am also still masking for all appointments and fully vaccinated.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t know if it was luck, but without the horrible times at the height of the Pandemic I don’t know if I would have had the motivation to go out on my own. As far as good luck goes. I am incredibly lucky in the clients that choose me. I am honored daily that they come back month after month and see the value of the work I do for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pamperedplatypus.com
- Instagram: the_pampered_platypus
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamperedplatypus
Image Credits
creatrix photography
octofoto
