Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Perry.
Hi Shannon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into wellness really began long before I ever considered it a career. I grew up in Abilene, Texas, in a family surrounded by natural health and hands-on care, including two generations of chiropractors, an herbalist, and massage therapists. Understanding the body, caring for people, and looking at wellness from a whole-person perspective was simply part of my upbringing.
I studied massage therapy at the Healing Arts Institute in Abilene and began my career as a massage therapist in 2003. What drew me to massage then is still what I love about it today—the ability to combine an understanding of the body with intuition, creativity, and genuine human connection. Over the years, I’ve worked with so many people dealing with stress, chronic tension, pain, and simply the demands of everyday life, and I’ve always wanted my clients to feel that their care was personalized rather than one-size-fits-all.
After years in the massage and spa industry, my own experience with cystic acne led me in another direction. I understood firsthand how much our skin can affect the way we feel about ourselves, so in 2016 I returned to school to study esthetics at the Ann Webb Institute in Austin. That opened an entirely new chapter for me and allowed me to combine therapeutic bodywork with results-driven skincare and spa services.
Over the years, I continued investing in education, including becoming certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, while exploring new techniques, technology, and services that could genuinely benefit my clients. That evolution eventually grew into The Hidden Jewel Studio + Head Spa.
Today, The Hidden Jewel is a small, locally owned Austin studio offering massage therapy, specialty massage, facials, advanced skincare, and Head Spa experiences. What I’m especially proud of is that we’ve been able to grow without losing the personalized experience that has always mattered to me. We aren’t trying to feel like a large, impersonal spa. We want people to walk through our doors, exhale, and know they are going to be cared for.
More than 20 years into this career, my role has evolved from being solely a service provider to being a business owner, educator, and mentor to a growing team. I’m still very hands-on with clients, but I also love developing new experiences, training my team, building relationships within the Austin community, and finding new ways to make high-quality wellness care approachable and meaningful.
The industry has changed tremendously since I started in 2003, and so have I. I think that willingness to keep learning and evolving while staying grounded in why I started—helping people feel better—is ultimately what has brought me to where I am today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges has been transitioning from being a service provider to truly becoming a business owner. In a hands-on profession, there is a limit to how much one person can physically give. Learning to build a team, delegate, and create a business that can grow beyond just me has been a huge lesson.
There have also been staffing changes, rising costs, marketing challenges, and plenty of moments when I’ve questioned whether the next investment or idea would work. As a small business, every decision matters.
Over time, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always mean getting bigger. For me, it means building something sustainable, continuing to evolve, providing exceptional care, and creating opportunities for my team while staying true to why I started.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Hidden Jewel Studio + Head Spa is a boutique Austin wellness studio specializing in massage therapy, Head Spa experiences, specialty treatments, and customized skincare.
What sets us apart is our personalized approach. We don’t believe wellness should feel one-size-fits-all. From complimentary enhancements like aromatherapy, cupping, hot stones, and heat therapy to our unique Head Spa experiences, every detail is designed to help clients feel genuinely cared for.
I’m most proud that after more than 20 years in this industry, I’m still learning, evolving, and finding new ways to serve our clients. We’re a small team, but we’re passionate about providing exceptional care and creating an experience people want to return to.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as building something that is both meaningful and sustainable. It’s seeing clients return because they trust us, watching my team grow and succeed, and knowing we’ve created a space where people genuinely feel cared for.
After more than 20 years in this industry, success is also having the freedom to continue evolving, learning, and doing work I love while building a business that can thrive beyond just me.
Pricing:
- $285 – 75 min Microneedling Facial Treatment
- $140 – 60 min Lux Spa Facial
- $100 – TMJ Releif
- $160 – 60 min Deep Therapeutic Massage
- $180 – 60 min The Opal – Signature Head Spa
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thehiddenjewelstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehiddenjewelstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092415681118
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-p-43351a57/
