Today we’d like to introduce you to Ms. DeAndre Gary.
Hi Ms. DeAndre, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a young adult, I had an aspiring desire to become a certified nurse midwife. I envisioned having a spa dedicated to moms and babies. Knowing this would be quite the journey, I sought out massage therapy training before nursing school, as it was quicker to obtain and would serve as the foundation of my future practice.
I attended The Phoenix School of Holistic Health in Houston, TX. It was in the business portion of coursework that my now existing practice was birthed. The name Anointed Hands Heavenly Touch Massage & Bodyworks was given to me in a dream. I immediately went and registered by DBA the next day. Within several months of the intense program, I obtained certification and became licensed as a Massage Therapist in the state of Texas.
I practiced from that moment forward for a short time as an independent contractor for a chiropractor, two salons and eventually built my practice to maintain consistent clientele with both individuals and corporate contracts. I served the greater Houston area from 2005 until 2019, at which time I relocated to Austin, Texas. The love and acceptance has been amazing here and the daily growing clientele has propelled me from practicing on a part-time, occasional basis to now full-time entrepreneur.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The toughest part of this journey was balancing the hustle and bustle of nursing and traditional medicine with the calming, rewarding holistic practices (which I think I prefer best). I got licensed as a nurse in 2006, just one year after becoming a massage therapist so nursing took the primary career. For many years, I wished it was the other way around.
The second struggle would be acceptance from “my” community. I was eager to educate fellow Black persons and the church, those that were closest to me. However, it did not seem well-received it at least in Houston. Prayers of healing, pills and the negative stereotypical sexual connotations took precedence. I eventually changed my audience and intent. The rest is history.
I still have great love for my community. In fact, once moving to Austin, the very thing I longed for in the early years is exactly the representation of the majority of clients I now serve. There is no more struggle.
As you know, we’re big fans of Anointed Hands Heavenly Touch Massage & Bodyworks. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are your Self Care Headquarters! We provide a vast variety of massage modalities and bodyworks that bring healing to the mind, body, soul and spirit. Our clients boast on our customized sessions, meeting the need of the individual without the cookie cutter approach. No two persons are the same, thus no two sessions are the same. Brand Wise, we are most proud to be a healing station. Watching people come in bent over in pain, or with limited range of motion, or emotionally distraught and leaving with a pep in the step, new lease on life and hope for tomorrow is the best feeling ever. Knowing we are walking in our divine calling is reassuring.
Outside of our ahhhhhmazing massages, We are excited and gaining increased popularity in our post-cosmetic surgery care and non-invasive body contouring treatments – helping slim and trim inches, tighten skin and plumping the peaches.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For many years, we have spent very little on marketing and advertising. While we have a small online presence, we find that our biggest source, approximately 95% of new clients, come from our current clients. Satisfied clients begat other clients.
When it comes to mentorship and networking, I find the biggest source of support is connecting with like-minded individuals and building relationships there. I often discover these beautiful people in continuing education classes, those are hunger and thirst for bringing more expertise, knowledge and skill back to community. That allows up to build a collaborative effort and a trusted one at that. Iron sharpens iron,
Contact Info:
- Email: ahhtmassage@gmail.com
- Website: www.ahht.massagetherapy.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ahhtmassage
- Facebook: facebook.com/ahhtmassage
- Twitter: twitter.com/ahhtmassage
