Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosie Phillips
Hi Rosie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my massage education back in 2016, here in Salt Lake. I was just a few years out of high school at the time, and was looking for a way to intermix my fascination for the human body and interest in health & wellness practices, into a career. Massage therapy kind of landed in my lap, after receiving a Structural Integration “10-series” in 2015. This series was comprised of 10 sessions over 10 weeks, working with the connective tissue, in order to address the whole body & find better alignment. It was so inspiring and transformative both on a physical and mental level, that I immediately knew I wanted to pursue a career in massage, and eventually become a Structural Integration practitioner. Receiving this work opened my eyes to the power of physical touch, and how much change can happen when two people work together. I found it to be a beautiful route to vulnerability, presence, and the ability to come out the other end with less pain and more ease. It really created a ripple effect for where I wanted to go with my practice, how I wanted to move through the world.
I began practicing massage in 2017, initially working for a local chiropractic office. This gave me the opportunity to gain thousands of hours of experience practicing injury rehab massage and Swedish massage. I was able to work with a wide range of people, from young to old, and I always had a mix of different conditions to treat over weeks or months.
I always knew that I wanted to eventually have my own private practice, and when Covid hit, the massage world took a big hit, as did many other fields. I took that as an opportunity to pivot towards becoming a Structural Integration practitioner, and begin my practice. I attended The Guild for Structural Integration in 2020, here in Salt Lake City, and have been practicing Structural Integration,(a.k.a. Rolfing) since 2021.
In 2021, I also opened my private practice located in MillCreek, and started working in Deer Valley at a five-star Forbes resort, providing luxury spa massage while growing my clientele and business down in the valley. As of April 2022, I’ve been fully self-employed at my private practice, and it has been the best part of my career so far! I absolutely love the ability to be fully myself and help people feel better in their bodies. I love holding space for folks to let their baggage fall off, and find a place of comfort and ease on my table.
With the combination of injury rehab practice, luxury spa massage, and Structural Integration, I am proud to offer a range of modalities, depending on what is needed in the moment. I love being able to find what works best for each individual, and I am always looking forward to continuing education, in order to better serve my clients. I’m planning to become certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and Ashiatsu massage in the upcoming years, and maybe even opening a collaborative wellness center one day. I’m excited to see where this path takes me next!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel lucky to have had the opportunities that I did, early on. I wouldn’t say it was smooth the whole way, but starting off at the chiropractor’s office gave me such a great basis for treatments and finding out what worked and what didn’t. It gave me the opportunity to get comfortable working with people and finding ways to make them feel comfortable while still achieving long lasting results.
Starting my own private practice on the other hand, has of course been paired with lots and trial and error and the need for patience. I’d say the biggest struggle I faced was balancing my spa job and my practice, when I first started in 2021. It is often a slow start when building a consistent client base, and so it was necessary for me to have other income, which made for a heavy load. The long days were all worth it in the end, and I’m definitely reaping the benefits of my hard work during those years.
Another struggle that has been consistent, and I believe will always be at the top of my awareness, is finding a balance of taking care of myself vs. taking care of others. To sustainably provide this kind of work, I have to have plenty of time to tend to myself. It’s both physically and mentally taxing to give massage, especially if you don’t feel well supported, and well taken care of. Although it can be hard, massage has definitely propelled me to take the best care of myself as I possibly can, and it really shows in my work. The better I am at taking care of myself, the better I can take care of my clients, and run my business.
Running a business, bookkeeping, marketing, and all the other logistical aspects, can be a struggle, but it’s something I’m really enjoying learning about. It’s given me so much insight into all the details that need attention when running a successful business.
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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 offer a wide range of modalities, and specialize in Structural Integration a.k.a. Rolfing®. This is a hands-on form of bodywork, a bit different from massage, and it focuses on working with the connective tissue to help the body find better alignment and more ease in movement. It was life changing work for me, and I love sharing it with others! In addition to Structural Integration, I offer Scar Tissue remediation; this is a gentle yet effective modality that helps reintegrate scar tissue into the fascial web. This work can provide relief from tension around scars sites, and soften the appearance of the scar. It pairs well with Structural Integration and Lymphatic massage. Lastly, I offer both traditional Swedish massage, and deep tissue massage. These are great modalities for when you need to fully unwind, detach from the material world, and connect with your body and breath. Regardless of what type of session you receive, I want you to leave feeling more relaxed and more at ease in your body and mind.
I aim to cultivate a space where people can find ways to become more in touch with their body and their needs. If someone doesn’t know what kind of session they want or need, I suggest they book whatever length of session they would like (60, 75, 90, or 120 mins.) and we can find what feels best in that moment. I’m always open to customizing sessions, and tailoring them to specific needs. Not one person is the same, and I want to honor where each individual is on their journey!
I pride myself in finding ways to make this work accessible, as often as I can. I offer four sliding scale sessions per month- these are 75 minute sessions, pay what you can between $50 and $125. Priority is given to underserved communities, such as the LGBTQ+ community, students, and people of color. As a queer person myself, I recognize the lack of access to some services, and I want to do my best to help when I can.
How do you think about happiness?
In a broad sense, being with my community, family, and friends is what makes me happy. I love cooking food and sharing meals with my loved ones. I also love watching the sunset in the foothills over the valley, I find it so relaxing and peaceful. I feel like the western world and late stage capitalism has made individualism a priority, and I while value my alone time, being in community and being held and supported is one of the best feelings in the world!
I also love playing outside, in our gorgeous mountains, and spending time in any body of water, is my absolute happy place! I have always loved traveling, both in the states, and internationally. It’s so fun to see other cultures, try different food, and explore different landscapes.
Pricing:
- 60 minute session: $100
- 75 minute session: $125
- 90 minute session: $150
- 120 minute session: $200
- Sliding Scale session (75 min.): $50-$125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Rphillipsbodywork.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rphillips_bodywork
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/Pi3g7d9XhQZbVoWJ/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
