Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/434495
F r e e m u s i c d o w n l o a d s f o r C e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 59 Ken and Alma Carroll's courage in 1973 helped create the successful work environment they still enjoy today at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, California. Alma & Ken's Top Tips 1. Consider what's best for the client. "Our business turned a corner when we abandoned the concept of clients getting a whole-body massage and became open to spot therapy work." 2. Thoroughly understand how the body works. "One of our secrets to success is to actually visualize the muscles while we're working on them—the muscle tone, how it looks, how it's supposed to feel." 3. Be patient. "Developing a clientele is important to the independent practitioner. You must be patient and be willing to meet this challenge with motivation." 4. Experiment with other forms of massage therapy. "Get out of the box. That will drain a person. Study other modalities." The Courage to Make it Happen Ken and Alma Carroll's successful 43-year careers started with a little good luck and a lot of courage. It was 1973, and the couple had been dabbling in massage for a few years, working with clients but mostly as a means to address each other's chronic pain issues. When a client told them to reach out to the owners of a new tennis club being built in Newport Beach, California, the Carrolls were hesitant. "We didn't think we had the confidence to say, 'If you aren't considering a massage space, you should,'" recalls Alma. But they found the confidence, reached out, and before the couple knew it, construction plans for the John Wayne Tennis Club were revised to include space for a massage therapy room. "Very few places had massage therapy at the time, let alone a husband-wife team," Alma says. "We were fortunate; we were willing to go where we had to go. The doors opened for us." It didn't hurt that John Wayne himself was an advocate for massage. Although owners have come and gone over the years, and the facility is now called the Palisades Tennis Club, the Carrolls continue to practice there today. "We were at the right place at the right time." Alma says people need to think creatively about what they want to do. "If they have the right education, the right experience, the right motivation, the right vision, anyone can find places to start a practice within a facility. Anyone who has the heart to do it can create a pathway for themselves in this industry." Courage was also a factor in helping the couple overcome the stigma massage battled over the years. Even within the athletic environment of the tennis club, the "wink-wink" attitude prevailed. "The jocular attitude of a lot of the men about a guy being a 'masseuse' was very difficult for me," Ken says. "Over time, that mentality has dissolved, but in the '80s, massage was almost a joke for a lot of people." Still, there were those who understood the benefits, including a lot of politicians and Hollywood types who visited the club. "Ken had a lot of powerful people he worked on," Alma says. "They were very dedicated to him." Today, the couple continues to work on notable tennis players (including Maria Sharapova), as well as housewives, college students, and anyone else who ventures into the tennis club. Each day, one or both of the Carrolls will trek the 60-mile (one-way) commute to their office. "You have to have a heart for it," Alma says. "People who embrace the work and its application for helping others—I think those are the ones who are going to stay in the work the longest. The money is what pays our bills, but what keeps us coming back is the positive feedback. When our clients regain their wellness and confidence, we enjoy being a part of that. It never gets old or boring when you are able to provide services of aid and comfort to another person." Moral of the story: Don't be afraid to dream big, tell others why they need you, or boast about your good work.