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Florida Massage therapist Heather Lloyd  LMT, BCTMB is working toward making her dream of opening a holistic wellness center a reality

Heather Lloyd received her associate of Occupational Sciences Degree in Therapeutic Massage from Heritage Institute in Fort Myers, FL, in 2004. In 2011, she opened her own massage business, Serenity Healing Studio, Inc. Heather offers the following modalities: Swedish, Therapeutic, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myotherapy, Chair Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Bamboo-Fusion Massage, Thai Poultice Massage, Kinesio Taping, and Usui / Sekheim Holy Fire Reiki.

“I believe massage is an important factor in maintaining overall health and preventing many injuries and illness and she is committed to learning and sharing that knowledge with the community,” says the board-certified member of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), a member of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), a member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA), Heather holds herself to the highest standard of practice and code of ethics.

“I provide my clients with a relaxing sense of well-being and relieve their stress and aches & pains with a personalized treatment program,” shares Heather, noting her dream is to open a holistic wellness center. When she’s not helping clients, Heather enjoys visiting with her family, attending classes and events at the Church of Spiritual Light with her spiritual community, and traveling. She is in the beginning stages of developing a retreat workshop for massage therapists and writing a book. Other hobbies include scuba diving, watching movies, and relaxing with a good book!

Scroll down for our Q&A with longtime massage therapy expert Heather: 

Inkandescent Women: Having owned your own business for more than a decade, what are some of your favorite modalities to practice? 

Heather: I specialize in Neuromuscular Myotherapy techniques which have provided excellent results for my clients. I also really enjoy combining reiki energy healing with massages. My clients are very receptive to these inclusive modalities and appreciate the holistic approach that I offer. I find the most enjoyment in being able to provide noticeable results for my clients and feel most rewarded when they return and tell me how much better they have felt from their previous session.

Inkandescent Women: How do you know what a client needs, in addition to (or despite) what they ask for during their massage?

Heather: I find it to be of utmost importance to listen to my clients describe why they are seeking massage and what their expectations are, along with any specific issues to be focused on throughout our session. This typically provides a foundational starting point to build upon while my knowledge and experience become a guide to finding the muscular sources contributing to their pain. Often the causal issue isn’t where their pain complaint is. I note the body’s response to palpation, look for fascial restrictions, check range of motions, and ask additional questions if needed. Every body is different and presents a puzzle to be solved. I also maintain a compassionate ear for their chosen topics of discussion which I believe enhances the client’s ability to ease and release their stress.

Inkandescent Women: Do you think it’s best for clients to schedule regular appointments or to come in to work with you periodically?

Heather: I find that the benefits of massage are cumulative and, typically, I can provide better outcomes to clients that schedule sessions at regular intervals or on a planned maintenance program to prevent muscular relapse rather than only coming in when in pain. This does however vary based on the selected modality and the reason for treatment. I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all when it comes to a healing or maintenance strategy and will always build a program that is personalized to the client’s needs while taking into account their objectives and constraints.

Inkandescent Women: We met on a retreat for massage therapists in Costa Rica in May 2024. What led you to participate in that adventure? What are your takeaways from the week in that beautiful country?

Heather: I wanted to travel for my continuing education for a while. I was looking at different programs in Costa Rica that would meet the accreditation requirements for Florida, where I practice. When I found the Hands to Knead Retreat, I thought combining an education program with the retreat aspects was intriguing. The experience sounded ideal for relaxation and learning in a beautiful setting and healthy environment. After looking into the area and the retreat’s location, I was ecstatic to make the trip and loved every minute of the adventure. Coming from the remarkably flat part of Florida, the jungle-covered mountains of the Uvita area of Costa Rica were soul-lifting and so refreshing! I have to admit that the view from our retreat was a big part of the experience, and learning and practicing in the open air within close proximity to toucans, sloths, and howler monkeys while staring out over the Pacific made for a unique and incredible experience which I have been recommending ever since. It was also a great change of pace to share and learn from a wonderful and diverse group of therapists from around the US and talk about our varied work experiences. It was amazing to create strong bonds and friendships in such a short time!

Inkandescent Women: What advice do you have for other massage therapists who hope to have a long and successful career like yours?

Heather: From the physical perspective, I can’t stress enough the importance of practicing good body mechanics to avoid injury while performing massage. This, along with being passionate about your calling, is one of the main ingredients of longevity in massage.  From the business perspective, I believe it is critically important to develop solid policies and boundaries between your business and personal life and the relationships developed with new and existing clients. Create sensible and consistent policies make them easily accessible on your website, and present them thoughtfully in communications with clients when appropriate. Occasionally you may find an occurrence that deserves special consideration, having those policies and boundaries in place allows you to remain in control of the flexibility you chose to provide for the situation, for example when handling untimely cancellation charges. Finally, it is important to continually expand your knowledge and practice techniques and stay abreast of developing research. Continuing education is an integral part of being a massage therapist and not an added burden to my work. By learning new techniques and business and marketing skills and refreshing my general knowledge of anatomy, I find myself continuously challenged and excited to advance my practice to become a better me!

Inkandescent Women: What advice do you have for clients seeking out a massage therapist?

Heather: When searching for a massage therapist, I highly recommend using the professional organizations’ therapist locator tools. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), and Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA) all have web-based therapist directories of participating licensed professionals that are insured and meet the organization’s high code of ethics. Most states will also have similar organizations with directories, enabling clients to match their needs to local therapists.  Friends’ and family members’ referrals of therapists they have experience with are also a good resource, as well as reading the therapist/establishment’s reviews. Here in Florida, you can search for a provider’s license on the Board of Massage Therapy’s website to verify that it is active and has no concerning complaints. Qualify your therapist against their offered modalities and services, as well as what your comfort level is with initial interactions, and more importantly, don’t hesitate to describe your concerns and expected outcome in depth to ensure that the therapist provides a satisfying response to achieve the best fit for your goals. A reputable and conscientious therapist will not hesitate to refer you to a more appropriate provider if they do not provide the best experience or outcome.

Inkandescent Women: What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

Heather: In continuation of my passion, I hope to continue to grow my practice and eventually hire additional therapists and service providers and upgrade my location to more of a comprehensive space where I can offer an even more varied palette of sessions, classes, and treatments, rather than working in a limiting capacity from a single treatment room. From there, I would love my business to grow into a successful holistic practice offering many healing modalities to create a beautiful community-oriented wellness center. I am also working on incorporating more travel into my personal and professional life. I am considering developing teaching workshops, modality seminars, and education retreats as an added career challenge. My Costa Rica retreat experience opened my mind and sparked my desire to explore new avenues. I hope to develop these visions and transform them into a successful reality shortly.