Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter` D Black.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story started one ordinary day, working in the garden of a beautiful community I had drifted into during my global wanderings.
The community was a kind of Human Potential Community, in a beautiful part of India, where many therapists and healers had gathered from around the world. There were also people there like me, who had drifted in as we wandered from place to place, pulled only by the wind or by stories from fellow travelers we would meet at hostels, tea shops, beaches, or holy sites.
Which is where I had been told about this community – on the beach, in Goa, India. By a young American man, a draft dodger, whom I had met in completely random places all over India, in chance encounters, over the last several months; places like Dharmsala, the Dalai Lama’s residence, New Delhi, and finally, one day on the beach in Goa.
Once I arrived at the community, I realized it was a place I wanted to stay for a while, and asked to work in the garden. And in that garden, I met a few fellow wanderers like myself, from all sorts of backgrounds. One of these drifters was a professional woman who was also involved in the therapy work going on there.
The thing that changed my life trajectory was the conversation we had one day, where she told me about how she would help the Rolfers in the community. Rolfers are very well-trained massage therapists, or bodyworkers, but I knew nothing about that then.
I had never even heard of massage or massage therapy until then. Growing up in Dallas, Texas, in the 70s, there was never one mention of such a thing.
So, when I grasped the concept of what a Massage Therapist was, a lightning bolt pierced my heart with immediate knowledge – THAT’S ME! That’s what I’m going to do!
I never once thought about money or massage therapy as a way to pay the bills. The only thought was, THIS, this is what I am supposed to do!
Of course, there were a few years in between that moment of revelation and putting things in place for the training, licensing, etc. But once I felt the many years of wandering were done, and decided to settle down on the island of Maui, in Hawai’i, I was able to afford the training and work towards becoming a licensed therapist, which I completed by September, 1991.
It was not at all easy getting started on Maui, as there are already so many good massage therapists. But I never let that get me down, as I’m not afraid of hard work, and I’m not afraid of the long haul, when it’s something I believe in.
I sought out unusual situations, assisting an acupuncturist, removing the needles, as a trade for getting to massage his patients. I gave a LOT of free massages, and then, my wife and I found a salon, where she started to work, and the owner asked me if I wanted to help renovate the facial/massage room in exchange for rent – absolutely! And my massage practice took off!
Once my wife and I, just married, began working in the salon, which we purchased a year later, I was able to offer lots of discounted massages to build up my clientele, and a salon is a great place to do that.
However, as new salons after new salons opened up in our tiny Upcountry town, we realized we were done owning a salon, and closed in 2000.
That’s when the Hotel Work phase began, and the two-hour round-trip commutes began – first at the Fairmont, then the Four Seasons. Both were great experiences at first, but became so much about money and less about massage, that I decided to go out on my own in 2012. So, I began working in my private practice, and had a fairly full clientele by 2014, and moved into my own office in 2016.
The good part of the hotel work was having colleagues and camaraderie, and learning so much from everyone! It was the beginning of self-care for myself, when a friend taught me about stretches to fix my low back pain!
Around 2018, my wife and I started thinking about leaving Maui after three decades, and so began the slow process of downsizing our stuff. And I went back to school to get the extra classroom hours to qualify for an Oregon massage license.
That was tough! Working full time, plus school work every spare minute during the fall of 2019, spring and summer of 2020 (pandemic time), and then packing up to move across the ocean by Dec. 2020! Yikes!
Somehow, providence kicked in, along with a LOT of non-stop work and studying, and I got my Oregon license Jan. 8, 2021, and began working in Portland, OR, eight days later. First, working for a clinic, and then, one year later, I found a sweet office space to share, a five-minute walk from my house, and there I was, back in private practice.
Then came the Miracle – it took basically zero time to build my clientele, by putting up a few posters here and there, telling people, and the timing of the pandemic finally ending, and people feeling safer to come out and get massages!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was strongly discouraged from ever getting started when I first began calling around in 1988 or so, looking for accredited massage schools where I could go and learn.
One lady who ran a school told me flat out it was a terrible idea since I was a man, and NO ONE wanted a massage from a man! That definitely set me back a few months, but I kept looking and finally did find another school starting classes, run by a man, and signed up!
Working in hotel spas, was a great change from being self-employed and doing everything myself, but after a few years, the politics, the ever-changing rules, and the competition for seniority, for the better clients began to wear me down. In addition, the hotel was becoming more about sales and profit for the corporation and less about providing a wonderful service to real people.
Then, working as a sole proprietor can be tough. Luckily, I had my wise and compassionate wife to talk things over with. And we help each other remember the big picture – there is plenty for everyone; there is no need to be fearful; being generous – knowing there is abundance – is the absolute best way to fly – both for your spirit and your business. And, it’s just who I am and choose to be.
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 am a one-person business, providing massage therapy and bodywork to those who want to feel better. I specialize in several areas: Sports Massage – working on specific problem areas, usually with deeper pressure if wanted. Deep Tissue massage, which is more of an “all over” type massage, perhaps not so specific as the Sports Massage. I can do many types of stretches, some Thai massage table stretches, can do prenatal/pregnancy massage, and side-lying massage, basic Shiatsu/no oil or lotion massage, and relaxing massage – Swedish and Lomilomi.
Feedback from clients tells me that the fact that I can actually do deep tissue, strong pressure, if wanted, sets me apart, as it seems very few massage therapists offer or do that. I don’t know why.
I am most proud of having so many super-awesome clients; everyone is just amazing and wonderful to be around!
The thing to know about my services is that my rates are affordable, considerably less than many massage therapists in Portland, OR; I give the full amount of time – 60 or 90 minutes – as hands-on massage time, unless you come in really late! I have 35 years of full-time experience, and therefore, I have a large toolbox with loads of experience and expertise in every joint, muscle, and problem area.
I am adaptable, can problem solve, think outside the box, love helping people, and calm, yet passionate and I approach my massage work day with a calm mind and a peaceful heart.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is knowing – at the end of every day – I did good work and helped people feel better and gave them tools to help themselves feel better on their own as well.
Being outside – hiking, walking, cycling; being enveloped in nature – birds, trees, flowers, leaves, sky, clouds; exercising – feeling fully alive with all the incredible emotions and feelings that come with being alive. Dancing, especially Argentine Tango, connecting with people through the music and the embrace. Socializing, hanging out, chatting, laughing, talking, sometimes crying; making good food – for my body, my family, my friends.
In my work: Helping people, helping people through the power of compassionate, healing touch.
Talking with people/clients and learning from tips from their experience, and sharing those tips with others.
Feeling grounded in my life’s calling.
Recalling the many, many wonderful people and clients I have met that day, and get to see regularly in my practice.
Pricing:
- Massage sessions 60/90 minutes = $90/$130
Contact Info:
- Website: https://listeninghandsmassage.com/
