Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Rinne.
Hi Melissa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2012. I’ve learned a lot in those 13+ years. The most important thing that has stuck with me is that I love being an LMT. I have the best clients, I love my work space, and my colleagues are so supportive.
I’ve always known that I wanted to do something in the healthcare field. However, there was no way I was going to go through the amount of schooling to become a doctor and nursing was too intense. I settled in a job at an engineering firm and was happy for about 7 years. Then someone mentioned that I should become a massage therapist. But that was crazy! Why would I want to touch people all day? I hadn’t even ever had a massage! I decided to go schedule myself a massage and I was hooked. Apparently that person was right, I should do massage. About a year later I enrolled in Everest Institute’s Massage Therapy program and began my new career.
I have worked for chiropractors, a chain, a wellness center and now I’m the owner of Renewal Bodyworks. My amazing clients have followed me from Sherwood, to Wilsonville, all over Newberg and now to McMinnville. They are the lifeblood Renewal Bodyworks and I love each and every one of them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nope. Sure hasn’t. But those bumps, dips and rises along the way have shaped me as an LMT, a business owner, a mom, a wife, and a human.
Being a small business owner has plenty of challenges. One day you’re on the up! You’re booked out for weeks! Then someone gets sick, you have to cancel a day. You have 3 people cancel in one week. You feel like you’re failing, you’re a terrible business owner, maybe you should go back to Corporate America. I would have never been able to get through the tough times without my support system. My husband, my family, my friends, my clients. They’ve helped me remember that I’m really good at what I do. I have skills that people are seeking. This is what I’m meant to do.
I recently moved my practice from Newberg to McMinnville and it’s been the most challenging and rewarding experience. I’ve created a space all my own to serve my people. But boy is it stressful! Worrying about whether my clients will follow me, if I will find new clients in McMinnville, even where my new lunch spot will be has definitely shaped the experience. But so far, it’s going great! Clients continue to show up for me and send me referrals. The practitioners I’ve met and come to know in McMinnville have held me up high and sent me their favorite clients because they trust me. I know that this is where I’m supposed to be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a massage therapist, I aim to relieve pain, reduce stress and help my clients move better and feel better. I don’t focus on one single modality, such as deep tissue or sports massage, instead I prefer personalized, results-focused care that works best for each individual client.
Most of my clients have chronic back and shoulder pain from long hours at a desk or on their feet. My clients tend to want to include massage as a part of their overall health routine instead of an occasional treat. I’m proud of the fact that I can look back at my work and say “I helped that person”. My favorite thing is when clients come to me and say “since I started seeing you, my hip pain is mostly gone”. These kinds of affirmations are why I do what I do.
I think what sets me apart from other LMTs is that my goal is to help my clients feel genuinely better, not to sell standardized massage. My clients know they don’t need to choose a specific modality or tell me which technique they need. They can trust me to use my clinical judgement and make those decisions for them so they can zone out and melt into the table.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is the relationships I build with my clients. Some have seen me for years. They remember my kids’ names, whether my youngest has leveled up in martial arts lately. I remember their birthdates, their anniversaries. I remember that their husband had surgery a month ago, or that their daughter just graduated high school. In massage school, we’re told not to get too personal or attached to our clients. But my clients are the reason I have a career. They help me through my ups and downs as much as I help them.
I value being the massage therapist that people can rely on. I want them to be comfortable enough to send their loved ones to me because they know I can help. It’s important to me that people walk out of my office feeling better than they came in.
Pricing:
- 60 Min – $120
- 90 Min – $165
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.renewalbodyworkslmt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renewalbodyworks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renewalbodyworkslmt/
