Today we’d like to introduce you to Roy Lee.
Hi Roy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I literally started from the bottom and now I’m here.
In my mid 20’s I had avascular necrosis in my hip joint causing bone death. I was rushed to make an immediate decision and get a total hip replacement. Back in those days hip replacements weren’t as successful as they are now a days. In my case, the doctors replaced my hip with a recalled hip and left me with a leg that was slightly longer than the other causing the foundations in my body to shift, creating all sorts of structural problems from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head. Also with the botched hip replacement surgery, came lots of complications and pain, causing me to become addicted to opioids. I was spiraling downwards into hopeless despair. While I watched all my peers go onto become successful in their careers and go onto have beautiful families, here I was, limping into nothingness. I came to a realization after over a decade of suffering that this had to end, and I desperately wanted to find a solution that would be holistic. Slowly working on my posture, I worked on straitening my body out, to sit/stand taller and work on becoming more confident. I knew this was going to be a long process. I found out that my church at the time held a reflexology course. My feet ached all the time and running to the bus stop wasn’t helping at all. People at church would tell me that I had great technique and intuition with the foot massages, and that little spark turned into the fiery passion for healing massage that I still have today. I enrolled at the East West College of healing arts and started my journey into the practice of healing arts. I remember at school many of the students wanted to do trades with me and that just told me that I might have something in my hands. I was delighted that I finally had something to work towards and to better myself and help others. I completed East West college in 2 years and went on to get licensed. Getting my license was another feat in itself, but that’s another story for another time. I began my search for a job right away, as I was excited to finally earning my keep. I found myself working at one of those franchise massage businesses. I started grinding. Maybe grinding a little too hard, because I found that my body was already wearing down. I was already worn down. By this time, I had enough money to buy a little moped scooter. I would ride it rain or shine, in freezing weather and blazing hot weather. It didn’t matter as long as I could get to my clients and get my hands on as many bodies as possible. My clients seemed to really appreciate my body work, and many would rebook with me, telling me that I’m doing something right. I worked at the franchise for 3 years, not knowing that I could keep climbing. I found a position that was opened at Knot Springs. I took it and I was so thrilled that I thought I had made it. Skyline views, Hot thermal springs, saunas, cold plunges and a private gym all surrounded by the most amazing people. I was climbing up. I can finally breathe a little better again. Then the inevitable had hit again. Whatever goes up, must come back down, right? Covid.
Another door closed.
I went back to work at other spas in town, where they treated me like yesterday’s garbage. Pay was terrible, and I wasn’t appreciated, it certainly wasn’t glamourous. I knew exactly where I was supposed to be. Back to reality. Grounded again. My nose back on the grindstone. But this time, something was different. I started thinking about what it would be like to open business. By now I was giving massages using muscle memory. Giving them with my heart. I was able to meditate/dream while I gave massages. So many ideas started circling in my mind. What should I call my business. “Dancing Hands massage”, “Circle of light massage”, “Royal Ritual massage”?
What kind of treatments should I give my clients? What population should I cater to? How much should I charge? Location, location, location? I was finally fed up with how my employers were treating me and put my foot down. I quit working for you; I will work for myself. I found a great location in a building in the Central Eastside in the Buckman neighborhood. Subleasing from seasoned LMT’s. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays were days they were offering to lease to me. I took a leap of faith. I knew I was giving quality body work. If I build it, they will come.
I registered for a business license, got an EIN number and a NPI number, got a simple website developed with online scheduling. I thought I had all my ducks in a row.
Back to square one.
I forgot. I don’t have any clients. I’ve signed non-compete clauses. I don’t have a store front. How will I even get clients on my table. Why do I keep shooting myself in the foot.
Advertising on Google, Yelp, Facebook would sink my business before I even begin.
I started walking around to all the yoga studios and gyms around the neighborhood, passing out flyers and business cards at every opportunity I could find. A lot of people would just smile and take my information, but I knew that whatever I was giving them was going directly into the garbage can as soon as I walked out the door. There had to be other ways to get people on my table.
During this time of extreme uncertainty, I fed myself and my new family through the food pantry and donated food boxes, which I am so entirely grateful for. My partner and I also had our first child during this stressful time.
I started with 1 client and then having 2 clients a month. I’ve been here before. Nowhere to go but up. Not even enough money to pay the rent for my leased office space. Those 2 turned into 4. It was word of mouth and the quality of my body work that was bringing them back. Just do my best work and they will come. Everyone was rebooking.
I’m going on my 3rd year in private practice. I’ve won 2 back-to-back awards for best massage business in Buckman Neighborhood. I now have 100+ 5 star google reviews. I’m practically fully booked all the time. I am proud of myself. I made it. I’m living the American dream.
What I learned from all of this is, that life will body slam you down to the ground, but you get back up, dust yourself off, put a cast on the broken bones, get some surgery. But don’t you ever give up. Those are all lessons to teach you to overcome. Because once you overcome all the hardships, you’re strong enough to thrive.
I literally started from the bottom and now I’m here.
Roy Lee OR LMT #023272
Owner of BodyTreatLLC
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This path that I have chosen has been the roughest, most risky, hardest path to take in my opinion.
I think I wrote about some of the struggles in the previous box.
My mom always took the hardest route anywhere, So I believe I do the same. Now I think I know why she took this route. I believe it is because if you do something that is so super hard, than everything else seems so easy in comparison.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the founder and owner of Body Treat LLC a wellness massage business. Near the heart of Portland Oregon. 819 SE Morrison Street, Ste 210 Portland OR 97214 I am there Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. from 11am – 8pm
I also work at Cascada Thermal Springs and hotel in the Alberta Arts district here in Portland Oregon on Thursdays and Sundays.
I am considered a therapeutic deep tissue massage therapist. I specialize in eastern modalities, such as Tui Na and table Thai massage. I offer cupping and CBD massage enhancements.
Early on in my career I took a spill on my moped riding home from work one evening in the rain. I almost severed off my thumb and shaved my elbow down to the bone in the accident. The franchise massage places that I worked at didn’t care that I had hurt myself and still had me come into work to give service to their clients. So, I had to learn how to give one handed, one armed massages. Because of this, I honed in on my Tui Na Skills. Tui Na, is an ancient Chinese medical massage modality that I like to call needleless acupuncture. I like to find stagnant chi within the body and help it move by pressing on acupressure points and this also helps recalibrate the nervous system to help the body heal quicker.
How do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t call it luck. I call it more hard work and persistence.
I believe my clients keep coming back and referring their friends, family and coworkers to me is because they really see results and feel the benefits of my lasting body work
Pricing:
- $120/hour
- $180/hour and half
- $10 enhancements (cupping, CBD)
- 10% off first time clients using code 10First
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bodytreatllc.com
- Instagram: bodytreatllc
- Facebook: Body Treat LLC
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-lee-32052014b?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android
