Meet Abby Ellis and Dara Metcalfe of Future Perfect Massage in Cabbagetown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Ellis and Dara Metcalfe.

Abby and Dara, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
We both went to University of Georgia and Atlanta School of Massage. We began working together in 2008, although we have both been doing massage since 2002. Dara and I were introduced by a fellow massage therapist that thought we would get along. We began sharing a room in a yoga/Pilates studio and we both has dreams of growing a business. I had considered starting a business with a few other people in the past but nothing ever felt quite right. After working with Dara for a short period, I found out what had been missing with the others. We had an amazing communication style. We do tend to agree on most things but when we don’t, we are always able to talk and understand each other.

Has it been a smooth road?
We have been lucky that our business has grown slowly and steadily. We have gone from sharing one room in a yoga studio to our current location with 3 additional employees and have added waxing and skincare to our list of services. We have had to move locations twice which was hard at first but ultimately turned out to be a blessing. Our first location in Virginia Highlands was sold and when our rented doubled in our next location in Inman Park we knew it was time to look for something else. We landed in Cabbage town, where we both live. We really liked the idea of being able to walk to work 🙂

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Future Perfect Massage offers massage, Reiki and skincare. Dara and I both have a strong background in Anatomy but we tend to work a bit differently. I have developed a following with Runners and athletes after studying ways to treat the most common injuries associated with marathon and triathlon training. Dara teaches and does Reiki so she tends to work on a more energetic level. We have, however, been extremely influenced by one another over the years. I have learned Reiki from Dara and she has learned more sports massage from me. We like to be able to share clients and refer to each other as much as we can.

We are both certified to teach massage continuing education (CE courses). We offer classes at our shop and this has been so wonderful because there are so few in town classes offered. All massage therapists have to take 24 hours of CE courses every two years and most of the time the only courses offered are in the suburbs or in another state so it is quite convenient to have them at Future Perfect.

We also have a small amount of retail in our shop. We have things that we use and love. We began making our own products a few years ago so we sell those as well as a collection of crystals and bath and body products.

We are quite different from a typical spa in the sense that we are trying to create a community of healing. We not only do massage and facials and teach but we offer workshops on various topics of self-care which brings our neighborhood and community together in a really positive way.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta is growing so fast that this is a great place for someone to start out!

Pricing:

• 60 minute massage or Reiki $90.00
• 90 minute massage or Reiki $140.00
• Signature facial $90.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 226 Powell St SE
  Atlanta, GA 30316
• Website: www.futureperfectmassage.com
• Phone: 770-361-4871
• Email: futureperfectmassage@gmail.com
• Instagram: futureperfectmassage
• Facebook: future perfect massage

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.