Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Scott Oglesbay Doss of Decatur and Sandy Springs

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Scott Oglesbay Doss. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Scott, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I was recently in Australia teaching two Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy workshops over the course of two weeks. On the very first day of my first workshop “down under,” I got a call from a colleague who had news to share with me and insisted the conversation had to happen over FaceTime—in front of my class—and that it be recorded. I’ll admit, I was hesitant. I had a full day of teaching planned and didn’t want to throw off the energy, but curiosity got the better of me. After all, she promised it was good news.
So, I introduced her to my very first Australian class, who greeted her with a cheerful “G’day!” We were all on the edge of our seats as she began with a drum roll before announcing that, for my work in advancing massage and manual therapy, I had been nominated as an inductee into the World Massage Hall of Fame.
The shock must have been written all over my face—I went red in front of everyone. Honestly, I had never aspired to such recognition. In my mind, those honors are reserved for my mentors and the people I look up to in this field. My only goal has ever been to help more people help others, and along the way I’ve poured my energy into learning, teaching, and lifting up those around me. To receive this kind of acknowledgment in the middle of a workshop, surrounded by new students, was both humbling and deeply affirming.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Scott Oglesbay Doss, and I’m an osteopathic manual and massage therapist with a deep passion for how compassionate, informed touch can transform people’s lives. I’m the founder of Star Dynamic Wellness, a practice with two locations — Decatur and Sandy Springs — where our team focuses on helping clients move, feel, and live better through advanced manual therapy approaches.
I also founded The Bodyhood, a co-working space designed specifically for massage, bodywork, and chiropractic professionals. It’s a place that fosters collaboration, community, and innovation in a field that can often feel isolating for practitioners.
What excites me most about this work is not just the therapy itself, but the connection: being able to meet people exactly where they are, to listen with my hands as much as with my ears, and to help them reclaim a sense of ease in their own bodies. Right now, I’m especially focused on education and mentorship—supporting both clients and fellow therapists in raising the standard of care in our profession.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was someone who thrived on connection, problem-solving, and making people feel cared for. I spent years working for an international tour operator for senior citizens, beginning as a Customer Relations Agent and eventually serving as Director of Operations for Asia and the South Pacific and, a role I created for myself, the Worldwide Onsite Issue Coordinator. Those roles taught me how to think critically under pressure, quickly get to the root of an issue, and—most importantly—communicate with empathy so clients felt supported even in stressful situations.
Looking back, I see how those experiences prepared me for the work I do now as a manual therapist. The skills may look different on paper, but the heart of it is the same: meeting people where they are, creating a sense of comfort, and helping them navigate challenges with compassion and clarity.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could. For example, when I launched The Bodyhood in 2022, I had a clear vision: to create a collaborative space where massage, bodywork, and chiropractic professionals could thrive together. With my budget and projections complete, I imagined I’d be profitable in 6-12 months with a thriving practice. But the reality of entrepreneurship was far from easy. It took nearly three years before I broke even, all while paying a commercial lease and wondering how long I could keep it afloat. The stress of that period even plummeted me into a year of insomnia, something I had to slowly climb out of—and is now an experience filled with learnings that I can reflect on to support my clients who may be going through the same thing.
Through it all, I kept telling myself: If I work hard now, knowing it’s only temporary, eventually the workflow will become easier and more familiar, and it will all pay off. That mindset kept me moving forward. I leaned into networking with local business associations, connecting with massage therapist groups online, and marketing however I could. Eventually, I realized I couldn’t continue to live this way and that I needed to ask for help—I brought in a business coach and a marketing professional who shifted my mindset entirely. They gave me tools to work smarter instead of harder, and I can see now how much energy I had wasted trying to reinvent the wheel.
Looking back, what got me through was equal parts perseverance and the camaraderie of colleagues who shared the space with me. Today, seeing the incredible team of complementary therapists who have made The Bodyhood what it is, I couldn’t be more proud. That pride feels deeper because of the struggle it took to get here—and that kind of wisdom is something success, on its own, could never teach.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
First, I believe it’s important to acknowledge that no one can know everything—that’s why research continues and why every profession brings something unique to the table. What keeps me curious and interested in my job is remembering that knowledge is beyond no one person’s scope of practice. Consider me a lifelong learner!
That said, where I think many smart people get it wrong is in underestimating or overlooking the role of massage and manual therapy in healthcare. Too often, the power of skilled touch is dismissed or replaced with prescriptions or exercise packets—choices often driven more by insurance companies than by what may actually benefit the patient most. Our healthcare system is broken in that sense: it doesn’t always make space for approaches that improve quality of life without side effects.
To be clear, I don’t believe massage is the answer to everything. Medical doctors save lives every day, chiropractors restore movement to joints, and physical therapists are experts at strengthening and rehabilitating after injury. But what’s missing is the inclusion of massage professionals—those trained to address soft tissue with skill, precision, and compassion.
The reality is, massage can go far beyond relaxation. It can include visceral manipulation, scar work for burns or surgeries, lymphatic drainage, and advanced methods like Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy, which often complement chiropractic and physical therapy beautifully. Yet, according to a 2019 study by the American Massage Therapy Association, only about 20% of Americans receive massage. That number is both shocking and motivating—it tells me that most people, including many professionals, don’t yet realize just how impactful massage can be.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
Ha! That question makes me laugh. I come from a family of doers, so saying no has never been my strong suit… sometimes to a fault. I pack my days so full that even a walk in the park or a last-minute dinner with friends feels like a luxury. I love every hat I wear in the world of massage and manual therapy, but I’m learning that self-care isn’t just advice I give—it’s something I actually need to schedule for myself.
This year, I started working out 3–4 times a week, and wow—what a difference. Physically, mentally, emotionally—it’s a game-changer. As we age, staying strong and nimble becomes more important than ever, and taking care of myself now gives me the energy to keep doing the work I love. I’m still a work in progress, but I’m finally learning to slow down enough to enjoy the view along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: stardynamicwellness.com, thebodyhood.com, erikdalton.com/workshops
• Instagram: @stardynamicwellness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-oglesbay-doss/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBodyhood, https://www.facebook.com/StarDynamicWellness
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@stardynamicwellness