Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Sharp.
Olivia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Massage found me in haphazard kind of way. I used to run track and field and in the times I was injured the team’s massage therapist would show me a few things here and there. Over time, I became the person that all my friends on the team would come to before races. “Olivia, can you stretch this?” or “Olivia, can you rub my legs out please?”. I didn’t think about pursuing massage as my career though, until after my freshman year of college. I’d initially gone to major in Biology to eventually become a physician. The closer I go to achieving that goal, and the more I found about how hospitals were really run, I just couldn’t do it. The politics behind hospitals just wouldn’t gel with my inner self so I did some soul searching.
One day, my mom said she’d found a book and sent it to me in the mail. It was a massage therapy book. That was when I had my “Ah, ha!” moment. All the memories from high school came flooding back and I said, “This is it! This is what I’m supposed to be doing.” I ended up moving to Georgia (I was in North Carolina before) and it was here that I pursued my license at the Atlanta School of Massage.
My Massage education experience was so much more than I expected it to be. The art of touch and massage go so much deeper than just rubbing on bodies. Healing takes place at the medium of our hands, and it is such a beautiful experience every single time.
I went on the graduate from ASM with a 4.0 and was elected by the faculty and staff of ASM to receive the Professionalism Award for my work during my tenure at the school. I was so surprised and so honored!
After graduation I set out to start my business. One of our assignments at ASM was to draft our initial business name, slogan, etc. I wanted to do brand myself as something beyond the typical “healing hands”, or “massage by [insert name here].” Those are great, but I wanted a name that embodied the atypical, against the grain person that I am. One day, I wrote down a bunch of words that meant resonated with me in regards to massage. The words energy stood out the most to me because so much of massage is that constant ebb and flow of energy between therapist and client. So, I combined the words Energy and Massage, and Enaege was born! An atypical name, and a definite conversation starter. It was a win-win and still is today!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it’s not been a smooth road at all. In fact, it still isn’t. The hardest thing I’ve encountered in building my business is client building.
When competing with franchises in the industry, it at times seems like I am the tiniest fish in their enormous eco-system. The biggest piece of advice I have for this is to just be patient, put yourself out there in creative ways, sign up for as many expos or event vendor spaces as you can (without burning yourself out, of course) because you have to get your hands on people. We can tell people all day that we are a therapist, but our hands at the end of the day speak so much louder. Find events where you can be hands on. That’s been the biggest helper in my gaining the clients that I have.
Enaege Massage Therapy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Enaege Massage Therapy is my personal massage therapy brand. I am a certified in Therapeutic (table) Massage, Reflexology of the feet, Spa Therapies, Deep Tissue Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Seated Massage, Sports Massage Therapy, and Aromatherapy.
Most massage brands offer on-site massage therapy at their own facility, OR, mobile massage therapy services. Enaege Massage Therapy is unique in that I offer both. As my client, you could enjoy your relaxation experience at my beautiful new location on Dresden Drive in Brookhaven GA, or allow me to recreate my Enaege Experience in your home, your office, or if you’re here on business, in your hotel room. I provide a professional, relaxing experience virtually anywhere in Atlanta and surrounding areas.
Another unique aspect of my business is that I have just launched my line of organic spa products, fragrances, and Aromatherapy jewelry called Baudē by Enaege. (pronounced body). Baudē by Enaege features handmade aromatherapy blends, made from the purest of essential oils, for every aspect of you; mind, body, and spirit. Each blend has been carefully chosen and blended by me, based off of the benefits of each essential oil Baudē by Enaege also features aromatherapy jewelry that will allow you to carry your Zen with you via a fashionable statement piece, albeit a necklace, bracelet, or ring. Just place a drop of oil onto the lava stone featured in your unique piece, and the stone will naturally diffuse the oil blend throughout the day! Other products are coming soon and I’m so excited to release them!
I am most proud of the fact that I started this company with my own hands, my own hard work, my many late nights of planning and researching, and every day I see it grow a little bit more. I didn’t quit.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career so far, is still graduation day! It was such a huge reception that the school planned for us, and it’s still a standout moment in my mind and heart.
Pricing:
- 1 Hour Massage – $85.00
- 90 Minute Massage – $115.00
- 2 Hour Massage – $145.00
- 1 Hour Sports Massage – $95.00
- 90 Minute Thai Massage – $115.00
- Event Massage – $1/minute of massage, minimum 2 hour event.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1295 Dresden Drive NE
Brookhaven, GA 30319
**BY APPOINTMENT ONLY**
**NO WALK-INS AT THIS TIME** - Website: www.enaege.com | baude.enaege.com
- Phone: 470-244-4832
- Email: olivia@enaege.com
- Instagram: @enaegemassage
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/enaegemassage
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/enaege-massage-therapy-lawrenceville-2
Image Credit:
Ernie S.
