Community Highlights: Meet Rebecca Tamm of Michigan Massage and Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Tamm.

Hi Rebecca, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
I dropped out of high school halfway through my senior year in 1996 and received my GED with no real direction in life. After a few years at Oakland Community College dipping my toes into different areas of study-court reporting, medical transcription, photography, business, etc., but never even getting an associate’s degree. And having worked in different industries from the age of 14, I had resigned myself to ‘cubicle life’. Doing administrative work and being a cog in the corporate machine. 

In 2002 I came across a brochure for Irene’s Myomassology Institute in Southfield, Michigan. Having absolutely zero experience with massage, I had never gotten one or given one; I took a tour of the school and decided to try something new. The next day I went to my job, put in my notice, cashed in my 401K to pay the tuition, and enrolled in classes. 

During my time at school, I had dreams of working in a fancy day spa doing fancy body treatments, and after graduation, I got a job doing just that. And I quit that posh job 4 different times before I realized it was not for me. 

Having a father that was an entrepreneur for my entire life made me see that I didn’t have to work in some soul-crushing job, and even though I never had any plans to start my own business, another chance encounter in 2004 led me to opening my business, Royal Oak Massage. Not having much knowledge of my own on how to actually run a business, I just made it my goal to provide quality bodywork and develop relationships with clients to show that it wasn’t just about getting their money, it was about helping them live their lives how they wanted to, not how their pain dictated. 

Over the next 12 years, I worked out of a single room and built my business and in 2017 I moved to our current location in Troy, and it was then that Michigan Massage and Wellness took shape. Going from a room of less than 300 square feet to my own facility of over 1400 square feet was terrifying, but once again, the Universe had my back. I started working with one of the local massage schools (Carnegie Institute in Troy) for their student externship program and in 2019 we were sent our first student intern, and she is still with us today, along with a team of amazing massage therapists and support staff. 

My work has shifted quite a bit over the years and my specialty work is focused on Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Concussion Therapy, Scar Tissue Therapy, TMJ dysfunction, and pre and post-op surgical recovery. I have found a new passion in working with the brand new ‘massage babies’ as I call them, and working with Carnegie Institute has been a truly rewarding experience as I am able to help new massage therapists hone in on their skills and find their passion in this industry. 

I run my business from a servant-based leadership approach. We put our clients and staff over the money, and I always say we are not a revolving door business, and it is about quality over quantity with us. We joke that if you want fluffy robes and cucumber water and one-hour massages that are actually only 45-50 minutes, go elsewhere. If you want to get your body fixed, we welcome you with open arms. Our business is built on client loyalty and longevity, and we have clients that have been with us for 5, 10, 15 years, and longer. We treat them like family, and we have seen their families grow and lives change over the years, and to me, that is what sets us apart from the franchises and corporate conglomerates. You’re not just another person on our tables; we truly care about helping you get out of the pain cave, recover from surgery, unwind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and doing what we can to assist you in living life on your terms, not how your pain, injuries, stress, and discomfort want to dictate. 

In this industry, we run into so many people that are just unhappy in their field due to their place of employment, or they feel stuck and pigeonholed into only doing one or two things, and I encourage my staff to explore different modalities to learn as much as they can, and I truly believe that when you treat your staff well, and with respect, and pay them their worth, it shines through in their work. I follow the Richard Branson quote of “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to”. 

As we are moving into our 20th year in business, I look back and see how much my business has evolved and what we’ve been able to get through-the 2008 recession, the 3 months that Covid-19 shut down our business with so many others, and whatever is going on in 2023 with fears about another recession, inflation, strikes, political unrest and more. In addition to our stellar massage and bodywork services, we offer unique classes such as Yoga Tune Up-a spin on traditional yoga that puts the emphasis on corrective exercise, postural improvement, self-massage, and more and Breathwork classes to help people work through trauma, stress, grief and more. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a business with virtually no experience was… interesting. When I found my first office, I had 2 clients to my name, but there were other practitioners in the shared space that gave me some tips, and gradually, people starting coming in. And they started coming back. More people found us, and it just slowly started to build. Over the years (and decades), I have seen other people and places open and subsequently close. We have had to deal with competition from large chains, Groupon, and others that were always looking to discount. The 2008 financial collapse. Having to shut down for 3 months in 2020 while Covid was running rampant. Staffing issues. The economy. Inflation. More competition. 

I always say that running a small business is not for the weak, and I have seen colleagues come and go in this industry. Some thrive, and some aren’t able to keep up for various reasons. For me, quitting has never been an option. I don’t have a partner at home that can support a household, I don’t come from money, and this isn’t something that I do for ‘fun,’ and between my stubborn streak that I can thank my late father for and my desire to never work in a soul-crushing 9-5 job again haha. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Since opening our doors in 2004, our goal has been simple: help people. 

Whether it’s recovering from surgery (or trying to avoid it), rehabbing a new (or old) injury, trying to simmer the Hulk-like rage that is bubbling up under the surface, or you simply want to try something new, our team of therapists can help. Combined, we have over 30 years of experience and we would like to say that Michigan Massage and Wellness is your one-stop shop for all of your health and wellness needs. 

With an extensive menu of services, we have something for everybody. From relaxation, deep tissue, and sports massage to specialty services such as Ashiatsu, Fascial Stretching, cupping therapy, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, concussion recovery, scar tissue therapy, Breathwork, Yoga Tune Up, and more we are so much more than “just a massage”. We work with our clients to develop a treatment plan that fits their schedule, budget, and goals and we treat every person that walks through our doors with respect, kindness, and compassion. We don’t see dollar signs when someone is on our tables; we see an opportunity to make a difference in their life. 

We offer services that very few others are doing, and our business is built on repeat clientele. As I have said previously, we are not a revolving door business, and there’s a reason why people will wait for weeks or even months for an appointment and why they are still coming in week after week, month after month for the past 2 decades: because we do our job and we do it well. 

When you step into our practice you will see people who are genuinely happy to see you and who genuinely enjoy their work. I have worked in other places that are all about the money and put staff happiness on the back burner, so it is critical to me that my staff love their work as much as everyone loves coming to receive it. We are working to get more involved with the community to build our network so we have resources for clients outside of what we can provide so we can be sure that we are supporting each other as much as we can. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Facebook: Badass Bodyworkers Group is comprised of over 7,000 members that is a fantastic resource for anyone in the massage/spa/wellness industry 

Podcasts: ADHD for Smart-Ass Women, Spa Marketing Made Easy, We Can Do Hard Things 

Local: Inforum Michigan 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michiganmassageandwellness.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/michiganmassageandwellness
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/michiganmassageandwellness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/michigan-massage-and-wellness
• Other: www.vagaro.com/michiganmassageandwellness1