Emma Leigh Burke
We sat down with Women to Women Network member Emma Leigh Burke, owner of Seluna Dawn Massage, and here’s what she had to say…
Who are your clients/customers?
Any BODY... I can work on literally anybody.
I do a lot of treatment work for athletes, as well as people who are sitting in front of a desk all day. With the Zoom culture, we're now in, business people and students are doing a lot of sitting. I offer family/household discounts, so I see many families affected by the new digital learning and work-from-home scenarios.
I have several clients that are professional golfers. They come to me right before they get on the plane for a tournament to help them limber up and right after returning home to reduce soreness.
How do you help your clients/customers?
With nearly everyone, I do a form of cupping, which is decompression therapy. It's similar to foam rolling in that it gets tightness out, but it's lifting instead of pressing. It's very comfortable and time-efficient. With just 10 minutes of cupping, we see increases in immunity because we get all of the metabolic waste - formerly called "toxins" - into the lymph system to flush it out. I use the cups dynamically instead of keeping them on one spot at a time, which helps to get things moving. I'd like to see this cupping technique become more mainstream.
What brought you to this line of work?
When I was pregnant with my youngest, I was in a car accident. Since traditional treatments couldn't be done, the doctor recommended massage therapy. I went into it with an open mind, but I was unsure if it would provide the full healing that I needed. I was shocked but overjoyed when I reached complete recovery. This transformative experience helped me realize that this was a way I could help others, too.
What brings you the most joy in your business?
My work is instant gratification because it makes people feel better. I'm fortunate to have a profession where people walk away visibly happier and more comfortable. I'm so gratified by the success stories of people getting ahead of pain and putting off surgeries because the work on their muscles helps the body get back to doing what it should be doing.
What defines you/your business?
It's my mission to help people. I am very ethical as a human, and that extends to my business. People pay for my time - either 60 or 90 minutes - and I will do what it takes to make them feel better with no "upselling." I want my clients to relax, and if they're worried about the cost of "upgrades," they can't focus while I facilitate their healing.
What is the most important thing you want people to know about your business?
You will feel better! I have clients who have high-stress jobs or own a busy company, and they want to zen out. These clients visit me every two weeks and nap on the table while I do my work. I always say people should see me at least as often as they get their car looked at, but ideally, monthly. That's why I give a discount of $10 for my monthly clients and $20 if more frequent appointments are needed.
My goal is to get every client to the point that a monthly appointment is enough to get ahead of any pain. I also do facilitated-stretching so that people can continue their progress at home. I'm in a facility with an acupuncturist, and there is a chiropractor in my BNI group, so if referrals are necessary, I'm happy to do so. People come for various reasons, but I want them all to leave feeling like they got the best of me during their appointment.