Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Copy Link
New Beginnings With Body Basics Massage
Getting to know my community continues to be one of the major perks I enjoy as a Realtor. This blog allows me to share conversations I’ve had with local business owners and individuals regarding their desired impact on the community and their hopes for the city.
Hive of Independent Business Owners
Owner Amber Smith of Body Basics Massage
I discovered a hidden gem last week. My appointment with Amber Smith, owner of Body Basics Massage had me wandering the halls of SOLA Salon Studios in Southpark Meadows. Walking past each individual studio, the energetic buzz in this hive of smiling, independent business owners was infectious. What a joyous checkerboard of hair stylists, nail, lash technicians and in the back, a massage studio. Reaching the last hallway, emerging from an array of cosmetology choice, your journey’s end takes you to the door of Body Basics Massage.
As an independent business owner myself, I have a soft spot for my fellow entrepreneurial soloists. It’s not enough to just show up day to day. You can make as much as you want, or as little. Pay is 100% performance based. Sick and vacation days are costly, but the freedom of knowing that success is unlimited is the fuel that keeps us going.
Truly small businesses are the key to every city’s unique profile. Tucked between sterile chain brands lie a city’s true finger print in the form of a person with a passion. In this article we meet Amber Smith to hear how she started her South Austin business Body Basics Massage.
The X-rays, The Bones, and Investigating The Biology of The Human Body
Me: Where did you grow up?
Amber: I was born in Dallas, TX. As a child I was always fascinated by the mechanics of our bodies and how the muscles interact with the joints. The only way I thought I could pursue this interest was to become a doctor or a nurse.
Amber – Grade School
On career day I followed a radiologist around to see the job firsthand. The radiologist said, ‘If you ever want to have a social life, GOOD GOD do not go into this field’. At 14 years old, those were powerful words. But I loved the x-rays, the bones, and investigating the biology of the human body.
Me: Did you have a different profession before Massage Therapy?
Amber: I was a loan officer at the age of 18 in a big skyrise, still living in Dallas. The company I worked for was closed down due to a money laundering investigation not long after I started working there. But I always noticed that the owner’s wife was infectiously happy at all times. She was always in a great mood. Constantly fabulous and working as a massage therapist. Always telling me how much she loved her job. That’s when I decided to jump into the profession myself. I moved to Austin in 2003 for massage therapy school and for the abundant opportunities to succeed in the business.
New Beginnings
Amber: I attended A New Beginning: School of Massage. This school is great and the teaching opportunities and internships were very intensive. This really overprepared me for the State Board Exam as well as every scenario I might come across in my practice. The teachers at New Beginnings are also extremely patient, involved and kind.
Amber’s Family
Me: Is there anyone in particular that played a role in the success of your business?
Amber: There are two people: My husband Jose and my mentor Kristi. She taught me so much about patience, healthy eating habits, client relationships, and a variety of elevated massage techniques. Kristi has great compassion and understanding for the people around her. She is an empath and understands the need for family and work life balance. I could not have had a more perfect mentor.
South Austin: A Place Where You Feel Loved
Me: When you branched out on your own, was it difficult finding the right location?
Amber: It wasn’t hard to find the location but it was really hard to wait. I had to be on a year long waiting list before I could apply. A lot of businesses who lease from here don’t leave. There are a lot of really cool, empowered business owners located at SOLA. In my opinion, South Austin is the heart of Texas. I bought my home here, I run my business here, and my kids went to school here. I will never leave South Austin. When you find a place where you feel loved, you stay.
SOLA Salon Studios Southpark Meadows
Me: Do you use other local vendors to create your space or client experience?
Amber: The owner of Articulture, Monique, is making me a living art piece out of succulents for my studio. If you’ve never been to Articulture you must check it out!
Me: Can everyone benefit from the services you provide?
Amber: Yes, absolutely. Everyone can benefit from massage, whether it’s deep tissue, neuromuscular therapy, pressure point, or basic Swedish massage. Most of my current clients are self-aware and proactive in maintaining and managing a regiment of muscular preventative care.
Me: Can you give an example of a transformation you have witnessed after several sessions with you?
Amber: One of my clients suffered from Scoliosis which caused an S curve in her spine. The Scoliosis was causing her muscles to pull towards her right side. Because of this, I worked on her left side. After four years of consistent therapy, I can see that she’s going back to the gym. She’s improving in her career, and she’s unlocking untapped potential with her increased mobility.
A Body In Motion Tends To Stay In Motion – Isaac Newton
Are You Ready To Book Your Massage?
To book a massage with Amber, you can click here: Body Basics Massage Studio BOOKING
Have you thought about Father’s Day which is just around the corner? This may be the PERFECT gift!
Follow Amber on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybasicsmassage/
If you know of a local Austin business that I should highlight, please let me know! I love providing Austin-native references to my relocation clients! You can email me at Heidi@JBGoodwin.com.
A Shout Out To Amber’s Favorite Places
Favorite Restaurant: Kirby Lane Cafe because you can eat breakfast for dinner.
Favorite Bar: Moontower Saloon, because I love Trivia Night.
Favorite Gym: CrossFit SoChac because it goes back to the whole South Austin vibe. It’s about the encouragement and the friendships I’ve formed.
Favorite Natural Area or Park: Mary Moore Searight Park because you can disk golf, fly RC planes and picnic. I go there at least once a week to hike. I take my kids out there to have some ‘talk time’. They’re teens so we need to have that time.
A Healthier Community: One Habit, One Life At A Time
Getting to know my community continues to be one of the major perks I enjoy as a Realtor. This blog allows me to share conversations I’ve had with local business owners and individuals regarding their desired impact on the community and their hopes for the city.
Just Show Up
The first step to success is simple. Just show up. It is the key to strong relationships and a thriving career. To place yourself on the doorstep of opportunity is just the beginning. But showing up can feel really vulnerable.
Will I say the right thing? What if I fail? Am I good at this?
It took me 35 years to realize that I needed someone to witness me ‘showing up’ to be successful. I wanted change. In the winter of 2017, I saw an ad for CrossFit. I had never touched a dumbbell let alone a barbell. I was terrified. And I signed up. There was a lot that I struggled with, but every time I appeared to give up, the coach would throw me a modification. The excuse to quit was removed. My only job was to show up, and try.
During the 6-week program I showed up for every class. Consequently, it became easier to show up to more opportunities in my life, than to watch them from afar.
As a parent, a Realtor, a human, sometimes I struggle to show up. As a gym member, there are weeks where I sacrifice my workout because I have too many business appointments, I’m buried in paperwork, because of softball and baseball practices, music lessons, etc.
But then a witness, noticing my absence at the gym, sends a text message: Are you coming in this week? Just checking on you. – Coach Heather
Heather Tuley is one of the owners of CrossFit SoChac located in South Austin. She owns this gym with her brother Tim and her mother Carri. Heather hopes to have a positive impact on the South Austin community through promoting healthy practices at her gym.
I Used To Think That Just Because I wasn’t Overweight I Was Healthy
Me: What was your first experience with CrossFit?
Heather: I was 38 years old with three kids. I heard about CrossFit from my brother, Tim. He gave me a Groupon for the gym in 2012. He thought it would be a great idea for me to join. It took 6 months of convincing me. Reluctantly, I went. The workout was brutal, but it lit something inside of me, a fire. I knew there was something here.
Me: Do you think CrossFit has transformed the course of your life?
Heather: It has completely transformed my entire life. From my career path, to my views about myself and how I view fitness today. I used to think that just because I wasn’t overweight, I was healthy.
Growing As A Person
Me: At what moment did you decide to become a coach?
Heather: I didn’t decide I wanted to be a coach until I was already coaching. My path started when I was asked to cover a class while my coach was on vacation. It was Christmas 2015. I look back and realize I had no idea what I was doing or what it meant to be a coach and leader. I didn’t realize the gravity of having people’s well being in my hands. Eventually I started to regularly coach classes while growing as a competitive athlete. My passion for the sport was growing, and I was growing as a person. I was starting to see transformation in my own life.
Me: When did you decide to open up your own gym?
Heather: There wasn’t a defining moment. The gym I was currently coaching at was up for sale, but the numbers didn’t make business sense. While I continued to coach at one gym, I eventually started training competitively at a different gym. The coaches where I trained were more knowledgeable and professional. I knew things could be different where I was currently coaching.
Because I was consistently training at a different gym, the gym I coached at let me go. They cited that it was a ‘conflict of interest’.
I continued to train under Coach Winchester where I grew both as an athlete and a coach. It was the best training I could have ever received. It really prepared me for what lay ahead.
Eventually I ran into my previous employer. It was at HEB, 2017, where all great things in Texas happen. He asked again if I wanted to buy the gym. Needless to say, this time it went through, and the rest is history.
A Place Of Love And Acceptance
Me: What type of transformations do you see as a coach in your clients?
Heather: We see athletes overcome health issues that have plagued them for years. Some come off of medications, overcome addiction, and grow mentally and physically stronger. Additionally, we see athletes overcome themselves and their own limiting beliefs. Athletes find a place of love and acceptance that they may not have in their home or work life. Each athlete walks their own transformation path.
Me: What are some thoughts that you think people have that keep them from joining a CrossFit Gym?
Heather: I think people see the same obstacles in CrossFit that they see with any other change in their life. Some probably believe it’s money, time, worry about the challenge, worry about gaining too much muscle, or worried that they won’t fit in. Some people think that they’ll hold the class back or that they need to be “fit” before starting CrossFit.
Read about some of the members here: Transformation Stories
But it’s all really a bunch of nonsense. Really it comes down to this question ‘Are you ready to make the change?’ I do my best to overcome these objections when new clients come in because I know they could experience real change. I know myself and my staff can have that impact. We are laying the groundwork for overall health and longevity. But you must first want change.
The Way You Do One Thing Is The Way You Do Everything
Me: How do you see CrossFit SoChac impacting the immediate community around you?
Heather: We are making a positive impact, mentally and physically, on our community. If a mother leads a healthier life, her children see that. Hopefully that changes the habits of future generations. In like manner, when someone see’s their friend looking and acting differently, they start to question, ‘Can I do that too?’
When I was training as a competitive athlete, my coach always said ‘The way you do one thing is the way you do everything’. If we are consistently late to class, we are consistently late to everything. If we are unprepared for class, we are unprepared throughout our day. We ask our clients to expect more of themselves in the gym, because if they expect more of themselves in this space, they know they can do even more in all facets of their life.
We are overstressed, under-slept, and over-consumers in a culture with little value on exercise. In the gym, there’s hope to change all of this one class at a time, one habit at a time, one life at a time.
Me: Is gym experience necessary in order to start at CrossFit SoChac?
Heather: Absolutely NOT! The only qualification is that you are willing to put forth effort. That’s all we ask. Give me your best and I will give you mine. We can make the change together.
The Time Is Now
For those who have never joined a gym like this, the time is now. For all of you looking to shake things up in 2022, I highly recommend reaching out to Heather at CrossFit SoChac.
11600 Manchaca Rd #301
Austin, TX 78748
512.851.1626
Follow CrossFit SoChac on Facebook
Preserving What Makes Austin
Getting to know my community continues to be one of the major perks I enjoy as a Realtor. This blog allows me to share conversations I’ve had with local business owners and individuals regarding their desired impact on the community and their hopes for the city.
When I explain my love of Austin, there are attributes of this city that have become a mantra for me: Swimming holes, breweries, iconic venues, local live music. Ownership of what makes Austin unique comes out in our every day conversation. Often it’s only partial ownership. The reciprocal relationship between fans and artists, patrons and venues, is necessary for the survival of Austin’s appealing music culture. While we like to point to job growth and the explosion of the tech industry as proof of Austin’s growing success, it’s easy to forget what makes Austin such a desirable destination and home for so many.
An hour before their show at Slow Pokes Brisket Shack, I had the chance to chat with Guy and Jeska Forsyth. While we started off talking about life in general, we ended up on the subject of Austin’s appeal as a music destination and whether it’s a sustainable culture in this time of great economic growth.
The Forsyth Family: Guy, Mary Mae, Bella Jane and Jeska
A Little About Guy and Jeska
Guy Forsyth was born in Denver, CO, but grew up in Kansas City, MO. Guy moved here in 1990 after traveling here as a stuntman with the Renaissance Festival. In his words, “I fell in love with this town, with the music scene.” Soon after, he became an Austin staple, winning several Austin Music Awards as well as the hearts of the locals.
I asked Guy whether his parents supported him as a musician.
“My folks were not musicians but rather fans and record collectors. They taught my brother and I as toddlers how to drop records while other kids were learning how to stack blocks. My mom now lives in Ingram and she comes to my shows.”
Jeska Forsyth is a recent transplant to Austin, TX. She grew up in San Angelo singing and acting at a young age. While a singer-songwriter, like many musicians she pursues other artistic ventures such as acting and voice-over work. Jeska plays a few saved voice-overs for me off her phone. She plays a ‘sexy’ shampoo commercial voice on one recording. She then plays the voice of a child from a cartoon, showing her wide range.
I asked Jeska what it was like singing the National Anthem for NASCAR.
“I was extremely nervous. Because when you have jets flying in at a certain time in the song you have to be very accurate. You have to sing with consistency. You have to time the fighter jets because they were flying from Maryland. So they had me sing the National Anthem 5 times, then they took an average of the time it took me to sing the song. And that was how they timed the jets to leave the base.”
Jeska and Guy’s Wedding
Jeska formerly owned a blues club in San Angelo, TX called Sealy Flats where she originally met Guy. The two were married earlier this year. They make for an incredibly adorable couple.
I asked Jeska what her impression was of Guy the first time they met.
“I thought ‘Yay, he showed up for work’ and then he sang awesome, and I was blown away. I usually didn’t have time to pay attention to the shows, but I remember the exact post I was leaning on. He stopped me in my tracks, and I had to listen… and he had a terrible haircut. A mohawk… and a Hot Wheels button-down shirt.”
Guy Meeting Bella Jane
What We Were
Recently, Austin’s long-time music icon Dale Watson moved to Memphis, Tennessee seemingly in search for what Austin was. In an article by the Texas Standard, Dale is quoted as saying, “I just really feel the city has sold itself. Just because you’re going to get $45 million for a company to come to town – if it’s not in the best interest of the town, I don’t think they should do it. This city was never about money. It was about quality of life.”
I asked Guy what his thoughts are on Austin and the changes he sees as a musician.
“Music and art and culture in general are hard to monetize. I think of Austin in 1990. I think of how it was portrayed by Richard Linklater, who directed ‘Slacker‘. What makes him such a good director is he gave voice to strange and unusual people. He would find unique voices and then put them on film. He had a story to tell. The term ‘slacker’ suggests someone who doesn’t work very hard. But it was all about people who were just obsessed with what they love.”
“Unless Austin takes some action to protect the culture that makes it different, makes it special, it will end up being Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio. And that makes Austin uncompetitive based on the scale of those markets. We can’t lose touch with why people come here.”
“Money is a solvent, it will dissolve things that can’t defend themselves in the market place. I’m one of those things. As musicians, we could make a lot more money doing something else. The value of music is hard to monetize. Nietzsche said ‘Without music, life would be a mistake’ and he’s the biggest pessimist there is.”
The Future of Austin’s Music Scene
The Nietzsche quote resonates with me. What will Austin be without music and art but a colossal, unintended mistake? We can start with supporting the venues that house our artists. We can go further by participating in Austin’s rich music scene, getting out and attending concerts. But we can go one step further by paying attention to issues directly affecting our Austin artists, such as affordable healthcare and housing. By keeping our talent local and our long time venues open, maybe we can preserve that little spark that’s flickering in the heart of Austin, TX.
There is no replacement, no quick fix if we lose what makes us genuine, lovely, exotic, comfortable and damn original. We can talk about how awesome our funky iconic venues are, but if we don’t frequent them they will die. We can proudly tout that we’re the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ but if we don’t care about the issues that keep our musicians local, we may see more falling in the steps of Dale Watson, leaving in search of what Austin was.
What we have can’t be recreated like a theme park. It can’t be thought up in a board room and pushed out in a nice, clean package. It’s rough around the edges, there’s a well earned rind, it’s seasoned with time, and it’s valuable beyond measure. We as Austinites need to recognize the value now while we can still remember who we are and why we stay. We can embrace the change and the growth as long as we strive to preserve what made us special in the first place.
See Guy’s upcoming shows by clicking here: https://www.reverbnation.com/guyforsythband/shows
