Meet Shelly Hipp of Out of the Box Massage

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelly Hipp.

Shelly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I came to massage in an unusual way. I was working in the Gulf of Mexico as a commercial diver and I started to have a weird pain in my low back. I started seeing a chiropractor to help with my issue and he recommended massage. When the massage therapist started working on my glutes, I nearly jumped off the table. I later learned that is a pretty common reaction to glute work, especially the first time. This was my first introduction to the pain and tension disconnect. While I continued to work as a diver, I started experimenting with stretching techniques and self-care. In 2010 there was a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and I realized that I needed to make a change in my career. My heart was torn between going to school for physical therapy and massage therapy, but I knew that I wanted to help folks get out of pain. There were an overwhelming number of folks returning to school at the time, so neither program had availability at my local state college. For some reason, I thought it was a good idea to call the director of the massage program and see if she had magic powers. She didn’t have to have magic powers, because a student had backed out of the program and she had one spot to fill. I signed up that day. Once the program began, I just knew it was the perfect fit for me. I have been licensed now for ten years and I still love helping people feel their best.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh gosh no! Early in my career, I got discouraged enough to go back to working in a restaurant. The folks that I had worked for prior to that were super unprofessional, paid terribly and pushed me to work beyond my limits. The chiropractor that introduced me to massage saved my career, by inviting me to join their team. There have been other hurdles, but I know that I have a gift for massage. I hope to be able to share that gift for many years to come.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Out of the Box Massage?
Out of the Box Massage provides therapeutic massage in the comfort of your own home or vacation rental. I combine ten years of practice with modern tools to provide effective pain management for my clients. My massage techniques are an intuitive blend of deep tissue, sports and therapeutic massage. My ideal clients are active professionals. Whether you are active in your job specifically or your hobbies are what keep you moving, I want to help you continue to do the things you love for the rest of your life. My brand aims to highlight the outdoorsy nature of most Coloradans because this state is a beautiful place to play and live.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
When you are starting a business, there is so much information to take in and it can feel overwhelming. Make lists and refer to mentors and other professionals. Beware of scammers. There are a lot of folks that target small and new business owners, so do research before you pay for things. And Network! There are tons of ways to network, so find what works for you and develop some consistency around it. Networking not only gets your name in front of potential new clients, it also builds your credibility.

Pricing:

• $80/one-hour massage
• $80/prenatal, one hour massage
• $120/ninety-minute massage

Contact Info:

• Website: www.OutoftheBoxMassage.com
• Instagram: @OutoftheBoxMassage
• Facebook: @OutoftheBoxMassage