Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Nunez.
Hi Sherry, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Sherry Nunez, I am from Houston, lived in Northside of Houston. I can say Houston is always changing, nothing is the same or stays the same. Massage is where my journey began. My first encounter with it was impressionable. The weird thing, the therapist never disclosed the information and was hesitant to tell me about. It’s how she used it. The only holistic alternative to medicine I ever tried was Iridology and old remedies grandma used to know. Don’t get me wrong, it worked but I had to take a variety of supplements (more than one) at the same-time- everyday, 3 times a day, change the diet, and keep a journal. Every time the practitioner looked into the eye with the light and magnifying glass, she was looking for changes. That was not easy at 19 yrs old. Depending on how you seek Massage, results can be fast, to the point, and straight forward. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew she wasn’t just rubbing or pushing spots. She was performing it on her child, and at the time physical, occupational, or speech therapy was not looking at it as an option for treatment. That experience gave me a deeper understanding why certain holistic alternatives are under the table. When I discovered massage therapy and phishing for the information, I realized the programs were being eliminated. Schools closed the massage programs and the ones offering it were time limited. In the end, my only choice was The College of Healthcare Professionals at northwest mall. I was able to do night school for the complete program and there was only two students, including me. It was not easy to complete. I had no background in medical science, other than the experience I have with my kids and medical journals given to me by a pediatrician. When a doctor gives you one of those, that means your kids are complicated. They didn’t know or have a diagnosis to work with. The MBLEX exam that is is administered by the federation of state massage therapy boards (FSMTB) is not easy to pass- this is not TDLR/ State Board. I discovered from the test questions, who Vodder, Upleader, Ida Rolf, B Chikly had to do with massage therapy, because the books I had from school didn’t mention or give you any facts about what or who these medical scientist discovered or had to do with massage. These doctors have a lot to do with lymphatic drainage- which is not massage, cranial sacral, sport and deep tissue. If you do not know what assessments are on the exam and by who, you will not pass. This lead me to more questions with no answers. From there, I went back to college and took anatomy & physiology, kinesiology, physiology in to the human lifespan and more CEU classes. At the time, I thought it was physical therapy that was gonna be compliment to massage. But I leaned it’s not. The secret ingredient to massage is palpation. “As an experience involving all the senses, palpation requires receptive hands and fingers, open eyes, listening ears, calm breath and a quiet mind.” ——Andrew Biel
“Knowing anatomy conceptually is important, but “feeling” anatomy is critical to building the most accurate understanding of the body.” —- unknown. If you do not understand “What” or “Where” those landmarks are, you are not gonna get. It does not matter how high your level is in the medical field, you cannot see it. I have experienced this in In-person CEU courses, that I have taken with a variety of practitioners, especially in lymphatic drainage, the main question becomes How do you know what you’re touching? How do you measure hand pressure? This is something you can’t teach in 20 minutes or hours. Thats the reason for clinical practicals. The medical scientists who discovered modalities in massage are not mentioned in other fields. It would be helpful to know if needed.
Chiropractic is the one I lean to when I need it. I can relate massage more with chiropractics than other fields. Muscles connect to the spine, that is where chiropractic comes in.
For me, understanding the “what I am feeling for” and the “why Im looking for it” is always on. Kinesiology taught me every disfunction/ Injury has a beginning and it ends in one place. That is your map for your hands., For example Rhomboids, there are 2 (rhomboid minor & major). How do you differentiate each one? both of them are on slightly slanted on top of each other, where does it start and where does it end?, insertion & origins – where is it? Is there a septum separating them side by side? If you are crooked or one side higher than the other, then your muscle isn’t where you think it is, visually. Muscles go up and down and have neighbors from right and left side. The biggest question “ How do you know what your touching?” I asked my 78 yr old instructor this question, all the time, because we noticed that not everything that you feel is a knot. If its not a knot, then what is it? Is it safe to massage?
I have this book called Trail guide to the Body by Andrew biel. It came with a CD. This was one of the books from school. The teacher was very adamant that the muscles and bones I need to master on my own, in my own way that makes sense to me. What I do, I can’t teach it, It doesn’t have a name, its a complicated conversation that begins once I start assessing the muscles & creating a plan – in my head and it will be complicated trying to explain it to someone else at the same time. It’s not uniform, I have tools for a reason, I use them when necessary, including the ones in my head. This is not a Gift in my point of view, because it can also be a curse. I do not like it when its right and its bad news for client. Prevention could have given time, saved organs, or reduce the loss of essential organs. It’s very expensive to be diagnosed with illness. This were the individual has to ask for informed diagnosis, informed pharmaceuticals, and treatment plans.
I am an over-achiever and gained experience from the industry, the key to is to always take it as a leaning lesson. I look for the education, study it, apply it, understand it and blend it with what correlates with each other. If I notice the same symptom, reaction, pain level- 3 times on 3 different people, that is not coincidence. That is a pattern. You can notice it in your environment, like CVS/Walgreens near your home. If they start locking up the over-the-counter stuff or its out of stock at the same time the grocery stores. Thats a pattern. A lot of people are sick at the same-time.
Massage and cosmetology complement each other and give me an advantage in health science.
It’s all Connected. Hair, Skin & Body have one thing in common the biggest organ – SKIN. Your lipid barrier protects your skin form negative environmental stressors while keeping vital moisture in —- ensuring your skin stays hydrated. This is why your skin barrier is sometimes referred to as a moisture barrier. You need a strong barrier to retain necessary moisture for a healthy glow. When this is damaged, the skin reacts to what you put on it and messes with the skins oil biology. This gave me a boost in assessments. “There are a lot of science communicators. The most powerful force in the Hair, Skin & Body world is compound learning”. —- Einstein/Colorwithchemistry.
There is correlation in body, skin and hair in order to make sense of it, you have be aware to see it. This is not a side hustle for me, I live it. My journey is never over it just takes a lot of turns in the process.
Alright, 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.
Finding Space in a good location has been an issue, and has gotten more expensive. The rent is going up, not down. I would like to get a bigger space and go back to doing couples, but I have not found a space that meets the criteria. There is a lot behind salon /studio rental and I’m taking notes to avoid future mistakes. Every time I move, I start over again with everything. With salon suites, I don’t learn about the space until I’m in there, and realize the mistakes, errors and problems. There is a-lot you can’t ask google or YouTube, when you’re scoping out a studio or office space. Store fronts are not an option for massage, many store fronts want retail, and office space wants admin. There is always a no.
Finding the education that compounds learning near me is not possible, I have to close down to chase it. That cost me money and time. Sometimes hair, skin & body CEU’s can conflict timing and schedules.
Due to COVID, trade shows and classes have been slowly making its rounds and they’re not coming here. You have to network a lot to find some professionals who know. It’s not cheap, Haircutting classes can range up $1600. Myoskeletal alignment technique cost me about $400 per workshop and that’s if they come to houston.
Quality usable Products that are safe and compliant with or without FDA standards and Harm Free, Is not cheap or always available. I struggle just to find body bar soap that fits the criteria. I visit more than one Cosmetology distributor, and each one is different and carry different products, brands and tools. I’m that person reading the bottle and searching on my phone at the same time.
Marketing- is a struggle. Google has an AI that decides how to rank and give the consumer results. As of May 2022, Google changed the algorithm, which means you need to change your verbiage or get compliant with their rules. (There is a list) my business got suspended without notice or why.
I do not copy a “Spa”, or “Franchise” Playbook or system. It’s Flawed. Why do you think there are no more franchises popping up in new developments? The ones left standing struggle to find and keep therapists.
It cost me more to be a small business because your not on the same level as the bigger ones. Your not under a corporations protocols and warranties. They do the risk assessment on services and what you can and cannot do. It has nothing to do with the individuals education, certifications or insurance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Sherry Nunez. Licensed Massage Therapist (MT125241). Mechanotherapist (NPI 1881120129). Cosmetologist (Operator and Booth Rental Permit – 1747315).
Massage, Skin & Hair Practitioner.
Transformation is what really stands out when it comes to my services. That is what keeps me innovative and creative. Depending on the subject, I do not learn from show & tell; I need the theory and the practical. I like diving deep into its science to get an overall understanding to “The how and the why”. I do not repeat the same massage to every client, for me every massage is a new experience. I have the ability to manipulate and blend in artistically way massage modalities and at the same time assess the problem to find the solution. I can show you what I’m doing, but you will have no clue as to what I’m touching and why? I am not using one modality at a time, I’m using what modality fits with the current issue on the body simultaneously. Thats a different type of body reading with your hands, its not visual. I begin my assessment the minute I meet the client and observe any gait patterns, or alignments. I am always paying attention to what products I use, weather changes, and my environment. This helps me avoid areas or cross- contamination and kept me safe from COVID and any other infectious disease.
I have a Comfort Craft (Model 850) Electric Bodywork Table, you can look it up. Was it worth it yes, it saves my body mechanics, its less wear and tear for me, it helps me execute bodywork more effectively and I cannot do the same thing on a stationary table or other electric tables. I charge a $25 travel fee and charge more to do out-calls, because it cost me more in wear in tear, than my office appointments. Office appointments, I can offer specials, promotion, packages, and series’s, you will get more out of it than mobile. The table is not mobile. It’s designed for bodywork, which is another version of sports massage but better. It came with a lot of attachments, it bends at a 45 degree and the sides bend left or right.
I can figure things out by touch, assessments in hair/scalp, and skin, especially skin! I am always looking at all the innovations in the industry, because I like to work smart, not hard. I discovered this at trade shows, you get to test products, appliances, furniture etc. there is a difference between cheap and the expensive ones. The expensive ones save you time, make you money, and durability. If you ever plan to work in a fast pace setting, cheap is going to wear you out and your going to spend more money replacing tools. Expensive shears are like very sharp swords, it gets to the point, for the purpose and it last. Hair and esthetics without proper training and equipment, the service will not be a very good experience. Hair is a very emotional disaster on clients that can scar or hurt your business long term, if something goes wrong.
As a Practitioner, I am responsible for the services I provide. I focus on ensuring products are usable, safe, and compliant with industry regulations. I recognize product & mechanical agents and understand their benefits, limitations, and potential adverse effects. I am educated in these cosmeceuticals and equipment so I can serve new customers & clients by (1) managing expectations to realistic, evidence-based effects and (2) warning against and monitoring for potential side effects.
As part of my practice and philosophy, I strive to both educate you on how to heal yourself and empower your quality of life. Artistically inspired, I assess massage, skin, and hair within each other, because it’s all connected. If you need a positive, energetic, and caring Massage, Hair, or Skin Practitioner, please don’t hesitate to reach out to find out how I can help you restore and revitalize yourself.
Pricing:
- HSA/FSA Accepted & After Pay
- Massage/Bodywork – $95-300
- Hair smoothing Treatments – $100-$350
- Facials – $150-$175
- Consultations – Free
- Massage Packages & Series (4, 6, 12)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ibbody.cyou/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ibb0dy/
- Other: https://ib60dy.com/
Image Credits:
Amber Salinas and Lucy Salinas
