An Open Letter to Our Community
(and Anyone Wondering Why We’re Not Your Average Massage Place)
Diving into unknown territory. Otherwise known as: life as a small business owner
What. A. Year.
Picture it. December 2024. I was putting the finishing touches on my 5 year growth plan for my Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduation, and I was so excited about what the future held and I still had a whole lot of “I have no idea what I’m doing but here we go anyway.” It was also the 20th year of me owning a massage business and working in this field. Two decades! And somehow . . . I’m still here. Still learning, still growing, and still writing every blog, email, and social caption myself.
Michigan Massage and Wellness has always been a labor of love — the kind that requires a lot of heart, a whole lot of stubbornness, and the occasional tear in the bathroom between clients (or a full blown anxiety attack on a Tuesday afternoon). But it’s also been built with heart, integrity, and a whole lot of excellence. And this past year showed me just how much that matters.
A (Very Real) Glimpse Behind the Curtain
Back in 2017, I moved from a tiny 200-sq-ft room into our current 1,500-sq-ft space. I went from a solo therapist just enjoying her work and providing care to clients to “holy crap, I have overhead and responsibilities now and I have FOUR treatment rooms that I need to fill!” Slowly, I brought people on. I trained them. I invested in them. I spent money I didn’t always have on continuing education because I believed in building a team that was exceptional.
Not average.
Not “good enough.”
Not “anyone with a license will do.”
Exceptional.
Over the years we’ve had interns, newbies, seasoned therapists, and a whole parade of personalities. Some stayed, some grew wings and flew off, and some are still here being absolute rockstars. And then 2020 hit. We closed for 12 weeks, had $0 income, and had to rebuild from scratch.
But we did.
2024–2025: The Year the Truth Exposed Itself
The Goldman Sachs program was a blessing and a cold hard reality slap in the face all at once — the kind that says “your business looks good on the outside, but that foundation? Girl, that needs some work.” And it forced me to see what needed fixing.
So I fixed it.
Or . . . started to. It’s hard going from massage therapist to leader/boss.
We lost some people. We gained others. We survived a LOT dumpster-fire moments. I seriously considered applying at Costco, because that’s easier than moving to a new country and starting over with a new identity. In early 2025 I had reached my limit, but anyone who is a small business owner knows that even though we reach our limit about 10 times a month, we will keep pushing because we want better for ourselves and our staff.
And then, by the middle of 2025, things were starting to shift. Therapists returned from leave, new talent joined the team, and for the first time I could see the dream I’ve talked about for years taking shape, but this time in reality and not just in this dreamer brain of mine.
The Dream Team Era Has Officially Begun
Now as we are gearing up to head into 2026, I have an incredible group of therapists — committed, talented, excited to grow, and absolutely worthy of your trust. They’re not here to “just give a massage.” Anyone can do that. We’re here to problem-solve, educate, collaborate, and help you actually feel better, not just give you a fluffy robe and some spa music while you wait in the thermal suite (although if anyone would like to finance a thermal suite, we would happily accept!)
Picture it. December 2024. I was putting the finishing touches on my 5 year growth plan for my Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduation, and I was so excited about what the future held and I still had a whole lot of “I have no idea what I’m doing but here we go anyway.” It was also the 20th year of me owning a massage business and working in this field. Two decades! And somehow . . . I’m still here. Still learning, still growing, and still writing every blog, email, and social caption myself.
Michigan Massage and Wellness has always been a labor of love — the kind that requires a lot of heart, a whole lot of stubbornness, and the occasional tear in the bathroom between clients (or a full blown anxiety attack on a Tuesday afternoon). But it’s also been built with heart, integrity, and a whole lot of excellence. And this past year showed me just how much that matters.
A (Very Real) Glimpse Behind the Curtain
Back in 2017, I moved from a tiny 200-sq-ft room into our current 1,500-sq-ft space. I went from a solo therapist just enjoying her work and providing care to clients to “holy crap, I have overhead and responsibilities now and I have FOUR treatment rooms that I need to fill!” Slowly, I brought people on. I trained them. I invested in them. I spent money I didn’t always have on continuing education because I believed in building a team that was exceptional.
Not average.
Not “good enough.”
Not “anyone with a license will do.”
Exceptional.
Over the years we’ve had interns, newbies, seasoned therapists, and a whole parade of personalities. Some stayed, some grew wings and flew off, and some are still here being absolute rockstars. And then 2020 hit. We closed for 12 weeks, had $0 income, and had to rebuild from scratch.
But we did.
2024–2025: The Year the Truth Exposed Itself
The Goldman Sachs program was a blessing and a cold hard reality slap in the face all at once — the kind that says “your business looks good on the outside, but that foundation? Girl, that needs some work.” And it forced me to see what needed fixing.
So I fixed it.
Or . . . started to. It’s hard going from massage therapist to leader/boss.
We lost some people. We gained others. We survived a LOT dumpster-fire moments. I seriously considered applying at Costco, because that’s easier than moving to a new country and starting over with a new identity. In early 2025 I had reached my limit, but anyone who is a small business owner knows that even though we reach our limit about 10 times a month, we will keep pushing because we want better for ourselves and our staff.
And then, by the middle of 2025, things were starting to shift. Therapists returned from leave, new talent joined the team, and for the first time I could see the dream I’ve talked about for years taking shape, but this time in reality and not just in this dreamer brain of mine.
The Dream Team Era Has Officially Begun
Now as we are gearing up to head into 2026, I have an incredible group of therapists — committed, talented, excited to grow, and absolutely worthy of your trust. They’re not here to “just give a massage.” Anyone can do that. We’re here to problem-solve, educate, collaborate, and help you actually feel better, not just give you a fluffy robe and some spa music while you wait in the thermal suite (although if anyone would like to finance a thermal suite, we would happily accept!)
Why We Are Not, and Will Never Be,
One of Those Chain Massage Places
Friendly reminder:
We are a wellness practice.
Not a subscription mill.
Not a revolving door operation that is filled with Groupon enthusiasts.
Not a place where you get whichever therapist you get because your last one left and no one bothered to let you know.
Here’s what sets us apart — unapologetically:
1. We train. Hard.
Our therapists don’t just show up and wing it. They’re trained, mentored, coached, observed, and supported. I’ve invested thousands into continuing education so our team actually knows how to help you.
No cookie-cutter routines.
No 50-minute “hour” massages.
No corporate scripts.
2. You get consistency — not surprises.
You don’t gamble on who’s in your room.
You don’t hope your therapist listens.
You don’t have to explain your entire health history every visit.
We track what we do.
We communicate.
We collaborate as a team.
We care. A lot. Not just about what’s happening in your body, but what’s happening in your life.
3. We actually know how to help pain.
Muscular dysfunction?
Chronic tension?
Old injuries?
Weird mystery shoulder pain you swear wasn't there yesterday?
We geek out on this stuff.
We don’t rush it.
We don’t “just follow the routine.”
We get results.
4. Your therapist isn’t burned out.
Chains grind therapists to the bone. High turnover, low pay, impossible schedules.
Not here.
We protect our team so they can protect your body.
5. You’re not just a “member number.”
You’re a person.
A whole person.
With goals, pain points, stress, and a life.
We remember your name, your quirks, your mobility issues, and whether you like your neck worked on or prefer we leave it alone.
6. We’re building something bigger.
2026 is the year I step fully into leadership: teaching, mentoring, and building the next generation of exceptional therapists. My team is growing into absolute magic before my eyes, and I want to give them the tools, confidence, and environment to succeed for years to come.
So as we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome a new year with fresh energy, excitement and a kick-ass team of therapists ready to help you move better and live better in your bodies, I’d like to personally thank each and every one of our amazing community members that are with us.
Whether you’ve been coming in since day one back in Royal Oak or you just had your first appointment last week with one of our fantastic therapists, we can’t wait to show you what’s coming down the pipeline.
With warm hands and cozy blankets,
Rebecca Tamm, Owner/Founder/Chief People Officer
and the rest of the Michigan Massage and Wellness Team
We are a wellness practice.
Not a subscription mill.
Not a revolving door operation that is filled with Groupon enthusiasts.
Not a place where you get whichever therapist you get because your last one left and no one bothered to let you know.
Here’s what sets us apart — unapologetically:
1. We train. Hard.
Our therapists don’t just show up and wing it. They’re trained, mentored, coached, observed, and supported. I’ve invested thousands into continuing education so our team actually knows how to help you.
No cookie-cutter routines.
No 50-minute “hour” massages.
No corporate scripts.
2. You get consistency — not surprises.
You don’t gamble on who’s in your room.
You don’t hope your therapist listens.
You don’t have to explain your entire health history every visit.
We track what we do.
We communicate.
We collaborate as a team.
We care. A lot. Not just about what’s happening in your body, but what’s happening in your life.
3. We actually know how to help pain.
Muscular dysfunction?
Chronic tension?
Old injuries?
Weird mystery shoulder pain you swear wasn't there yesterday?
We geek out on this stuff.
We don’t rush it.
We don’t “just follow the routine.”
We get results.
4. Your therapist isn’t burned out.
Chains grind therapists to the bone. High turnover, low pay, impossible schedules.
Not here.
We protect our team so they can protect your body.
5. You’re not just a “member number.”
You’re a person.
A whole person.
With goals, pain points, stress, and a life.
We remember your name, your quirks, your mobility issues, and whether you like your neck worked on or prefer we leave it alone.
6. We’re building something bigger.
2026 is the year I step fully into leadership: teaching, mentoring, and building the next generation of exceptional therapists. My team is growing into absolute magic before my eyes, and I want to give them the tools, confidence, and environment to succeed for years to come.
So as we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome a new year with fresh energy, excitement and a kick-ass team of therapists ready to help you move better and live better in your bodies, I’d like to personally thank each and every one of our amazing community members that are with us.
Whether you’ve been coming in since day one back in Royal Oak or you just had your first appointment last week with one of our fantastic therapists, we can’t wait to show you what’s coming down the pipeline.
With warm hands and cozy blankets,
Rebecca Tamm, Owner/Founder/Chief People Officer
and the rest of the Michigan Massage and Wellness Team
