Sponsored content provided by Massage Envy.
Massage Envy is passionate about helping people—and in addition to the difference made in the lives of its franchised location’s clients every day through massage, stretch and skin care services, Massage Envy, the nation’s number-one provider of massage collectively across its franchise network and a national leader in skin care, is proud to give back to the massage therapy profession and neighboring communities.
Helping Massage Therapists Do More of What They Love
The difference made in clients’ lives is the biggest reward for any massage therapists, but the environment at Massage Envy franchised locations also offers massage therapists the opportunity to enjoy more of what they love about their work.
At Massage Envy Franchised Locations, massage therapists are supported and inspired to be their best inside and outside the treatment room with opportunities including free continuing education courses, employee assistance and self-care programs, recognition through regional and national awards, and more.
Massage Envy believes that development, learning, and growth are worth investing in, which is why every year, 20+ free continuing education (CE) courses are offered to massage therapists employed at Massage Envy franchised locations. These courses include those offered through e-learning and cover topics like pathology, ethics, infection-prevention control, and techniques, such as Total Body Stretch and Introduction to Rapid Tension Relief.
New this year is the Massage Therapist Development program. The program includes a one-hour live webinar featuring a CE provider from the massage industry, which franchised locations can make available to their employees. “Generally, each webinar will be presented live three times so that franchisees can have several opportunities to allow their employees to view the webinars. After the last airing date, the recording will be posted so franchisees can afford their therapists who were not able to attend live the opportunity to still view the webinar,” said Stacy Stevens, senior manager of employee brand at Massage Envy. “The Massage Therapist Development program aims to bring around 10 live engagements this year”, said Stevens, “allowing therapists working at a Massage Envy franchised location the chance to connect more intimately with industry leaders and continue to build their skill in an interactive way.”
This year’s National Therapist of the Year, Miguel Alvarez III, provided insight from his firsthand experience with the courses, informing, “The continuing education programs offered by Massage Envy are a fantastic means of acquiring new skills and deepening one’s knowledge of massage. You may even discover something new about techniques you already use. I attended a course on neck techniques and expanded my knowledge of skills that I could apply in my sessions. Through the programs, I have gained a greater understanding of these techniques and their benefits, ultimately improving my overall practice.”
In addition to educational opportunities, the Massage Envy brand is committed to providing massage therapists with resources they need to help keep their minds as strong as their hands. The Employee Assistance Program offered at Massage Envy franchised locations provides in-the-moment support from a licensed clinician by phone, short-term counseling, financial expertise, legal consultation, convenience resources, and more to help support employees’ and their families. The Self-Care Program offered at Massage Envy franchised locations includes detailed strategies and step-by-step instructions for developing an effective self-care routine. This first-of-its-kind program includes free CE courses on body mechanics and injury prevention for massage therapists, plus, education for franchisees and franchised locations management teams to create self-care cultures. “This guide includes information on how franchisees and their managers can support their employees in taking better care of themselves, and also educates them on how to work with their employees’ schedules so they are not overworking,” said Stevens.
While all Massage Envy franchised locations create a culture that is unique to them, the regional and national awards program is just one of the ways franchisees can recognize their employees in a memorable way. “Massage Envy’s brand promise is we help you take care of you,” Stevens said. “Massage therapists, estheticians, sales associates and location managers bring this promise to life on a daily basis in their franchised locations for their members and guests—so it is important that we recognize and celebrate the work that goes into delivering on our brand promise.”
At the end of each year, franchisees nominate their outstanding employees for awards and recognition, and from those nominations, each region awards an exceptional employee as their Regional Therapist of the Year. Along with the regional awarding, each region celebrates locally, allowing for employees to be recognized and celebrated with their peers. Each regional winner is then invited to the Massage Envy Annual Summit where they are nominated for the chance to be awarded as National Therapist of the year.
“To me, therapist of the year symbolizes our striving to make people feel like themselves inside and out.” says Shamika Sharpley, a massage therapist at a Massage Envy franchised location. “We give hope and improve the mind spiritually. You are there for people through their good days and help bring a better day for all who enter your life.”
Paving the Way Forward for the Massage Profession
The Massage Envy brand is deeply committed to the growth and support of future massage therapists, which is why, each month between October of 2022 and September of 2023, eight new students are being awarded $2,500 each to help fund their education in massage therapy school through the Massage Envy Scholarship for Massage Therapists Sweepstakes. “As the inventor of the massage membership model and the industry leader, Massage Envy wants to give back to the industry by doing something that can change people’s lives and will continue to help this great profession move forward,” said Beth Stiller, Massage Envy’s chief executive officer. Applications for the Massage Envy Scholarship for Massage Therapists Sweepstakes can be submitted at massageenvy.com/scholarship.
The Massage Envy brand also seeks out opportunities to make a difference in the lives of individuals who are looking to pursue their passion as massage therapists. Last September, Massage Envy’s CEO, Beth Stiller surprised massage therapy student, Davina Lockhart, with a check for $15,000 to enable her to complete her massage school studies, as well as a new portable massage table, massage tools and a year’s worth of massage supplies to help her get started on her career. “I am just so grateful to Massage Envy for this gift,” Davina said. “I am still speechless in so many ways. I’m just out there trying to live and take care of my kids, and to be recognized for that is just amazing.”
In addition to supporting massage therapy students, the Massage Envy brand continuously seeks opportunities to support schools and to recognize the invaluable work they provide. During the Massage Envy Annual Summit Awards Ceremony, not only are franchisees and their exceptional employees recognized, but this past April, Massage Envy invited four schools to join the brand’s celebration, and each school was recognized and honored with an Excellence in Education award.
Giving Back to the Community
Massage Envy not only provides support to the massage industry, but is proud to give back to neighboring communities.
In the last year, Massage Envy has proudly supported the GlamourGals Foundation in various ways including participating in GlamourGals’ My Dear Friend note-writing initiative, sending holiday greetings to seniors living in care across the country. In addition to the note-writing, Massage Envy donated $1 for every My Dear Friend note sent to a senior during the holiday season, up to $15,000; and most recently, during the Massage Envy Annual Summit that took place at the end of April 2023, Massage Envy hosted a silent auction benefitting the GlamourGals Foundation, which raised over $19,000!
Optimism, gratitude, excellence, consistency and empathy are the core values of Massage Envy and are desired values in all who represent the brand. If you embody these values and are ready to join a growing community where you are valued, supported, and inspired, consider applying at a Massage Envy Franchised Location today: https://jobs.massagenenvy.com
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. residents, 18+ (residents of AL & NE who must be 19+ or residents of MS who must be 21+) as of date of entry. See Official Rules at massageenvy.com/scholarship for entry periods, odds, prize description, limitations, and complete details. Sweepstakes begins August 22, 2022 and ends August 31, 2023. Sponsor: Massage Envy Franchising, LLC, 14350 N 87th St Ste 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Neither ME SPE Franchising, LLC (“MEF”) nor any of its affiliates employs any positions within a franchised location, and each individual franchised location is not acting as an agent for MEF or any of its affiliates. Each Massage Envy is independently owned and operated by a franchisee and the franchisee is the sole employer for all positions at the franchised location. All services are performed by franchised locations. Hiring criteria, benefits, compensation, and employee experience are set by the franchisee and vary by location. MEF is not affiliated with and does not endorse the massage schools identified in this article.