Absolute Body Balance

Our Clever Parents spotlight is on Absolute Body Balance owned by Kim Barker. Absolute Body Balance specializes in therapeutic massage in Raleigh, North Carolina.
What made you want to start your own business? I changed careers into massage therapy because I wanted a health related field where I could help people and they would enjoy the benefits of less stress and better living. During the education and licensure process I realized that if I wanted to establish relationships with my clientele and purposefully offer therapeutic massage integrated into their life styles I would have to have my own business as there is not a similar forum available. My clients have and always will be my greatest priority and I can better achieve that goal in my own business.

What got you interested in therapeutic massage? I managed a medical office for years and worked out daily for my own stress relief as a single mother, so when I found information about therapeutic and medical massage I felt this would be the best place for me to help others in their own pursuits of well-being and balanced lives. I found the instruction and classes extremely educational and informative but it was not until the very first time I put my hands a client that I just knew. I could feel that this was the path for me.

Tell us about Absolute Body Balance. I started five years ago this month as soon as I graduated school and obtained my licensure. I currently have four other massage therapists working for me - including my daughter, Leacy, who recently graduated from massage therapy school. As I have assembled this group I have been fortunate to find different approaches and styles so that the clients have much to choose, my own personal certifications include deep tissue, Swedish, sports, trigger point, neuromuscular, Hot Stone therapies, pregnancy, infant and geriatric. I continue to search for continuing education courses so that I may be able to offer therapeutic massage to all who are in need but also to keep very fresh and current in my field. Picking the name was easy: I have always tried to find balance and wanted to offer the absolute balance for my clients physical health.

Where are you located? Absolute Body Balance is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We moved last spring into the downstairs of an office townhome at 6612-102 Six Forks Rd. You can learn more about us at www.absolutebodybalance.com. To schedule an appointment, call us at (919) 841-9344 or request your appointment online. Mention Clever Parents when you schedule a one hour massage and pay only $55 for your first massage - a $15 discount!

What is the best part about having your own business? The very best thing is that I do not have to compromise. I make sure we can schedule emergencies if necessary, our schedules remain flexible for our clients, customer service is the ultimate available as I even give bottles of water to clients to assist in their post massage care, our professionalism and skills are unequalled since I value that greatly, we offer chair massage and gift certificates for local charities, the office atmosphere is warm, friendly, positive and welcoming, and most importantly everyone working at ABB knows that our clientele is the reason we open the door every day. Unfortunately I do think progress in business tends to have a negative effect on customer service, owning my own business I make sure that isn’t even a remote possibility.

What is the hardest part about having your own business? The most difficult part for me is that it is 24/7 - the other therapists and I do everything from the website, printing products, brochures, gift certificates, decorating the office, etc. It is important how we are represented and I find that we know better what to say to clients so I create and print all of our marketing materials.

What advice do you have for other would-be entrepreneurs? Pick something you are passionate about. I love what I do and it is not like going to work every day for me, if I was doing this for someone else I know the boundaries of being the best for my clients would have me needing relaxation! To have that intimate contact in assisting someone to be and feel better is such an unbelievable reward - I wouldn’t have it any other way!

How do you balance work and family? Any tips for other Clever Parents? My children are now older, one finished school recently and one is graduating from college next May, so the demands on me as a mother have decreased in every way except financially. But I am blessed, they are both grown and well-rounded successful adults so the fact that I put them first and sacrificed a bit of my time and life only proves to me that it was the right thing for me. My job as a parent was to teach them so eventually they would be able to take care of themselves, of course I always held the safety net, but my daughter will attest to the fact that we all survived and she wouldn’t have changed a thing. I would strongly urge mothers and fathers not to forget about taking care of themselves; a little exercise, some me time, a massage, healthy living these all are necessities for maintaining your own well-being. And honestly how can we parent if we aren’t the best possibly we can be?