Sian Taylor of ST Sports & Wellbeing: "I love helping people move better with less discomfort."
Published: February 11, 2022 | Updated: 12th February 2022
It was a big day for Sian Taylor as her young massage business took a big step forward.
For the last two years she’s worked from an upstairs bedroom in her home.
But from Monday February 7, Sian had – in her words – “taken the plunge”.
ST Sports & Wellbeing is now operating from the BizSpace workspace in Christchurch.
Sian, 24, who started her business in August 2020 during lockdown, said: “I worked at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa as a Spa Therapist for over two years and felt in a bit of a rut with beauty therapy.
“I had recently got into my fitness so sports massage really interested me.
“I studied remotely for my Level 3 sports massage until I could do my practical exams when lockdown ended.
“I then signed up and completed my Level 4 massage studies too.
“I ran the business alongside working at Chewton from an upstairs converted bedroom.
“I went fully self-employed at the start of November 2020, about three days before the second lockdown was announced.
“Being under two years trading at this point I didn’t qualify for any grants.
“I patiently waited and carried on my studies and, when lockdown ended, the business kicked off.
“Both with sports massage and also holistic and oncology massage for those going through cancer treatment.
“My client base grew from ten regulars to over 70 clients in a few months.
“I loved that sports wasn’t just about helping athletes or gym goers, it was for everyone in pain.
“And I love helping people move better with less discomfort.
“Doing sports has also made me appreciate holistic massage and beauty a lot more too, they take care of your mental wellbeing.
“I’m a big believer in self-care, I think everyone should always take better care of themselves.
“Fast forward to now and I felt like I was outgrowing my spare bedroom.
“It was fab to have no overheads during lockdown but I felt like the business needed a more ‘official’ space, so decided to take the plunge and rent a space at Biz Space in Christchurch.
“I’ll start clients from there on February 7.
“It has a lift for my disabled clients so there will be no more hauling the massage couch downstairs to treat them, and the facilities and location just being down the road from my home works perfectly.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming clients old and new and to celebrate the move all treatments between February 7 and 14 will have 15 per cent off.”
