Today, we’d like to introduce you to Shawnda Stovall.
Hi Shawnda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I came into therapeutic massage in 2009-2010 because my oldest daughter had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and I wanted to learn massage to continue to help her. She was already receiving it, and our then insurance stopped covering it. I saw what it did for her and how it helped us manage her pain, and I wanted to learn it. I enrolled in Virginia College in Augusta and received an Associate of Applied Science in Therapeutic Massage.
I literally walked into the school and told the then-director, Jamie Snow, “I don’t want to touch anybody, I don’t want anybody touching me, and I don’t do feet. I’m just here to learn this for my daughter.” As I look back at it now, I laugh and wonder why he even agreed to allow me into the program. Lol. Mr. Snow taught us so much about the theory and history of massage and the spa side mostly. I liked it, but I still felt like something was missing.
Later, we had a new program director come in, Shannon Spratlin (nee Canales), and she introduced us to the science and medical application of massage. Under her, I gained a better understanding of exactly how massage therapy works to not just make the body feel good but also how it works with the different systems of the body to help it address and manage pain.
I had extensive studies in Anatomy & Physiology, Psychology, and Ethics to complete my full training. While still in school, I also began studying pharmacy on the side so that I could understand the medications that a client may take and what that medicine does to the body.
As I began to learn more about massage and the medical side of it, I fell in love with it and realized I wanted to do something with it. I started Anointed Touch Therapeutic Massage in October 2010 while still in school. I contracted a few therapists to work for me servicing clients, but I wrote my SOPs, handled the marketing, and did the scheduling.
What most people don’t know, because I’ve been in massage for so long, is that I have a degree in Marketing & Public Relations and did business development, so I was able to operate my business while still a student and have then professionals provide the services.
Fourteen years later, I’m still excited about massage, just like the first time it clicked within me. I still have clients from when I was a student at VC. After Virginia College, I immediately went and enrolled in school for Kinesiology, so I had an even better understanding of the body and how it moves the way it does. I was blessed to be mentored by Laura Allen, the very woman who wrote many of the books that we studied in school. That changed my life completely.
Massage therapy has changed my life in so many ways. It literally saved my family’s life twice. While in school, I became homeless with my three girls because of domestic abuse. I went from living in churches through the Interfaith Hospitality of Augusta to entering a program called Actions Ministries, which provided a housing program.
It was through massage that I was able to earn money to get my first townhome in downtown Augusta. I literally put my massage chair on the corner of Bohler Avenue and Walton Way and put a sign up that said, “Free chair massages”, and was able to introduce myself and my touch to others. I received six booked appointments that day and almost $200 in tips.
In April 2014, I suddenly went blind and became paralyzed. Doctors told my family and me that I would never be able to walk again. I asked for physical therapy and to try other treatments. They gave me 2 or 3 sessions and said it was no need.
The medical system literally abandoned me. I would tell myself every day, “Today is the day that I will walk.” When it didn’t happen that day, I would tell myself, “I’ll try again tomorrow. I used massage therapy, teaching my daughter how to work on me to help me, and 18 months later, I got my feelings back and took my first steps. I fell and hurt myself, but I took a step, something they told me I would do. Lol.
I just want to take a moment and say thank you to Laura and Shannon and how they will forever hold a place in my heart. I was in school when I became homeless, and risking her then job, Shannon allowed my daughters and I to get out of a dangerous hotel and live in the loft of her home with her and her daughter. I lived with Shannon for almost six months.
I had lost all of my equipment and supplies and Laura and her then husband, Champ (RIP sir) drove from NC at night to bring me one of her personal tables to use for work. I still have and selectively use that table today, 12 years later. It’s a pretty turquoise color and it’s the reason why turquoise is part of my business colors. I am forever grateful for these two women.
I’m a mobile therapist. Have been for 12 of the 14 years Anointed Touch has been in business. It makes sense for my clientele because I specialize in pain management, post-op care, and recovery. It makes it easier for my clients to receive care. I’m certified in lymphatic drainage, oncology massage, and trauma-informed, and I provide transitional care for families with loved ones nearing the end of life.
I used to perform spoken word, and I’m beginning to feel my pen again. Before the massage, I did business development and marketing strategy full time, and I still take on clients on the side now. I co-own Remarkable Media, Publishing& Development with my husband, Gabriel. I’m a motivational speaker, minister, and community servant.
I am currently Vice President of our local school board. I love volunteering and helping others. I give because I’ve been given to, and I believe it’s our obligation to care for and work in our community. If everyone took on a small piece of what’s missing in our community, then our community as a whole would have its needs addressed.
I’m married to Gabriel, who is a pastor & journalist, and we have three girls, Tamia, Courtney & Samira, and one boy, Micah.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth.
I’ve had to start over a few times. I was homeless, losing everything. In 2014, when I had a medical crisis, I lost clients because I couldn’t provide services.
The pandemic definitely handed some businesses a blow, and just trying to make sure I stay afloat. I honestly haven’t fully recovered from it, but I am continuing to rebuild and grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
We provide in-home therapeutic care, specializing in pain management and recovery. We are trauma-informed and provide amazing service to abuse survivors who may still have triggers and trauma responses. We are certified in manual lymphatic drainage massage and provide post-op care for cosmetic and medical necessity clients.
We offer memberships for every budget for those clients who want consistent wellness care for themselves and their spouse or their entire family. We provide care for oncology, Alzheimer’s, and hospice clients as well as their caretakers. Once every other month, these clients can receive a free service. Their caretakers get 50% off. We also provide wellness coaching and couple’s classes, where we teach couples how to care for common aches and pains and how to connect through touch and nonsexual intimacy.
We speak at events to educate about the benefits of massage and teach about self-care and wellness. We vend at events (public and private) to provide massage services. We are a two-time Massage Therapist of the Year for the CSRA Small Business Awards, and we are the 2023 Best of Georgia Regional Winner.
What sets us apart is that we educate our clients about massage. It’s not just a “feel good” service but an important part of our health and wellness, just like doctor appointments and exercise. We strive to provide quality services to the whole of you, mind, body, and spirit, not just to where you’re hurting. You are safe and face no judgment here.
We know that the gift God gave us is one that will help provide comfort and assist your body in healing.
Our catchphrase is #CatchTheseHands.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was the “why” child. I asked questions about everything. My mother was convinced I was going to be a lawyer because of the way I asked questions and sometimes pushed back against the “because I said so” narrative. My parents created an environment of “think, question, learn and act.”
I loved sports and writing. My dream was once to get married, have 12 children, and become a writer. I played basketball, softball, track and field. I loved being outdoors. Still do. I love watching how life worked and how life felt. I loved helping my grandfather mow and clean his huge yard. The smell of fresh, cut grass still makes me smile.
I was a straight-A student and class clown, respectfully. I would do my work first and then cut it up. I loved helping my classmates with their work and making them laugh. I was and am funny. My mom used to tell me as a kid, “you can’t help everybody, Shawnda. You can’t save the world.”, and “You’d give a 2-legged dog a chance to run a race”, because my parents always taught us to help and serve others. Sometimes I went too far. Lol.
I loved helping my mother and grandmother cook. They developed my love of trying new foods and creating different tastes and dishes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anointedtouchmassage.net
- Instagram: @anointedtouch_massage
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ATTMassage
