Libsyn Directory

301 - How Zalla Otten Built One of Houston’s Top Massage Studios

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

Release Date: 09/08/2025

322 - How To Take 30 Days Off From Your Massage Business Without Losing Clients or Money

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

Ever feel like your business is a treadmill that you can’t get off of? In this episode, I break down what it really takes to step away from your massage business for 30 days, without losing money or clients. We’ll get into: Why most businesses can’t survive 30 days without the owner The quiet truth behind “time off” The real problem most people miss The emotional layer most people don’t talk about The difference between the two versions of time off What actually has to be in place to step away The real constraint holding most owners back The math...

321 - How To Avoid Making A Bad First Hire In Your Massage Business

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

You’ve thought about it. Maybe more than once…What if I hire the wrong person? What if they don’t work out, clients notice, and you’re stuck trying to undo the whole thing , financially and professionally? Here’s what I’ve seen over and over: a bad hire rarely starts with a bad person. It usually starts with a bad setup: unclear expectations, a rushed decision, no real onboarding, and no way to know if things are working. In this episode, I break down exactly what creates a “bad hire” situation in the first place, and what to get right before you ever post...

320 - How To Be Rich And Exploit Massage Therapists In The Process

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

Today’s episode, we break down the exact step-by-step plan on how to exploit your fellow massage therapist and get rich in the process. Not really, BUT….this is an all too common issue we see inside the industry. The exploitative model isn’t an accident. It’s been repeated so often that most therapists think it’s just what happens when you grow. Low pay. Back-to-back clients. No breaks. No future. Replace them when they burn out. Repeat. But that fear of becoming *that* owner is keeping you small. In this episode we’re breaking down exactly what not to...

319 - How to Successfully Hire & Grow Your Wellness Practice

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

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318 - How to Monetize Your Massage Skills Beyond the Table | Cody & Allyson of Two Hearts Bodywork

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

What happens after you build a fully booked massage practice… and realize that’s not the end goal? In this interview, I sit down with Cody and Allyson of Two Hearts Bodywork to unpack what it really takes to grow beyond six figures in a massage therapy business without burning out your body or sacrificing your freedom. From launching their brick-and-mortar practice with no safety net… To raising prices three times in two years… To building recurring revenue through memberships… To scaling into online income, digital products, and mentorship… This conversation pulls back the curtain...

317 - What to Do When Your Team Isn’t Performing (And Why Most Owners Get It Wrong)

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

This rebroadcast episode dives into one of the hardest parts of running a wellness business: dealing with underperforming employees. If you’re unsure whether a team member needs coaching, clearer expectations, or a tough conversation, this episode will help you find clarity. We break down the real reasons behind poor performance, common leadership mistakes, and how to handle difficult situations without damaging your culture or burning yourself out. Whether you’re leading your first hire or managing a growing team, this episode will help you step into confident leadership and build a...

316 - The 4 Non-Negotiable Systems You Need to Consistently Book Massage Clients

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

If you’re constantly putting out fires, answering messages at all hours, and feeling like your wellness business can’t run without you… this episode is for you. In this episode of the Scaling Wellness Podcast, we break down the 4 essential systems every massage and wellness business needs to book more clients consistently without overworking yourself or your team. From client booking and follow-up to team management and day-to-day operations, you’ll learn where most wellness businesses get stuck and how simple systems can unlock sustainable growth. You’ll discover why hustle isn’t...

315 - If You’re Feeling Stuck in 2026, Start Here

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

This isn’t a “welcome back” episode. And it’s definitely not an accident that this is our first drop of 2026. We’re rebroadcasting one of the most important conversations we’ve ever had about vision, strategy, and what actually moves you forward when everything feels unclear. If you’ve been feeling stuck, restless, or like you’re standing on the edge of something but can’t name it yet… this episode will hit differently now. We’ve been quiet because we’ve been building. And before we announce what’s coming next, this is the foundation you need to hear. ...

314 - How Ann Sousa Built a Thriving 20-Year Massage Practice Through Leadership & Smart Growth

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

From shy “operations girl” to the powerhouse behind a 20-year group practice, Ann Sousa’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this inspiring episode, Ann, owner of Body & Soul Massage in Salem, MA, shares how a random postcard led her into massage therapy, how 9/11 pushed her into entrepreneurship, and how she transformed a small contractor-shared space into a thriving, employee-based wellness practice. Ann opens up about the pivotal moment she chose real leadership, the mindset shifts that helped her scale, the hard lessons (including the firings she never forgot), and the systems,...

313 - Designing Wellness Spaces That Heal with Jamie Smith of Happy Haus Studios

The Scaling Wellness Podcast: Scale Your Massage Business

In this new episode, interior designer and former massage therapist Jamie Smith, founder of Happy Haus Studios, reveals how wellness professionals can transform their treatment rooms into healing, high-performing spaces that elevate client experience and support long-term practitioner sustainability. With nearly 20 years as an MT and a deep background in design, Jamie shares her unconventional journey from ballet and anthropology to bodywork, burnout, an injury, an MLM detour, and ultimately rediscovering her creative calling in interior design. Today, she specializes in designing restorative...

More Episodes

In this episode of the Scaling Wellness Podcast, I’m joined by someone who’s built one of Houston’s most beloved massage practices Zalla Otten, founder of Zalla Massage.

Zalla’s journey is anything but ordinary. From starting out in a spare bedroom to now running a thriving practice in a cozy 105-year-old cottage in Montrose, she’s grown her business to a team of 10 therapists, front desk coordinators, and a loyal client base that’s made Zalla Massage one of the most-reviewed massage studios in Houston.

But what really makes Zalla stand out is her combination of entrepreneurial drive, creativity, and heart. She’s not only a Licensed Massage Therapist but also a visionary studio owner who’s built her practice around high standards, client-centered care, and innovative approaches to growth.

In this episode, Zalla opens up about:

How she went from working multiple jobs to launching her own practice, step by step.
The unique marketing strategies that fueled her growth, from creative Groupon hacks to building a referral program that clients and partners love.
The lessons (and mistakes) of hiring, managing, and building a culture that truly supports both therapists and clients.
The reality of scaling up: what it’s like to run a seven-figure massage business, expand to multiple locations, and navigate tough decisions when things don’t go as planned.
How returning to hands-on work reignited her passion, especially through fascia work and energy-focused bodywork.

Zalla’s story is honest, inspiring, and packed with wisdom for any massage therapist, wellness entrepreneur, or business owner looking to grow without losing themselves along the way.

Whether you’re dreaming of starting your own practice, hiring your first employee, or scaling to multiple locations, this conversation will give you the insights, tools, and encouragement you need to take your next step.

Tune in now to hear how Zalla built, stumbled, grew, and ultimately redefined success on her own terms.

Check out Zalla’s website:
https://zallamassage.com/

Her Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/ZallaMassage

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Want to build a wellness practice that gives you both TIME and MONEY? Learn more at www.scalingwellness.com

Schedule Your No-Cost 1:1 Strategy Call: www.scalingwellness.com/chat

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