E308: Balancing Sports, Family, and Healing Touch with Matt

What makes Mathew Whiting with Matts Massage Inc a good neighbor?

Discover the inspiring journey of Matt from Matt's Massage as he takes us from his fast-paced life in the restaurant industry to his fulfilling career as a licensed massage therapist. Matt shares how a friend's suggestion led him to pursue massage therapy, ultimately balancing his passion for sports with the demands of family life. Uncover the reality behind the practice, where Matt dispels the misconceptions of massage being a mere indulgence and highlights its crucial role in promoting muscle health and overall well-being, akin to regular car maintenance.

Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast as we explore Matt's dedication to supporting a wide age range of clients, from active teenagers to wise nonagenarians, with a special focus on those in the athletic community. Learn how Matt attracts new clients through meaningful connections at community events and the power of word-of-mouth referrals. Beyond his professional life, Matt balances his role as a father with his love for poker, sharing personal anecdotes that resonate with host Benjamin John. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on the art of massage therapy and the passion that drives Matt to enhance the lives of those around him.

To learn more about Matts Massage Inc call:

Matts Massage Inc
772-631-3957

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Benjamin John.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome back to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
I want to ask you are you guyslooking for a good masseuse or a
good massage?
Well, there might be someone inyour vicinity who does a great
job at that closer than youthink.
Today I have the opportunity ofintroducing Matt with Matt's
Massage.
Matt, how are you doing?
I'm doing great, man.
How about yourself?

(00:31):
I'm doing excellent.
Yeah, yeah, things are goinggood.
It's a busy day, but that'salways a good thing, right?

Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yes, sir, every day above ground is a good day.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
That's another way of putting it.
I like that.
Well, hey, I'm glad you made itand pleasure having you on the
show.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
Pleasure to be here.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah, so I'd love to learn more about your company,
and why don't you just start bytelling us a little bit about
Matt's Massage?

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Okay, I've been a licensed massage therapist
specializing in deep tissue andsports massage therapy for the
last eight years.
I just went on my own, back inOctober of last year and located
in Stewart.
I work out of a Pilates studioand everything's going good so
far.
You know, just need to get afew more clients going in the

(01:20):
door.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
I like that.
So yeah, I'm glad that youelaborated on the industry that
you actually specialize in alittle bit more with athletes,
and I said you were a masseuse,but I guess the correct
terminology would be a massagetherapist.

Speaker 3 (01:36):
It sounds like yeah, massage therapist is the correct
terminology.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Okay, Well, thank you for that.
I just got educated.
So how did you get into thisbusiness?

Speaker 3 (01:54):
Matt.
Actually, a buddy of mine gotme into it.
I was in the restaurantbusiness for a long time and I
had kids, and the restaurantbusiness doesn't equate with
being a father.
So I went back to school anddid something where I could
actually, you know, be with myfamily and raise my kids the
right way.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Very cool.
I like that.
That origin story of how youtransition from the restaurant
industry into the massagetherapy industry Very
fascinating.

Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I've always liked, you know, sports myself
and I got into this primarily towork on athletes.
But you know, but working foryourself pays a little bit
better than working for a team.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, I could see that.
What are some myths ormisconceptions that you've
typically seen within yourindustry now?

Speaker 3 (02:51):
Um, the biggest myths are, you know, the massage is
just, you know, kind of likethat Swedish, you know, rub
lotion on you kind of thing anddoesn't really do much.
But in reality, you know, wework a lot with chiropractors
and what I do is more, you know,it's more working on the muscle
groups and stuff like that,focusing on the small large
muscle areas and focus onattachment areas, because that's
what really causes the musclepains in your body.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, that's important these days, I imagine,
especially as we age right.

Speaker 3 (03:19):
Absolutely.
My clients range anywhere from.
You know, the youngest was 17.
The oldest is 95.
It just depends on how well youtake care of yourself.
You know your body's like yourcar If you don't maintain it, it
will break down.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
So you just mentioned some ofyour target customers.
How do you attract them now?

Speaker 3 (03:42):
Primarily now is I've started to show up to some
races and stuff like that andmeeting athletes and handing out
business cards.
Most of it is just word ofmouth and referrals from the
clients I already have.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
Very nice Boots on the ground, as we put it right.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
That's it.
You always got to be somewhere,yeah.

Speaker 2 (04:01):
I like that too.
It gives you that personalfeeling of connecting with the
community too.
Matt, outside of work, what doyou like to do?

Speaker 3 (04:11):
Outside of work.
Basically, I pretty much am afull-time father, so it's
raising my son, and on the sideI like to play poker as well.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Okay, oh gosh, you just brought back memories.
I love Texas Hold'em.
It's been years since I played.
That brought back memories.
I love, uh uh, texas Hold'em.
It's been years since I playedthat.

Speaker 3 (04:27):
Oh yeah, I love the game.
It's a.
It's a love hate relationshipwith it.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
I can see that.
Yeah, all right, let's switchgears a little bit here.
Can you describe a hardship ora life lesson that you've went
through and came out stronger onthe other end?

Speaker 3 (04:44):
life lesson that you've went through and came out
stronger on the other end.
Um, I think the biggesthardship was, um, pretty much
going through a divorce and, atthe time, going to school and
redoing my career and redoing mylife.
And you know, the best thingwas is focusing on my schooling

(05:04):
and coming out stronger on theother end so I could be the
father I always need to be.

Speaker 2 (05:09):
Nice.
Yeah, I like that.
I think a lot of people canrelate to that one too.
I think we've all been similar.
I think a lot of people canrelate to that one too.
I think we've all been similar,but the journey is very unique
and exclusive, ain't it?

Speaker 3 (05:20):
It always is.
It's a new lesson every day.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
All right, matt, tell our listeners one thing they
should remember about Matt'smassage.

Speaker 3 (05:33):
The biggest thing you should remember is to take care
of yourself.
You know, come in, take care ofyour body and be mindful of
your problems, because nobodyknows your body better than you
do.
So don't let a doctor oranybody else tell you what's
going on.
You know what's going on andthen seek the advice of people
and see what's going on you know, see what you can do about it.
That's the biggest thing.

Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, very good advice.
I think that's a strong message.

Speaker 3 (06:02):
How can our listeners learn more about Matt's Massage
Incorporated.
You can find me.
I'm on Yelp.
I'm on Google reviews.
You can call or text me at772-631-3957.
Or I'm also on Facebook underMatt's Massage or under my name
Matthew Whiting W H I T I.

Speaker 2 (06:20):
N G Perfect.
Very good Uh, matt.
I want to thank you for beingon the show.
It's been a good uh having youon here.
We wish you and the best uhgoing forward and also the best
for Matt's massage incorporated,all right.

Speaker 3 (06:33):
Well, thank you so much and I appreciate you having
me on today.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
Absolutely.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPPortStLucycom.
That's GNPPortStLucycom, orcall 772-303-1036.