‘I quit my 9-5 to be a massage therapist’
Alison Pritchard, 57, tells us why it’s never too late to make big life changes
‘I can give to others the benefits my sister felt’
Finishing a massage with a final soothing rub, I pour my client a glass of water and leave the room for a few minutes, so she can totally relax before continuing with her day. When I return to the treatment room – my son’s old bedroom – the look on her face is easy to read: calm, happy and relieved that her sore, aching muscles have been eased. Seeing the benefits my massages bring is a wonderful feeling and starting my own business is the best thing I’ve ever done.
My younger sister Pauline was the inspiration behind my decision. She had multiple sclerosis, and one of the therapies that really helped her was aromatherapy. The scent of natural plant oils can be very therapeutic, and they can also be massaged into the body, helping to relax sore muscles.
Sadly, Pauline died 24 years ago, aged 31, which was devastating, but her love of aromatherapy stayed with me. I began to fill my home with heady scents and explore therapies that complemented mainstream medication. But as a divorced single mum, I needed to work full-time to support myself and my son. I worked in offices, doing different admin and project management jobs, always sitting at a desk all day. Then, when my son finished his education, I started to think about pursuing aromatherapy.
When I saw an advert for a local massage therapy taster course in 2019, it felt like fate. There was just one problem: I’ve never been a tactile person! Everyone hugs one another these days, and I’ve never been comfortable with that. What if I couldn’t bear to touch other people, let alone massage them? But I needn’t have worried; I loved it. It was so rewarding to know I was helping people.
I wanted to learn more and signed up for a full Level 3 diploma in massage therapy, including Swedish massage and Indian head massage. The year-long course cost £3,500, but I was investing in myself and by now I knew my goal was to start up my own business.
As I’d worked in the public sector,
I was able to take my pension at 55, and started to reduce my working hours in my admin role while I studied.
I live in an ordinary three-bedroom home in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, but I knew I could make it a sanctuary for massage clients. When my son moved out three years ago, my partner of 20 years, Tim, helped me transform my son’s old bedroom into a relaxing treatment room with en-suite shower room. I bought high-quality Neal’s Yard Remedies oils in gorgeous scents, so my clients would feel pampered.
Tim also came up with the name ‘Saloni’: it’s not only an anagram of my name, it also means ‘beautiful, charming and unique’ in Sanskrit.
I finished my course in March 2020, just as Covid hit, but by the September I was able to treat my first clients, using Facebook and Instagram to advertise my business. Now I’m ready to build up my client base so
I can offer up to three full-body massages a day. It’s great when clients tell me how my massages have eased their problems. I have one 70-year-old who has painful neck problems caused by a lifetime of computer work, and she has found relief in my treatments.
I’m about to embark on another qualification in clinical aromatherapy, which will allow me to mix my own oils and tailor them to each client’s needs. Then I can give to others the benefits my sister felt. I think about Pauline every day. As the inspiration behind my new life, I feel sure she’d approve.
• Find Alison on Facebook and Instagram @salonimassage