Laura Joyce, a visually impaired local registered massage therapist, is celebrating 25 years of being in business this month.
She has proudly owned and operated Matchedash Massage Therapy since 1995 and now operates out of her home. `
Before losing her vision during her teenage years, Joyce was considering operating her own business in the retail sector. However, during her co-op at the school for the blind, Joyce realized she wanted to work in an industry where she could help people.
“Even before I lost my vision I knew I wanted a career where I would be interacting with people because I love that. I can usually converse with anyone on any given topic,” Joyce explained.
“I knew I could do massage therapy without sight because it’s been done for centuries,” she explained. “China has always had people with vision loss work in the massage therapy field.”
Joyce says her people skills and easy-going attitude have made it easy for her clients to relax and feel at-ease while receiving her care.
“Since I am self-employed and work out of a home setting, I provide a more one-on-one and personable service.” She said.
“People find that I’m friendly, personable, and professional.”
Another factor in Joyce’s years of success can be attributed to her service dog Norma Jean.
“Normally, when there’s a new person coming to the clinic I keep Norma under wraps until I let people know I have a service dog,” said Joyce. “Most people love the fact that Norma is there and once they know that she is there they love meeting her.”
Clients often feel a sense of comfort having an animal present during therapy sessions, Joyce says.
“Some clients like having Norma in the room as a part of their therapy because it calms them down,” she said.
Joyce also believes that a part of what makes her services popular within the Orillia community is, in part, her visual impairment.
“I think, overall, people like the fact that I can’t see them. Some people are a little self-conscious about their body and the fact that I can’t see puts some people at ease,” she explained.
“Some people think that because I can’t see I will be able to focus my treatment on the areas that need the most attention,” she added.
Having a vision impairment is a challenge for anyone, especially a small business owner. However, Joyce’s biggest challenge when she started Matchedash Massage Therapy goes beyond her impairment.
“The biggest challenge, even for people with perfect vision, is building your own self-confidence and figuring out whether or not you can provide great treatment and make sure the people you are treating are happy with what you are able to provide,” she explained.
The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a significant challenge. It forced her to close her business back on March 25 and it remained closed until June 8.
Joyce was left shocked and confused when the provincial government did not deem massage therapy an essential business, forcing its closure.
“I was thrown off because I figured that as long as we pre-screened clients, they were feeling healthy, and I wore the necessary personal protective equipment, I didn’t see why I wouldn’t be able to practise,” she explained.
Joyce was worried about some of her clients who require more urgent care.
“I find that some people, in order to continue their day-to-day lives, find massage therapy to be essential for them,” she said.
Joyce was relieved to re-open, but business is still anything but usual.
“With the pandemic, I have to leave plenty of time in between my clients so I can disinfect more thoroughly than I did before,” she explained.
Joyce and her clients are required to wear a mask during therapy sessions. Clients are also pre-screened before arrival, however, some of Joyce’s clients remain hesitant to return.
“It’s been a slow start. People are still a little afraid of coming in because I can’t keep social distance obviously,” Joyce said.
“I think it’s going to take a year before I see any difference.”
Despite the recent challenges, the now 51-year-old Joyce has no plans to slow down and expects to be around for her clients for the foreseeable future.
“I think I will keep doing this for as long as I can. My clients notice their range in motion is better, they have more flexibility, and they feel calmer and more at ease when they leave,” she said.
“I love that, I enjoy making people feel better.”
