Meet Sarah Gutierrez-rodriguez | Certified Massage Therapist & Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Gutierrez-rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to do things my own way. I was working for corporations that were too worried about liability & limited the types of services I did/I wanted to offer. I had a moment where I realized if I tried to advertise for my own business instead of these companies, I had the potential to not only make more, but do more. So, I started offering mobile massages & it just kept getting busier until it replaced my job. That’s how it started.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’d say that my determination, compassion, & drive set me apart. I’m very self motivated & am always trying to do the ‘next best thing’ in my industry. I also really listen to my clients. I know how it is to ask for something during a session & it wasn’t heard, or barely touched on. So, I like to give my clients their own individual experience, because not one body is the same. Even identical twins hold different areas of tension!

I like to think my consistency & reliably has gotten me to where I am now. Since things are in my own hands, sometimes it’s gets a little confusing when it gets to the legal end of things, but I’ve learned to ask for help along the way.

Something I’m really proud of is that I, with my own two hands, have helped people feel better. I’m proud of the organic growth my business has had & am excited to see where this year will take Sarahtonin now that I’m expanding & getting into a newer “boss” role.

I want the world to know that massage therapy isn’t just something luxurious, it’s more than that. Massage can be for literally anyone. I work on all walks of life & in some cases, human touch is huge. It can be a breakthrough for some people to allow me to simply touch them. I stand behind my brand because the name alone gives the first impression of the result(s) I’m trying to give. Sarahtonin, derived from serotonin. That’s where my name came from. I kept explaining that dopamine & serotonin levels are increased during a massage. After saying that a few too many times, Sarahtonin was born! I love my name, brand, story. I was a Taco Bell shift lead before I started my massage journey. I didn’t even think I was going to finish school, but I really fell in love with massage therapy & the results that came with it. So, I kept going & here we are!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I’m over in the inland empire. So, let’s say they flew into ONT (Ontario Airport), I’d most likely show them my office first since it’s so close! If they happened to come in on a Sunday, I’d probably take them to Faith Life Church in Eastvale, then head across the street to the San Antonio Winery, they have fun events sometimes on the weekend. During the week, I’d recommend stopping into my friend’s shop, Kneadz Work in Rancho Cucamonga for us to get a nice tune up. Then, since both are so close, I’d ask if they’d rather hit Calle Ocho, a Cuban spot, because their coffee and empanadas are delicious (& definitely worth the wait!) or Padua’s in Upland, for a fresh sandwich, other traditional Italian favorites, or even desserts. Speaking of desserts, Uncle Tetsu in Eastvale is the last must-try on my local favorites list, they have a decadent Japanese cheesecake.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s a few in my corner I’d like to shoutout. First off, I’d like to thank God. I’ve become closer to Him within the last year & truly think it’s no coincidence I’m doing things like this because of it. My parents & my whole family have always been supportive of me & encourage me to do my absolute best. Both of my parents have strong work ethics, so it definitely was instilled into me to work hard.
A friend & colleague of mine, Larry Wade, (another massage business owner) has definitely helped me stay laser focused & has mentored me throughout my career, even while I was still in school.
My clients are definitely worth shouting out as well. I’ve kept some of them since the beginning (back in 2018) & have had the honor of seeing them go through different milestones like get married, have babies, graduate. I’ve been told I’m part of the family many times because of the relationships I’ve developed over the years & am so grateful to continue to see them thrive! I’m happy to be so valued by them.

Website: https://Sarahtoninmt.com

Instagram: @Sarahtoninmt

Yelp: https://yelp.to/AZWuoFUm_8

Image Credits
Courtney Rose Photography