We had the good fortune of connecting with Responzia Burks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Responzia, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Honestly, I came up with the idea for my business sitting in the last weeks of my massage therapy certification program. There was an assignment for a business plan and mobile massage was my idea. As I presented my assignment to the class, some of my peers laughed. The idea of operating a massage company outside of the traditional brick and mortar foundation seemed nonsensical and comical to them for whatever reason. However, where massage therapy was concerned, I was eager to break into a market that I’d figured hadn’t yet been discovered. On the heels of local transportation companies like Uber and Lyft who had taken over the personal transportation realm without owning one vehicle, I wanted to bring that ingenuity to the world of massage. However, upon relocating from Baton Rouge, LA to Atlanta, Ga I found that mobile massage was already a thriving business concept. Visionaries such as Samer Hamadeh; founder and CEO of Zeel as well as Bradley Herman and Merlin Kauffman, founders of Soothe had already capitalized on the “on-demand wellness company” concept in many major cities. As opposed to being discouraged, I looked at this as the exact motivation I needed. As the quote goes, “great minds think alike” so I pursued my business idea wholeheartedly. Five years later, Responzia’s Hands is now a household name in multiple states with A-List clientele and there’s so much more to come!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I absolutely love this question because a few years ago, I posted on social media that “Massage is an art. My clients bodies are the canvases. My mind and my hands are the brushes… Book a massage and allow me to paint you a portrait of better health.” In saying that I was addressing the individuals who view massage therapy as a luxury instead of a medicinal necessity. Touch is the first sense we develop as human beings and thus the most used form of communication. Therefore, when properly articulate, it (touch) organically caters to individuals overall well-being”. This is why I love my craft. The attribute that sets me apart from others is my transparent approach. With me you don’t just get a massage therapist. You get a professional, an empathetic listener and a trusted alternative medicine provider. No one rises from my table without feeling renewed and gaining a newfound acceptance for massage therapy as a much needed addition to their health regime. With this mindframe, I have sustained for five years and I am overly proud of myself because my endurance and dedication has gotten me from the classroom to being acknowledged as one of the best massage therapists in the game. I don’t have a mystical storyline about how I got to where I am. It was just preserverance and dedication. Was it easy, yes because once I accepted my calling I began to travel my purpose filled path. No, because my love for the skill was not something I anticipated and my countless encounters with prominent individuasls was surreal to say the least. However, upon acknowledging that I was chosen not only for my craft, but also because I was a needed addtion in my clients lives, the road became a lot easier to travel. At that point as opposed to asking “why me?”. I graduated to the confidence of asking “why not me?” The lessons I’ve learned do not apply solely to massage therapy, but instead to life overall. So to everyone reading this, always believe in yourself. It doesnt matter if your idea has already been explored or if you’ll be the first to present it to the world. Always work diligently to make your dreams come true. No matter what it is, someone somewhere is in need of you and your skillset, don’t keep them waiting too long! Last, but not least I want the world to know that Responzia’s Hands is a brand that can be trusted now and for years to come. I have dedicated my existence to the oath of ‘Do No Harm” and continuing my education in order to deliver the best services you will ever experience!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting Houston and I wanted to show them the best time ever, the itinerary would go as follows: We would definitely do breakfast at The Breakfast Klub and dinner at The Turkey Leg Hut. Because it’s football season of course we’d attend a Texans game; otherwise we’d definitely be attending a Rockets game. For live music and a laid back environment we would have Phil & Derek’s Restuarant as an option. For peace and relaxation the Houston Botancial Garden or just to get out of the house the Nasa Tour Space Center. Of course, to seal the deal, they’d have to get a massage. You cannot come to Houston and not receive a massage from Responzia’s Hands!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to three people, Donald Glover/Childish Gambino and Mike & Laurel D’Antoni. I first met Mr. Glover when I relocated from Baton Rouge, LA to Atlanta, GA. I was only licensed for a mere six months when I showed up on his doorstep with just a table, a set of sheets and a bottle of lotion. That was in March of 2016. From that moment foward, he became a mentor, a source of encouragement and the root of my confidence. He and his family truly develpoed me professionally and made me eager to learn more about my craft. They always trusted my professional judgement, I was given full creative control of every session, he followed my advice, and he was always loyal to my brand. Moving forward to 2018, Mr. Glover selected me to be the official massage therapist for the North American leg of his “This is America” Tour. I am both honored and forever grateful for the blessing of knowing him and the privledge of having someone of his stature as a mentor and a loyal client. My second dedciation is for a family who showed me equal support and loyalty. As fate would have it, I relocated from Atlanta, GA to Houston, TX and again I was on the doorsteps of another prominent individaul with that same table, another set of sheets of course and a bottle of lotion. This person was Mike D’Antoni the former Head Coach of our beloved Houston Rockets. Yet again, my skillset was acknowledged and accepted with the utmost respect and regard. Both he and his wife embraced me not only as the massage therapist, but as a member of their family. The level of trust, the professional mentorship, and the referals are all a reason why I was able to thrive in a city where I did not know anyone. Due to their trust and their undying belief in my skillset, my journey continues. Overall, this shoutout is dedicated to every client who has ever given me the opportunity to be their alternative medicine healthcare provider, Without my clients, my goal would only be a dream. Therefore, in a world full of options I sincerely thank each and everyone of them for choosing Responzia’s Hands.

Website: www.responziashands.com
Instagram: instagram.com/responziashands
inkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/responziaburks/
Other: (832) 947-6362 info@responziashands.com

Image Credits
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