Community Highlights: Meet Celeste Duron (formally Aguirre) of My Massage Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Celeste Duron (formally Aguirre).

Hi Celeste, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been in the massage industry since 2007. I started out working for a franchise and later a spa, before landing what felt like my dream spot in 2013 working alongside a team of talented chiropractors. I spent seven wonderful years there as an independent contractor. During that time, I intentionally focused on learning everything I could about the body muscles, techniques, and how to create thoughtful treatment plans.

But unintentionally, I was also learning things that would end up being just as valuable like office management, team dynamics, networking, leadership. Things I never set out to learn, but somehow was fortunate to picked up along the way because those lessons would prove to be absolutely helpful for the next adventure I was about to take.

In January of 2020, I was turning 33. I found myself reflecting, as we often do, on where my life and career were heading. What did I really want? What were my financial goals? And what legacy was I building? I decided to “gift” myself the gift of having the courage to open my own business. It was really more than just for me. It was also for my grandfather, who shares a birthday close to mine and who introduced me to the world of massage as a child. So, I opened my own massage practice.

With a ton of support from my family, friends, and even the chiropractors I had been working alongside, I rented a small suite and named my massage practice Relief Muscle Manipulation. I officially saw my first client on February 29, 2020. Leap Year! And what a year it was… the world shut down.

For the sake of keeping this short, I’ll skip over all the grit and hard lessons that a lot of us had to learn. We all had to dig deep to make it thought that year. However I did learn how to keep clients on the books. Lots of us grew stronger and wiser. And somehow, despite all odds, Relief Muscle Manipulation not only survived it grew. My schedule filled up so much that I started turning clients away. That should’ve felt like a win. And in some ways, it did.

At the same time, I was watching other massage therapists, amazingly talented and kind people, close their doors. They were burned out. They were stressed. Some lacked the business tools or the energy to keep pushing. I heard their stories, and my heart broke.

I found myself confused and a bit angry. I would find myself wondering why it’s so hard for massage therapists to build a sustainable career doing something we love? Why does helping people have to come at the expense of our own well-being?

I sat with those questions for a long time. I replayed conversations I’d had with other LMTs. I studied how other industries operated like gyms, salons, estheticians, barbers. I asked a lot of questions. I made a list: what had helped me succeed not just financially, but personally? The answer was knowledge. Customer service, client retention, business management, money and time management… all of it.

I’ve always loved helping people out of pain. But after five years of running Relief Muscle Manipulation, the work had become second nature. I found myself craving a new challenge, a new way to serve. Not because I was tired of my clients (I still love and see them regularly), but because I felt like there were more people I was meant to help.

That’s when My Massage Studios was born.

It’s the brainchild of all those conversations and questions and years of experience. A place built on growth, knowledge-sharing, encouragement, and real help. My Massage Studios is an 1,800-square-foot storefront with four fully equipped massage studios, where LMTs can grow their own practice without paying rent. They work independently, keep a high commission, and have full control over their schedules. It’s a business within a business but with a safety net. It’s where massage therapist can get a feel for being your own boss without having to jump in head first. They can grow their clients and even their brand, should that be what they want. All with the support and guidance of someone actively in their industry.

Honestly, every time I try to explain it, I feel like David from the show Schitt’s Creek where he tries to explain his store to Patrick over the phone and just keeps sounding crazy. lol “Hi Patrick, it’s David…. it’s basically a general store that will support local artist… under the brand.” My Massage Studios is that for massage.

What makes it special is the heart behind it. I meet personally with every LMT to talk about their goals and make sure I understand what matters most to them. We also host “LMT Me-Ups” where all massage therapists are welcomed. We bring in guest speakers to talk about business, finances, and anything business related. The goal is to educate the LMTs in business and growth.

We’re also building a sense of community, not just among LMTs, but with clients too. One way we’re doing that is through partnering up with other local businesses like Urban Hikes KC, where we invite clients to get off the massage table and explore Kansas City with us. It’s our way of saying thank you. Because without our clients, we wouldn’t be able to support our families doing what we love.

My Massage Studios was built by my family and myself to support massage therapists but it’s already becoming something more than I could’ve imagined. It’s a place where people feel seen, supported, and genuinely welcomed.

And that’s a little bit about this new chapter I started.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road but as we all must know by now, the bumps are what shape us the most.

When I opened Relief Muscle Manipulation in February 2020, I was filled with a mix of excitement and fear. What most people didn’t know was that behind the scenes, I was also going through a breakup and adjusting to life as a single mom. That first year of business was pretty hard trying to build something from scratch while holding it together emotionally and showing up for my kids but I had to remind myself that I had been to worse and so I put my big girl pants on and got to work.

Funny enough, almost exactly a year later, my then-ex and now-husband and I kissed and made up. That is an overly simplified version but we both let go of our egos and grew a lot emotionally, and thank God we did because with his renewed support, I was able to see my true potential. Now I wasn’t just supported by my own family, but by his family too, and that love and encouragement made all the difference especially when it came time to remodel the space that would become My Massage Studios.

No, this was not easy. Financially, I borrowed from our wedding fund and reinvested income from Relief Muscle Manipulation. Emotionally, I leaned heavily on my family and husband. Physically, I stayed strong through yoga and HIIT workouts. But above all, I trusted that God was guiding me through every step. That faith that quiet confidence that there is a bigger purpose behind all of this is what gave me and continues to give me the strength to keep moving forward.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My Massage Studios is a space built by a massage therapist, for massage therapists with the client experience always in mind. We’re not a spa. We’re not a franchise. And we’re not just a space rental either. We’re something completely different: a place where licensed massage therapists can grow their skills, build a loyal client base, and gain valuable business knowledge all without the stress of overhead.

We specialize in massage services tailored to each client’s specific needs. Every session is customized, and every therapist who works here is fully independent. That means clients get the care of a dedicated professional, and therapists get the freedom to create a business that reflects their unique strengths. Right now, we offer services like Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal, Reiki, lymphatic drainage, and more depending on the therapist. You can meet each one on our website through a written and video bio, and book directly through our online system.

What really sets us apart is our model and our mission. Instead of renting rooms or taking a huge cut, we provide fully equipped massage studios and handle all the back-end logistics booking systems, linens, supplies so therapists can focus on what they do best. They earn a high commission and get true schedule flexibility, while still having a supportive team behind them.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the heart behind it all. We operate with the belief that massage therapy can be a sustainable, rewarding career. We also operate on the law of abundance and our with that our skills, both off and on the table, keeps improving due to of all the knowledge and respect that is being shared. It’s really a beautiful thing to witness happen. We hold monthly “LMT Me-Ups,” where we invite guest speakers to talk about topics like finances, client retention, and burnout prevention. We’re also passionate about community offering volunteer chair massage when we can, donation to organizations like KC Can and Band of Angles and have local events like guided hikes with clients through Urban Hikes KC to help people connect outside of the massage room.

At its core, My Massage Studios is about support. Supporting the therapist, supporting the client, and supporting a community of people who believe in the power of helping your own body heal. Whether you’re booking a session or looking for a place to grow as a therapist, we want everyone who walks through our doors to feel seen, respected, and cared for.

What matters most to you?
What’s always mattered most to me is helping others and sharing what I’ve learned along the way. It’s just always been part of who I am.

I remember, when I was a kid, I felt a little lift in my spirit any time I was able to help. With the neighborhood strays I’d sneak food out for to them because I knew they needed good, this would drive my parents crazy but I couldn’t help it. I just wanted them to feel safe and cared for.

In school, I was the kid who offered to help the teacher pass out papers or carry supplies, it felt good to be useful. That same heart carried into my career as a massage therapist. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about helping someone get out of pain especially when they’ve been struggling for a long time. I’ve always loved the problem-solving part of bodywork: listening closely, trying different approaches, and working with the client to figure out what their body really needs.

These days, I also love helping other massage therapists by sharing what I’ve learned or connecting them with people and tools that can support their growth. I even try to leave kind reviews for local businesses, because I know how much small gestures can uplift someone else’s work.

When I was younger, I helped others because it made me feel good. Now, I do it because I’ve come to understand how deeply it matters. Helping builds trust. It strengthens community. And in many ways, it’s a form of healing for both sides. So, helping is what matters to me the most.

Pricing:

• LMT Pricing $85.00 for 60min (practicing massage therapist only)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mymassagestudios.com/
• Instagram: my_massage_studios
• Facebook: My Massage Studios LLC
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celesteaguirre/