Meet Cassandra McCloud of Golden Bloom Massage Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra McCloud.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always had a desire to help people, but I’ll be honest – I never planned on being a massage therapist. I went to college for Psychology with the intent of becoming a “regular” therapist. My dad had been a therapist for many years and it seemed like a wonderful way to help people. But soon after graduating from my undergrad I came to the conclusion that more formal schooling wasn’t for me. I worked professionally with children for a couple of years, then tried many odd jobs after that to see where I fit in, always nannying on the side for different families. I hit a point where no job felt quite right for me anymore and nannying alone wasn’t bringing in enough income. I started feeling a strong desire to be my own boss. One day, at a loss for what direction to go, I did a job search online with threefold criteria: there had to be plenty of openings, pay more than I was making nannying, and give me the freedom to work for myself. I quickly found massage therapy jobs and things just started falling into place. I let my intuition guide me to the right school, I discovered that I loved learning anatomy, I remembered how much I love working with my hands (I also play piano and enjoy experimenting with different art mediums). Once I started practicing on my classmates I discovered that I had a natural talent for making people feel really relaxed on the massage table. Once licensed, I worked in spas near Philadelphia, PA from 2018 – 2025. I had many loyal clients over the years question why I worked at a spa when I could be working for myself and making better money. I never had a good answer for them, but the truth was that it was easy to get a job at a spa and I was so terrified of starting my own business – I just had no idea where to start. I let that fear hold me back for a long time. When I moved to Wayne County, Ohio this year to be closer to family and take a break from the city, I took the big life change as an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and do the “scary” thing. An acquaintance in Ohio mentioned that the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a free resource for folks wanting to start a business and I just went for it. I signed up, worked with a team of people for about three months, and finally opened Golden Bloom Massage Therapy in Orrville, OH in October of this year. I named it “Golden Bloom” because it describes what’s been happening inside of me this year: finally stepping into my personal power has brought a feeling that something inside of me is blooming, bright and golden. This whole endeavor has been such a gift to myself. I now have solid proof that I’m capable of doing a completely new thing that scares me. Of course timing is important, but holding back on your dreams for too long is a sort of torture to the self. You keep telling yourself that the thing you know you want is just a fantasy, but you can’t deny that you’re unhappy with where you’re at now. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens – I know that now. I am SO excited to be my own boss and bring physical and emotional healing to many new clients here in Ohio.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, the road has not always been smooth. I have struggled with not believing in myself as an adult, and I believe that has caused a lot of bumps on my path. When I first found massage as a career, it was wonderful! Finally something that felt right for me. But I was too afraid to start my own business with it right away, which led me to work at some very stressful spa jobs. Working with clients was the best part – I really get “in the zone” when working with people one-on-one. But the atmosphere at the spas was very corporate and full of drama. The employees were always overworked and under compensated. It was a grind, and the “best” employees were the ones that were killing themselves to work as much as possible. I knew it wasn’t something I could keep doing long-term, physically or mentally. I struggled with hating those jobs even though I knew I loved massaging people. I felt trapped for a long time.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I think the thing that sets me apart the most in this industry is that I really care about being intentional. I have had so many massages as a client where I felt like the therapist was just going through the motions to get through their shift. Clients can tell. As a therapist I love to slow down, taking the time for each client and each part of the body, really focusing on what I feel. I want my clients to know that I really care about their issues. As for my style, I typically have a slower pace, really indulging in each stroke. I don’t rush. I check in with myself a lot during the session to make sure I am spending time on each area that the client came in for. I know for a lot of people a massage is a big investment. I want my clients to feel like the service they receive is worth their time and money. Plus for me it’s a lot more fun to stay present and take the time and brain power to be intentional. It makes that 60, 90, 120 minutes fly by for me. It’s a win-win in my opinion.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am also certified in Prenatal Massage and Usui Reiki Level II and offer both of these services at my business.

I also want prospective clients to know that Golden Bloom Massage Therapy is welcoming of people of all backgrounds, races, genders, and religions. If you are a human, you are welcome here.

Pricing:

• All massage and reiki services are priced the same
• 60 minutes: $85
• 90 minutes: $125
• 120 minutes: $165

Contact Info:

• Website: https://goldenbloommassage.com