Community Spotlight: Arkansas Academy of Massage
When Shalee Uhl began to feel the strain that years of practicing massage therapy had put on her body, she didn’t let it diminish her love for the craft. Instead, she saw it as an opportunity to pass on her knowledge and passion to the next generation of massage therapists. This realization led her to co-found Arkansas Academy of Massage in Cabot, Arkansas, with her trusted business partner, Rachel Medlin.
Rachel Medlin’s journey to co-founding the school is just as compelling. Originally from Tennessee, Medlin moved to Arkansas and quickly found herself immersed in the world of massage therapy. “I moved here from Tennessee, and I lived here a few weeks and knew I wanted to work here. I came in and got a massage and I didn’t even know it was going to be Shalee giving me a massage,” Medlin recalled. This initial encounter sparked the beginning of a partnership that would eventually lead to the creation of the Arkansas Academy of Massage.
Shalee Uhl, left, and Rachel Medlin, right. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Academy of Massage.
Medlin’s analytical approach to business complemented Uhl’s hands-on style, creating a partnership that has become the backbone of their successful school. “Per usual, I’m the ‘fly by the seat of my pants.’ She’s the overthinker,” Uhl said with a laugh, highlighting the balance they bring to their business.
Their collaboration has flourished due to their mutual respect and ability to compartmentalize their work and personal lives. “We can disagree on how to handle something, but she trusts me with something specific and doesn’t even look into it. I trust her and don’t even look into it,” Uhl explained. This yin and yang dynamic has allowed them to navigate the complexities of running a business together, turning what could have been challenges into strengths.
The school itself is a reflection of both Uhl’s and Medlin’s values and experiences. While Uhl was motivated by the need to find a way to continue her career in the industry without the physical toll of full-time massage therapy, Medlin was driven by her desire to educate and empower others. “I love to teach. That was my major before I dropped out of college, education. I love massage therapy, and I love teaching… That was how I came to want to open the school,” Medlin shared. This passion for teaching, combined with Uhl’s deep experience in massage therapy, has created an environment where students are nurtured and prepared to succeed.
Their school has become a cornerstone in the Cabot community, known for producing highly skilled massage therapists who are well-prepared to enter the workforce. “There’s not a massage therapist on every corner in Cabot that didn’t come from our school,” Uhl proudly states, highlighting the school’s influence on the local industry.
The school’s commitment to flexibility is a direct reflection of both Uhl’s and Medlin’s understanding of their students’ needs. Many of their students are not fresh out of high school; they are adults seeking a second career, often balancing education with family responsibilities or another job. Understanding these challenges, Uhl and Medlin have structured the program to accommodate their students’ lives. “Most of our students are on their second career choice,” Uhl notes. “They’re not right out of high school; a lot of them are married with children.” They structured the program to three days a week so the students can take their kids to school, pick them up, and still have part of the week to work and not feel overwhelmed.
Uhl and Medlin’s advocacy for single parents and working adults is evident in every aspect of their school’s operation. Both women understand the importance of having a career that not only provides financial stability but also offers the flexibility needed to balance work and family life. “Just because you’re a single mom doesn’t mean you can’t provide properly for your children,” Uhl advises. This empathy and understanding stem from their own experiences, making them uniquely equipped to support their students.
But it’s not just about flexibility and understanding—Uhl and Medlin are also committed to ensuring their students succeed in the competitive field of massage therapy. The curriculum is designed to equip students with both the technical skills and the business acumen needed to thrive. “So many massage therapists fail, not because they’re not good at their craft, but because they have no concept of how to run a business,” Uhl emphasizes.
This realistic yet supportive approach has made a significant impact on the students who pass through their doors. Uhl and Medlin recall many success stories, including that of a woman who was going through a difficult divorce and found herself at a crossroads in life. “She was a personal friend of mine, crying in my swimming pool because she didn’t know how she was going to make it on her own,” Uhl shares. “I told her, ‘I do it, and you can do it too.’ Today, she runs her own clinic in Jacksonville, and she’s doing great.”
The success of their graduates is a testament to the personalized attention and rigorous training provided by Uhl and Medlin. The school’s small class sizes, typically around 15 to 20 students, ensure that each individual receives the attention and support they need to thrive. The curriculum includes 500 hours of intensive training in kinesiology, anatomy, and hands-on modalities, preparing students for the realities of working in the field. “We go through a kinesiology book in six weeks that some colleges take two years to complete,” Uhl says, underscoring the intensity of the program.
But the education goes beyond just technical skills. Uhl and Medlin emphasize the importance of understanding the human body in a way that allows their students to truly help their clients. “It’s not just about learning massage—it’s about understanding how the body works so that our students can actually be beneficial to their clients,” Uhl explains. Medlin echoes this sentiment, noting that their approach ensures students leave with the confidence and knowledge to make a real difference in their clients’ lives.
As they look to the future, Uhl and Medlin are content to keep the school small, focusing on quality over quantity. They have no plans to expand beyond Cabot, preferring to maintain the intimate, supportive environment that has become their hallmark. “We don’t want the big stress of 40 students,” Uhl says. “The way we’ve structured our school, it wouldn’t be conducive to large classes. Cabot has always been supportive of everything we’ve done, and so this is where all the things will happen.”
For Uhl and Medlin, the transition from practicing massage to teaching it has been a journey of growth and fulfillment. While they still balance working with clients every day through Shalee’s Day Spa, their impact on the field of massage therapy is even greater now than it was before. Through their school, they are ensuring that the next generation of massage therapists is not only skilled and knowledgeable but also compassionate and resilient—just like they are.
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