A traumatic event in Marlon Williams’ life as a teenager led him to find his true calling.
In 1993, when he was 13, his mother was in a terrible car accident involving a tractor-trailer. During her recuperation, her doctor asked Marlon to help with stretching her muscles. “I mean, her doctor made it ‘fun’ for me…he gave the muscles funny names (now I know the real names). I didn’t know I was doing massage therapy.”
He went to college at MSU to study Media Production but following college, ended up applying as a massage therapist at a salon in Springfield. “I was told I needed a license for that. So, instead, I ended up doing social work. One day, I literally dropped the phone book and it opened up to a massage therapy school, and I took that as a sign.”
So, Marlon attended massage therapy school and went on to open his first massage therapy spa in St. Charles at Three Flags Center in 2007, calling it True Massage Therapy.
He later advanced his training to become a certified medical massage therapist. “The goal of this type of massage is to avoid surgery where possible,” he says. “For example, I’ve had people come in for carpal tunnel in their wrists and after just two treatments, are amazed at how much better it feels.”
True Massage Therapy offers all types of massage, including prenatal massage, bamboo massage, hot stones, cupping, and massage with aromatherapy.
He opened a second location this fall in Weldon Spring at 1030 Wolfrum Rd. and is also opening a location in Springfield. He wants to eventually expand into downtown St. Louis as well.
The new Weldon Spring location houses a massage school, which he is excited to be finally implementing. “Right after receiving my accreditation by the state, Covid hit and salons were shut down. I’m finally getting to open a school and this is the perfect space for it,” he says.
The 10-month program will have up to 12 students with three instructors. “Basically, we want to get them ready to open and run their own business. I want them to learn from every mistake I’ve made so they don’t make the same ones. And I want them to learn how to do massage correctly…how to really listen to the client for their particular needs,” he explains.
“I like to get people out of physical pain first, then we can focus on pure relaxation and stress reduction. My advice for getting the best massage is to ask any and every question you may have. Don’t be afraid to ask the therapist for more, or less pressure. Just let us know. This is your time and you should get exactly what you want out of your treatment.”
The Weldon Spring location has eight massage therapy rooms. He is currently looking for an esthetician as the current one is moving out of the area. The other side of the wellness center houses a chiropractor.
For more information on all of these options and to book an appointment, see the website at TrueMassageTherapy.co.
