Today we’d like to introduce you to Soraya Starkes.
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?
My journey into massage therapy began with a desire to help people feel better in their bodies, but over the last two years, that desire has grown into something much deeper.
When I first became a Licensed Massage Therapist, I was focused on learning the techniques, understanding the muscles, and helping clients find relief from pain and tension. As I gained experience working with different bodies, I began to realize that no two people carry tension the same way. What works for one person may not work for another, and sometimes the area that hurts isn’t necessarily where the problem begins.
That realization really changed the way I practice. I became increasingly interested in the relationship between the physical body and the nervous system, and how stress, movement patterns, compensation, and the way we experience our bodies can all contribute to pain and tension. My work naturally began evolving from simply performing massage to listening to the body, problem solving, and asking, What is this body actually asking for?
That evolution eventually became Somatic Alchemy.
Somatic Alchemy is my way of bringing together everything I’ve learned; the therapeutic side of massage, corrective work, nervous system regulation, and the intuitive relationship I have with the people I work with. I don’t believe the body always needs more pressure. I believe it needs the right approach.
Today, my focus is helping clients move beyond temporary relief by working through the layers that contribute to discomfort and restricted movement. Every session is customized to the person in front of me and what their body needs that day.
For me, Somatic Alchemy isn’t just a massage business. It’s an extension of how I believe we should care for the body: with intention, curiosity, patience, and respect.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. There have definitely been seasons where building this business has felt more like learning to trust myself than simply building a business.
Honestly, one of my biggest challenges has been allowing myself to evolve. When you’re building something from the ground up, there can be pressure to have everything figured out right away; the brand, the services, your ideal client, and what makes you different. I’ve had to give myself permission to let those things develop naturally through experience.
My work has evolved tremendously over the last two years. I started with a focus on helping people feel better physically, but as I worked with more bodies and learned more about the nervous system, I began to understand how much deeper that work could go. Learning to trust my approach and find the language for what I was creating has been a journey.
Of course, there have also been the challenges that come with entrepreneurship; building clientele, creating stability, learning the business side, and continuing to invest in something before you always see the return. But those challenges have shaped Somatic Alchemy. They’ve taught me to trust myself, stay curious, and allow the business to evolve alongside me.
So it hasn’t always been a smooth road, but every part of the journey has helped me become a better therapist and build a business that feels genuinely aligned with who I am and how I want to serve.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Somatic Alchemy ?
Somatic Alchemy is a therapeutic massage practice centered around helping people feel better, move better, and develop a deeper connection with their bodies. I offer both private studio and mobile sessions, with a focus on therapeutic and corrective massage, nervous system regulation, and functional recovery.
What sets my work apart is that I don’t believe massage should be one-size-fits-all. I love problem solving with the body; looking at the patterns contributing to pain, tension, and restricted movement rather than simply working on the place that hurts. Each session is customized based on what the client is experiencing and what their body needs in that moment.
My work can include therapeutic massage, deep tissue, traditional Thai massage, myofascial techniques, assisted stretching, and other supportive modalities when appropriate. The goal isn’t simply to make someone feel good for an hour; it’s to create meaningful change in how they feel and move in their body.
The name Somatic Alchemy really captures my philosophy. Somatic represents the relationship we have with our bodies, how we experience, feel, and move through them.
Alchemy represents transformation. For me, the work is about bringing those two ideas together and creating space for the body to shift, release, and restore.
What I’m most proud of is how much the brand has evolved alongside me as a therapist. Ultimately, I want people to know that when they come to Somatic Alchemy, they’re not walking into a routine. They’re being met exactly where they are, with intentional care and a genuine desire to understand what their body is communicating.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
One thing that might surprise people is that my approach to massage is actually very analytical. I’m naturally curious, and I love problem solving. When I’m working with a client, I’m constantly observing how the body is moving, where it’s compensating, how they’re breathing, and how their body responds to different techniques.
People may experience my work as very intuitive and calming, but there’s a lot of thought happening underneath that softness. I’m always asking myself, What is this body telling me, and what does it actually need?
That curiosity is a big part of why my work has evolved so much. I never want to stop learning or become someone who simply repeats the same routine. I think the body deserves to be listened to, not just worked on.
Pricing:
- Custom 60 min Massage $125
- Custom 90 min Massage $165
- Mobile Massage Starting at $145
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somaticalchemy.sa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17pAG1pd1e/
- Other: https://somaticalchemy.setmore.com/
