Workdays & Weekends: Tracey Taylor

We caught up with Tracey Taylor, Advanced Therapist & owner of Taylored Massage, Perth. Tracey loves her job but equally enjoys spending time exploring Perthshire's dramatic landscape (it's very different to the flatness of East Anglia where she hails from!). 

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?

Most clients require treatments later in the day or after school/work, therefore my clinic opens at 3.30pm and for 3 out of 5 days the last appointment can be 8pm.  My treatments are very varied.  I can have a lady in for a pregnancy massage, followed by an elderly gentleman with mobility issues, then perhaps a teenager who has hurt themselves in their chosen sporting field, someone else for relaxation after a stressful day.  Part of the joy is not knowing what I will be doing next!

2. What signals the start of your weekend/days off?

A mug of tea in bed, followed by a good walk with the dogs.

3. What makes for a perfect night in? 

Cuddled upon the couch with the cats and hubby and the dogs at our feet, a cup of tea and feeling good after a busy satisfying day.

4. What makes for a memorable day or night out?

I love taking the dogs out for long walks on sunny days, or going for a good ride on my motorbike.  A good night out is having friends over, or going to friends, or even a good rock concert!

5. Tell us about the weekend you’d love to live again?

Once, hubby and I went for a motorbike ride up through Glenshee on a chilly but clear Autumn day.  We rough camped overnight (we didn’t have the pets back then!), and ended up seeing the best Aurora Borealis we have ever seen!

6. And now your best ever day at work?

I had a lady call me and request an urgent appointment for her husband.  Neither of which had even been to me.  He had a sore back, she said.  The poor gentleman was doubled over in pain when he arrived.  His work was heavy lifting in small confined areas – never a good thing.  He believed he had seriously damaged his back; upon carrying out all the necessary checks and a full assessment, we determined that it wasn’t as bad as first thought.  A pulled and spasmed muscle!  The gentleman practically bounced out of my clinic once we had worked the muscle free! Wow, what a great feeling for both of us, for very different reasons!!

7. Any workday or weekend rituals?

Making sure I take time to actually enjoy walking my rescued greyhounds along tracks in the stunning area in which I live.

8. What’s in the perfect day off breakfast?

I don’t usually care much about what I have for breakfast, so long as it’s not bread or cereal, but whatever day it is I must have a Good large mug of tea, preferably in bed on my day’s off!

9. Any words of wisdom for us?

It’s about a LIFE/Work balance, not a work/life balance.  Life can change in a flash, cherish those nearest and dearest, say “I Love You” and mean it.

Tracey can be found at Taylored Massage, Basement Room 3, 8 Atholl Crescent, Perth. Tel: 07948 808603