Crick in the neck? Better call Paul

When you’re in pain, having a pro on hand to help makes all the difference. Paul, one of Urban’s top-rated therapists, has spent the last four years perfecting his craft to do exactly that. Here are his most memorable moments since joining the app.

At 50 years old, Paul made a bold career change. He'd been practising massage on and off for many years, but it wasn’t until the strain of night shifts and irregular hours that he started to explore it as a potential full-time career. Since taking the leap, he hasn't looked back.

Making a difference, one massage at a time

For Paul, the satisfaction of being a massage therapist comes from helping his clients feel better, both physically and emotionally: “I’ve had several clients book me when they’ve had a ‘crick’ in the neck and couldn’t move their head. After treatment, they’re already in much less pain and can move again — it’s a great feeling to make that kind of impact.”

That desire to help others was something that Paul carried over from his time as a police officer: “People want to be reassured that they’re in safe hands. That their boundaries are respected. So it's vital you communicate well with every client. As a police officer people expect you to be able to assist and adapt with respect and compassion. The same very much goes for being a massage therapist.”

Helping clients through tough times

One of the most rewarding parts of Paul’s job is the impact he can make on his client’s lives. And there’s one story that stands out to him in particular: “Jayne was one of my very first clients on the app. I would see her every six weeks or so. She mentioned some health issues she was having but at the time, she hadn’t received a diagnosis. When she found out it was cancer, she was devastated.”

During her treatment, Jayne was advised to put her massage sessions on pause. But the moment she got the all-clear, she booked a massage with Paul to celebrate. “I was thrilled and relieved to hear she had recovered,” Paul says. “She still has some healing to go, but now she can enjoy a massage whenever she wants and it's a privilege to be able to provide that for her.”

To celebrate Urban’s 10 year anniversary, we gave top-rated Urban pros the chance to surprise a client of their choice with a £50 massage voucher. Paul was one of these pros and, without hesitation, he chose Jayne. "She’s been through so much, from the shock of her diagnosis to the relief of being declared cancer-free. Her resilience is incredible, and as soon as she was able to, she came back to celebrate her recovery with a massage. I’d love to be able to treat her after everything she’s been through," he says.

Jayne's story

Jayne says she was extremely moved when Paul chose her to receive the £50 voucher: "I had just received the all clear from cancer and it was the perfect gift to celebrate," she tells us.

Massage has always been important to Jayne as she's always had a history of lower back pain and shoulder tension: "I was also vice principal at a school at the time, as well as a freelance fitness instructor and had a number of other responsibilities.

"My self care was a priority. Booking regularly with Paul not only helped me to release the week's stress, but also gave me dedicated time just for me – which is so important to do."

But why Paul in particular? She revealed how she's tried a number of different pros over the years: "None of them come close to Paul. Not only does he know exactly what areas need work, but he is also one of the nicest people I've met. I look forward to the massages each time, not just to have a great massage, but because it's like catching up with a friend each time. He easily put my mind at rest during my first massage. I can't recommend him enough," she tells us.

A switch in careers

So what made Paul decide to go from working in law enforcement to being a full-time massage pro? “I was really struggling with the shift work,” he says. “It was actually my partner who suggested I look into doing massage therapy properly.”

With Urban, Paul was the able to balance massage work with his shifts – the flexibility allowed him to work freelance alongside his police role: “I knew about Urban before qualifying,” he explains. “In fact, I specifically chose a training company that Urban recognised because I wanted to sign up with them as soon as possible. The app allowed me to dip my toes into massage between shifts and on my days off.”

This gave Paul the time he needed to build his client base and get comfortable with his new career, without the stress of making a sudden switch.

“I couldn’t have made the transition without the app. It allowed me to build up my reviews and confidence so that when I decided to leave the police, I knew I’d have regular work coming in. It removed the risk of suddenly changing careers.”

Thinking of switching careers?

Paul’s transition from law enforcement to massage therapy is proof that it’s never too late to make a career change. His advice for others thinking about making a similar leap? “Take your time. There’s no rush. Make sure you research courses that Urban approves, and set targets for yourself. How many hours or massages do you need to make it financially viable? What can you physically manage?”

As someone who made a successful switch later in life, Paul understands the physical demands of massage therapy, but it hasn’t been much of a hurdle: “As an older therapist, I had to accept that I wasn’t going to be able to do seven plus hours of massage a day. But once you start to hit your targets consistently, you’ll know it’s safe to make the switch.”

A future with Urban

Looking back, Paul is incredibly grateful for the opportunities Urban has provided. “They take care of all the marketing, bookings, payments and customer service issues, so I can focus on being the best massage therapist I can be. I’ve always found their support team to be quick and helpful. If you’re thinking of joining Urban, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go.”

Paul’s work as an Urban pro is just one example of how massage therapy goes beyond physical treatment — it’s about supporting clients on their personal journeys as well.

If mobile massage therapy sounds like the career for you, find out more about becoming an Urban Hero here.