Who is Ma Saj?
Ma Saj is a modern remedial massage studio founded in 2023 by experienced wellness practitioners Kate and Sonya. We exist to ease the overwhelmed mind and restore deep human connection through massage and bodywork.
Our business practices are rooted in ethics, sustainability, and wellness. We aim to uplift both our community and our team through a thoughtful, purpose-led approach.
'A space for every body, every gender, every identity. Queer-affirming, inclusive, and created with care - a place to soften, to exhale, and to feel at home exactly as you are.'
What’s our story?
Kate and I have been therapists. We have built businesses together - first an allied health clinic in regional VIC, and now our second city space, Ma Saj. We genuinely love this stuff. Branding, systems, building something from nothing - it's fun for us in a way that probably sounds unhinged to most people.
But here's the truth about running a small business: it's harder than we ever realised. And somewhere along the way we realised something that changed everything for us -
We were only happy if the people around us were happy.
We're not the ones giving treatments anymore. And honestly, watching the space we built and the therapists we chose create real impact, real relationships, real change for the clients walking through the door - that's been incredible to witness.
But it wasn't enough to just watch it work. We couldn't stomach seeing a therapist burnt out. Or stuck, unable to actually build a career out of the thing they put so much time into.
We'd been there ourselves. And we'd watched it happen to so many other therapists over the years - you perfect your craft, you build your community, and then you hit this wall of "okay, what now?" The next step feels like it should exist. It doesn't, really. Not like corporate.
If I was pouring everything into building myself and my community, I wanted the option to do it on my own terms.
But here's what I know now that I didn't know then: starting a business from absolute scratch is brutal. Overheads, marketing, systems, all of it. It's a massive amount of money up front, or years of no life and no pay while you figure it out. Nobody tells you that part properly.
So that's what we built. The middle ground.
A way for a therapist who's ready for the next step to get the good stuff the autonomy, the flexibility, running your own thing - without carrying all the risk, the outlay, and the years it usually costs to get there.
That's Ma Saj. That's why it exists.
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Ma Saj suits qualified remedial massage therapists or experienced massage therapists that are truly passionate about bodywork and thrive on creating safe, connected experiences.
Our ideal massage therapists have additional interests or experience in breathwork, meditation, somatics, psychology, energy work, Chinese medicine principles, or trauma-informed care which align with our foundational massages.
We are also very encouraging of therapists who have experience and additional training in lymphatic drainage massage (MLD), TMJ/Buccal/Face massage, and pregnancy massage.
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You're not an employee.
You are an independent practitioner looking for quality new clients referred to you.
You want the creative control, flexibility and full revenue return that comes with renting space to run your own business.
Look at us as a hybrid model between contractor work and traditional room rental.
This is the right fit for you if:
Genuinely enjoy working alongside other therapists and thrive in a community atmosphere
Take real ownership of your practice - clients, development, brand
Value the restorative, grounding qualities of great bodywork - even when working remedially
Understand that sharing the space at Ma Saj means actively contributing to the culture
A note of honesty: our marketing supports studio visibility and helps direct new clients your way - but it doesn't guarantee a full schedule. If you're looking for a constant flow of new clients handed to you, this isn't the right fit. If you're ready to actively maintain and grow your own community, you'll thrive here.
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Ma Saj supports independent therapists by:
Leveraging off an established brand and trusted client following. We are featured in Broadsheet, Concrete Playground, Urban List, Fashion Journal & more.
Support in building your presence as a therapist through our website and social media channels
Connecting with like-minded clients who align with your style of practice
Remote administration and billing support
Professional treatment rooms in a beautiful, purpose-built space
Housekeeping and basic clinic maintenance
Networking opportunities, and community support
Client referrals
Basic massage supplies, including oils and linen
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A Diploma of Remedial Massage
Previous massage therapy experience and a certificate in modalities such as Swedish, relaxation, deep tissue, Ayurvedic, sports, or other bodywork modalities
Registration with an Australian massage association and eligibility to apply for health fund provider numbers (if remedial)
Current ABN
Own professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance
First Aid
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Building and maintaining your client base
Building on your own skills and knowledge as a practitioner
Managing your schedule in Acuity
Client notes and follow-ups
Your professional development and insurance
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Working independently as a therapist gives you freedom in being able to choose work hours and time off, determine your own 'flow' including break and appointment durations, build your own micro-brand and bring your own treatment style. You are financially compensated with 100% of client revenue.
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We attract like-minded therapists who enjoy working independently but also having the option to connect with a community of other therapists.
Often therapists organise their own get together skills-share sessions, occasional catch-ups and we use Slack to communicate and support each other.
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Here's how it works: we start with an informal chat to get to know each other, followed by a 60-minute practical massage session, then a deeper conversation and a personality assessment.
Ma Saj is a shared space, so — much like moving into a share house — it matters that we find the right mix of people, ones who share the same values.
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Our values:
Work independently, stay connected
You run your own business - and you're part of a shared ecosystem. We support autonomy while showing up for each other in small, consistent ways. Collaboration over competition.
Bring your whole self - and keep growing
We value depth, curiosity, and lived experience. We support each other's growth - professionally, emotionally, and energetically.
Respect the space and the people in it
We co-create calm, functional rooms by communicating clearly, being on time, and taking care of what we share.
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Beautiful, fully-equipped therapy rooms
Flexible remote admin support (general enquiries, Ma Saj gift voucher processing, and shared facility coordination)
An SEO-optimised website with a dedicated therapist profile
An initial professional photo session and one reel
Ma Saj brand social media to support studio-wide visibility
Optional billing facilitation via Stripe Connected Account (funds paid directly to your account)
Weekly cleaning of shared and common areas
Bathroom consumables
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We understand that starting somewhere new can feel daunting, especially when you’re building your client base. While we don’t guarantee a set number of referrals, our model is designed to support therapists in building sustainable practices.
Our therapists are typically around 80% booked, and we have a strong existing client community, including regular clients, returning clients, and gift voucher bookings throughout the year. We also support visibility through our website, social media, and the Ma Saj brand, helping new clients discover our practitioners.
Ultimately, each therapist is responsible for building and maintaining their own client relationships, but you won’t be starting from zero - you’ll be joining an established space with an existing reputation, community, and systems designed to support independent practitioners.
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We offer flexible options depending on what suits your practice.
For casual room hire, availability is confirmed on the 1st of each month for the following month (e.g. 1 July for the August calendar). Once your preferred days are booked, they are confirmed and reserved for you, but there is no ongoing commitment required.
For ongoing room rentals, we ask for a minimum 6-month commitment, with 6 weeks’ notice required if you decide to finish your arrangement.
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Absolutely. We understand that every practitioner’s schedule is different, so we offer flexible room hire options where available. Our ongoing weekly room rentals take priority, and once these are confirmed on the 1st of each month for the following month (e.g. 1 July for the August calendar), we can offer any remaining availability in a way that works around your practice.
Whether you’re looking for a fortnightly space, a monthly clinic day, or something more flexible, we’d love to chat about what works best for you and your clients.
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Yes, we do. While Ma Saj was founded around massage, we welcome other aligned health and wellness practitioners who are looking for a beautiful, professional space to see their clients.
We offer space-only room hire on a weekly or casual basis, depending on availability. This means practitioners manage their own bookings, client communication, payments, marketing, and administration — you simply hire the space and run your practice independently.
If you’re interested in joining our space, we’d love to hear more about your practice and how we might be able to support you.
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Half day prices range from $110 - $160
Full day prices range from $200 - $286
Prices Exclude GST