From Dance to Drum Corps to a Thriving Wellness Empire
Nadin Bailey is the founder and CEO of Mend Studio, a growing wellness business based in Wisconsin with two locations, a team of 23, and a vision that’s only getting bigger.
With a background in dance and a life-changing experience in drum corps, Nadin found herself drawn into the world of somatics and healing through touch.
Originally on track to become a physical therapist, she pivoted after discovering the profound impact of the Alexander Technique and bodywork during her dance studies. That shift led her to massage school and eventually, to entrepreneurship.
Today, Mend Studio is known for its high-quality therapeutic massage and pain relief services. The studio has expanded beyond massage into lymphatic drainage, buccal massage, and is soon launching a full skincare and facial treatment menu.
But the journey hasn’t all been easy.
The Big Achievements:
- Working together, she more than doubled monthly revenue in under a year, to $70k months.
- Reduced personal schedule from 70–80 hour weeks to a sustainable level
- Stepped almost entirely out of the treatment room (down to just 4 massages per week)
- Built an executive team and operations infrastructure that supports sustainable growth
- Reclaimed personal time and now attends her children’s games, dance classes, and family events
Uncovering the Core Problems
When Nadin first reached out, she wasn’t struggling with lack of demand, she was struggling under the weight of her own success.
Her practice had exploded seemingly overnight after COVID closures lifted. What started as a side hustle became a fully booked solo business within six months, and she found herself constantly turning people away.
Eventually, she opened her first location and hired a team. But without systems in place, she describes the early team environment as “survival mode.” What really brought things to a head was a painful lesson: her first hire and eventual studio manager left taking clients and vital operational knowledge with her.
Suddenly, Nadin found herself without support, scrambling to hold everything together, and fully realizing how much she had been relying on others to keep the business functioning.
That’s when she knew she had to get help.
The Path to Stability and Scale
#1- A Radical Mindset Shift: From Therapist to Business Leader
Nadin describes the biggest internal change as letting go of being “just another therapist” in the business. She embraced the mindset shift that to truly grow, she had to step into the role of business owner and leader, an identity she hadn’t fully owned before.
This meant fewer massages, more leadership. Less reacting, more planning. And letting go of her desire to people-please, in favor of clearer boundaries and expectations.
#2 – Systems That Create Stability
One of the first areas we tackled was operations. Together, we rebuilt the business infrastructure from the ground up:
- Built a full operations manual
- Documented key processes
- Delegated responsibilities to an executive team
- Installed feedback loops and performance standards
These systems now ensure that Mend Studio runs consistently, regardless of who’s at the front desk or in the treatment room.
#3 – Building the Right Team
Rather than hiring in crisis, Nadin shifted to hiring with clarity. That included:
- Recruiting therapists aligned with Mend’s mission
- Creating structure and accountability for front desk and support roles
- Developing leaders from within to reduce dependency on Nadin herself
This shift helped transform Mend from a loosely connected collective into a cohesive business with a defined culture.
#4 –Time, Freedom & Peace of Mind
Perhaps the biggest personal change? Nadin got her life back.
She now works a normal and manageable week, mostly on leadership and strategy. She sees her kids, enjoys time with her husband, and has space to think and grow. The business no longer feels like it’s one mistake away from collapsing.
The Final Results: From Chaos to Calm
- Revenue more than doubled
- 23 team members across two locations
- Full operational system built and implemented
- Down to 4 treatments per week
- Time reclaimed for family, rest, and visioning
Nadin’s Advice to Other Practice Owners
“Be open to the shift. If you’re a therapist or a service provider and you want to grow, you need to realize that you won’t be a service provider anymore. You’ll be a business owner. That comes with new responsibilities. Your job becomes leadership, and that’s a big transition.”
What’s Next?
With two locations running smoothly and a new service line about to launch, Nadin is now preparing for a third Mend Studio location. She’s also committed to proving that you can scale a massage business ethically, without burning out your staff or becoming just another chain.
“I want people to see that it’s possible to grow big while still keeping that small, human, heart-centered feel.”
Closing Thoughts
Nadin’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a wellness professional steps into true leadership. With vision, structure, and support, Mend Studio has grown into a business that stands on its own, all while giving Nadin her life back.
Her path wasn’t linear, and it wasn’t always easy, but it’s proof that chaos can become calm, and that doing the work pays off.
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