From Student Athlete to Massage Therapist: Chad Patterson’s Journey to Healing Others

Behind every massage at The Body Mechanic is a story—one that starts long before the doors ever opened.

Chad Patterson’s path to becoming a licensed massage therapist in Florence, SC was far from typical. A competitive swimmer since age eight, Chad first experienced the power of massage therapy as an athlete. Regular treatments helped him prevent injuries and recover faster, even if he didn’t fully understand the science at the time.

Later, while building a successful career in hotel management, Chad dreamed of one day running a bed and breakfast with integrated wellness services. A conversation with a B&B owner in Savannah, who offered massage and esthetics onsite, lit the spark that would eventually become The Body Mechanic.

It wasn’t until the slowdown of the COVID-19 pandemic that Chad found the window to pursue massage school. He enrolled in a hybrid program at Southeastern College, which required 750 hours of hands-on and academic training—including advanced coursework in kinesiology. Despite working full-time, he attended night classes and weekend clinicals for 16 months.

In 2022, he graduated, passed his national board exam, and officially launched The Body Mechanic Massage Studio. Today, Chad combines his passion for sports massage therapy with a commitment to personalized, results-driven care. From student athletes to retirees, his goal is always the same: help every body feel better, move better, and live better.

His journey is a testament to dedication, resilience, and the belief that healing is both a science and an art.