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June 2009
Swedish Institute on-line newsletter for our students, faculty and community.
Ellen L. Greene ('92) has built a successful business the old fashioned way. She has no website, no clever promotions or discount coupons. Her clientele—which includes many celebrities—
has grown simply from one person talking to another. Few people today trust their business completely to word-of-mouth referrals, but it is the only way to access celebrity clients.
Like many massage therapists, Ellen enjoys a diverse schedule. She works with staff at
'Good Morning America' a couple of mornings a week, sees private clients at the Mary Manning Nursing Home on
72nd and York, and has her own practice on East 11th Street in Manhattan. And if that's not enough, she is also a licensed esthetician and a partner in Enhanced Image, a boutique office on
57th Street.
She considers all of this a "rest" after being on tour with Mariah Carey for four years. (Note: Mariah Carey approved disclosure that she was Ellen's client.) "I traveled the world," Ellen said, "Singapore, all of Europe. It was great. And Mariah was wonderful and gracious." However, at some point Ellen's needs changed.
She decided to give up "living out of a suitcase" and return to Manhattan. When asked the secret for her success, Ellen modestly replied, "I have an excellent education in massage, so I know what I'm doing. Technique is important, but I also love what I do and clients sense that right away." How did she get her start? By working part-time in a chiropractor's office and following an interest in the Dr. Vodder method of manual lymph drainage (MLD). Her passion for her work, and her clientele, grew from there and has never diminished.
In addition to her massage practice, Ellen is now rediscovering her own talent as a singer.
"My first love was music," Ellen explained. "I am a lyric coloratura soprano; that's my soul. I went to the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, 26 years ago." Today she is studying voice again and looking for opportunities to perform. It is another way for her to continue to refine and share her passion for communicating with people.