Crystal Preyer

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

I'm Crystal Preyer! I'm originally from a small town southeast of Buffalo, New York. After graduating with my bachelor's degree in graphic design, I moved to the Midwest for my first job.

Today, I call Kansas City, Missouri, home, where I help grow Armored Massage, a sports massage therapy and recovery-focused business, alongside my husband, Stephen Preyer.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

What I love most about Kansas City is that it's where I met my husband, Stephen!

I've always dreamed of building a life and business with someone who shares my ambition and values. Now, we have the opportunity to do both while serving a community that has become such an important part of our lives.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

Armored Massage is a sports massage therapy studio located in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. Unlike a traditional spa, our primary focus is recovery.

We specialize in personalized, recovery-focused massage therapy for athletes, active individuals, and people experiencing chronic pain, muscle tension, limited mobility, postural issues, or discomfort associated with injury recovery.

We also work with individuals seeking massage therapy to complement their recovery before or after surgery, when appropriate and with guidance from their medical providers.

Our goal is simple: help people feel better, move better, and get back to doing the activities they love.

What makes Armored Massage special is that the business was born from Stephen's own experience with an injury.

In 2019, Stephen dislocated his shoulder while playing soccer. Unsure whether surgery was the right path, he explored rehabilitation options, including physical therapy and massage therapy. His recovery experience inspired him to pursue a career as a licensed massage therapist so he could help others navigating pain and physical limitations.

When I met Stephen, he was operating Armored Massage out of a renovated home studio in Grandview, Missouri.

I've always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and with my background in graphic design, branding, marketing, and business development, I immediately saw the potential to grow his practice into something bigger.

After two years of dating, we married in October 2024. Around that time, we moved Armored Massage into a dedicated studio space in Kansas City.

Over the past two years, the business has grown tremendously. Stephen's schedule is often booked weeks in advance, and we've expanded our team to meet the growing demand for recovery-focused sports massage in Kansas City.

We're now exploring opportunities for a larger facility and additional licensed massage therapists who share our philosophy of individualized care, professionalism, and recovery.

One of the things I'm most proud of is that we don't approach massage therapy as a one-size-fits-all experience. Our sessions are tailored to each client's needs, whether that means addressing a specific area of discomfort, supporting athletic recovery, or helping someone manage ongoing muscle tension.

For us, it's about more than the time someone spends on the massage table. It's about helping our clients take an active role in caring for their bodies.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

Honestly answer two questions:

"What problem do you solve?" and "Who are you solving it for?"

I think one of the biggest challenges small business owners face is defining their ideal customer.

It's tempting to say your business is for everyone because you're afraid of turning potential customers away. But when you understand exactly who you serve and what they need, everything becomes easier—from your marketing and messaging to your services and overall customer experience.

At Armored Massage, understanding our ideal client has helped us build a more focused brand and attract people who genuinely value our recovery-first approach.

I also own Preyer Design, my graphic design and branding business, where I share resources and templates to help other small business owners develop their brands and marketing strategies.

If you're starting a business or struggling to define your audience, I have several free resources available at https://www.preyerdesign.com/.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

We're incredibly grateful for our clients and the positive feedback we've received, especially our five-star Google reviews.

But some of the feedback that means the most to me comes from other professionals in the health and wellness industry.

When massage therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors choose Armored Massage for their own recovery needs, that's a meaningful compliment. These are professionals who understand anatomy, movement, and the importance of quality care.

One review that particularly stands out came from Dr. Jason Gearhart, owner of Vital Six Physical Therapy & Performance in Kansas City.

As a practicing physical therapist with more than 10 years of experience, Jason shared this feedback about Armored Massage:

"I can say without hesitation that Armored Massage sets the standard when it comes to skill, professionalism, and true therapeutic impact."

— Jason Gearhart, PT, DPT, CSCS, Owner of Vital Six Physical Therapy & Performance

Knowing that another professional who works with patients and athletes recognizes the care and attention Stephen puts into his work is incredibly rewarding.

Our goal has always been to build a trusted sports massage practice in Kansas City where people feel confident in the quality of care they receive.

Where do you see your company in the future?

Stephen and I have big dreams for Armored Massage!

Our immediate goal is to expand into a larger studio with additional treatment rooms so we can serve more people throughout the Kansas City community.

We also want to create meaningful career opportunities for skilled, experienced massage therapists who share our commitment to recovery-focused care.

One of our priorities is building a business that supports not only our clients but also our therapists. That means creating an environment where massage therapists are respected, supported, fairly compensated, and able to maintain sustainable workloads.

As the business grows, we'd love to open additional locations throughout the Kansas City metro area.

My long-term dream is to eventually develop Armored Massage into a nationwide franchise recognized for high-quality sports massage, professionalism, and individualized recovery-focused treatments.

But no matter how large we grow, I never want us to lose what makes Armored Massage special: the personal attention, quality of care, and genuine relationships we've built with our clients and therapists.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about massage therapy is that it's simply a luxury or a relaxing spa experience.

While relaxation is certainly one benefit of massage, licensed massage therapists can also provide skilled, targeted bodywork that supports muscle recovery, mobility, and overall physical well-being.

At Armored Massage, our focus is specifically on sports massage and recovery. We work with athletes, active adults, and people managing muscle tension or ongoing discomfort.

Massage therapy doesn't replace medical treatment, physical therapy, or chiropractic care, but it can be a valuable complementary service within someone's overall wellness and recovery routine.

I also believe licensed massage therapists deserve greater professional recognition and respect.

Massage therapists study anatomy, physiology, muscular function, and other important aspects of the human body. The profession requires knowledge, skill, and a commitment to ethical care.

Another misconception that I'd like to address is the assumption that massage therapy involves anything sexual or inappropriate.

At Armored Massage, we maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior. Our therapists deserve to feel safe, respected, and comfortable in their working environment, just as our clients do.

We also prefer the professional title "licensed massage therapist" because it accurately reflects the training, responsibilities, and standards of the profession.

We're passionate about helping change how people view massage therapy and raising the standard of professionalism within the industry.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

Timing. Definitely timing!

One of the biggest lessons we've learned is that almost everything takes longer than you expect.

Whether it's building brand awareness, finding the right massage therapists to join our team, or securing a larger location, growth rarely happens on the exact timeline you envision.

It's especially challenging when you're ambitious and can clearly see where you want the business to go.

Stephen and I constantly remind each other that good things take time.

We've learned the importance of being intentional about our growth and making sure we're not taking on more than we can realistically manage.

Having a fully booked schedule is exciting, but building a sustainable business requires more than just bringing in customers. It requires the right team, systems, space, and support.

We're learning to celebrate how far we've come while staying patient with the process of getting where we want to be.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Absolutely!

First, I'd love to give a shoutout to all the athletes, coaches, trainers, and sports organizations who have trusted Armored Massage with their recovery needs.

We've had the opportunity to work with competitive athletes and sports organizations, including:

• Australia's Wallaroos Rugby team

• New Zealand's Black Ferns

• Kansas City Blues Rugby

• Stanford Women's Soccer

• USA Women's Rugby

• Individual players from the Kansas City Current

• Professional basketball player Jordan Lathon

These experiences have been incredibly rewarding and have reinforced our passion for supporting athletes through recovery-focused massage therapy.

We'd also love to connect with more professional, collegiate, and competitive sports teams, whether they're based in Kansas City or traveling here for an event.

Armored Massage offers on-site sports massage services for athletic events, training camps, tournaments, and team recovery sessions.

We bring our equipment and recovery-focused approach directly to the athletes so they can focus on training, competing, and performing at their best.

If you're a coach, athletic trainer, team manager, or event organizer looking for sports massage services in Kansas City, we'd love to hear from you!

Learn more about our on-site services at:

https://www.armoredmassage.com/on-site-event-massage-therapy

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can learn more about Armored Massage, our recovery-focused sports massage services, and our team by visiting:

Website: https://www.armoredmassage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armoredmassage/

We're located in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, and specialize in personalized sports massage therapy for athletes, active individuals, and people seeking support with muscle recovery, mobility, and chronic discomfort.

Whether you're training for your next competition, recovering from an injury, or simply looking for a massage therapist who takes a more targeted approach to your needs, we'd love to welcome you to Armored Massage.

And if you're ever in Kansas City, book a session and let us know you found us through Business Stories Magazine!