by William Smythe
photos by Korey Coker
Sometime in 2019, I woke up with sciatica. It got so bad I could barely walk most days. If I walked, it went away, but once I sat down or fell asleep, I would rise with intense shooting pain in my lower back. When I complained about it to my friend Ben Young, owner of Coyote Soul, they told me to come in the next day so they could take a look at me.
Entering their office, I was instructed to disrobe and lie on a vinyl table with my face placed inside a pillowed ring. Ben rubbed their hands with oil and pressed into the tense muscles. It hurt, but soon I felt relief.
Ben asked if I carried a shoulder bag, which I do. “You should stop that,” they said. “Or at least switch shoulders. You carry too much weight on one side. That’s why you are knotted up here,” they added while pressing the tight nerve. “Your left shoulder is much more tense than the right one. It is what has your body off center.”
After the massage, Ben suggested simple stretches and home care to avoid flare ups. With their advice, I have not had another attack and have only needed minor treatment since then.
Ben, and by extension their company Coyote Soul, keeps regular hours at the Pumping Station, where they offer clothed table Thai massages in short sessions for anyone interested. They also set up during TransFest this past year at Wiseacre and have offered services during Polly Popjoy’s drag events.
Beyond LGBTQIA+ spaces, Ben’s massage work has appeared at Church on the River and during CHOICES Employee Appreciation Day. Though their prices stay affordable, Ben always provides thoughtful consultation and care for anyone in pain.
Their service is especially important in a time when being queer can still bring challenges in healthcare. I have heard many stories of trans folks facing discrimination in hospitals and clinics. As a part of the queer community, Ben is able to move through these spaces and act as a bridge, giving proper treatment without scrutiny or shame.
To learn more, I visit Ben at their office at 4515 Poplar in Suite 425. They share the space with another therapist and both have a placard titled Massage Souls on the door. Under hanging ashiatsu bars, Ben explains the highs and lows of working in healthcare.
“Most of my troubles come from being a male bodied massage therapist,” they say. “Even though I am nonbinary, I still have male body parts, which can be a challenge for some clients. But others prefer me because they assume I am stronger. All I hope is that clients treat us like healthcare professionals and feel comfortable telling us their health issues so we can provide good care.”
On insurance issues, Ben says they have had very few. “My biggest struggle has been location. I worked for many massage companies before and their offices were closer to my clientele. When I went out on my own, I had trouble finding a space. Luckily I found this one near Laurelwood.”
It is a good space, and the building is handicap accessible. “That is a great thing for my clients,” Ben says. “Still, I suspect some realtors I met before had bias against my gender identity or sexuality. I cannot confirm that, but other therapists have faced similar problems. That is one reason I prefer working with queer businesses and lawyers. We share a common understanding. As a queer health professional, I hope to offer that same calm. Not just for the queer community but for Memphis as a whole. I am part of Memphis first and hope my lifestyle is not a deterrent to non queer clients.”
Speaking on queer health again, Ben returns to the issue of being male bodied. “It is all about comfort,” they say. “Massage therapy is a private space, so I understand that if you are female bodied, whether cis or trans, you may prefer someone with breast tissue. And vice versa for cis or trans men who want a male bodied therapist. I am trained to care for all bodies.”
Having experienced this care myself, I can vouch for their skill. Lately, Ben has also been doing prenatal massage therapy, which I had never thought about as a helpful part of an OB/GYN routine. It has made me appreciate massage as a real part of healthcare.
“I want folks to see massage as not simply cosmetic but as a vital tool. I can act as a middle ground between you and your doctor. Sometimes a client comes in with a lump in their shoulder. Most of the time it is a knot or fluid build up that I can work out. But there have been times when I realize it may be a more serious issue and recommend a doctor.”
“To return to the insurance question,” Ben adds, “I am more affordable than a hospital visit and, as a queer person, a more empathetic caretaker. I try to make sure anyone, regardless of income or gender background, gets the care they deserve.”
Which reminds me, I should book a session again. I am in good hands.
