I came to Massage because of my mom. I didn’t know it at the time, and for years I would have said it was because I hated retail, or because I loved helping people. The anatomy is fascinating, and being able to help people feel less pain in their bodies is a kind of drug. But if I go deeper, it’s because of my mom. My mom was the youngest of four, the child of abusive alcoholics. She was sexually assaulted early in life. She had surgery for scoliosis in high school and didn’t

Before we dive in, remember this: these are not signs that you’re “failing” or “not cut out for this.” They are the normal, predictable speed bumps that every service-based business owner encounters, especially in the first year. The goal is not to avoid them, but to learn to move through them with your nervous system intact. 1. Inconsistent Bookings The Experience: Some weeks your calendar feels full, others it’s crickets. This unpredictability can send your stress response

We often think of relationships as something that exists outside of ourselves — partnerships, friendships, family bonds. But maybe the most important, most enduring relationship we have is the one we so often overlook: the relationship with our own body. It’s time to start seeing your body not as a machine, not as a project to fix, but as a person — one who has been with you through everything. Introducing the “Personhood of the Body” When you’ve spent years disconnected from

Let’s talk about stability. Not just the kind that shows up on your calendar or in your fully-booked schedule. I mean the kind of stability that starts inside. The kind that’s rooted in self-trust, clear boundaries, and a business that actually supports your life—not drains it. Let’s Talk About Selling (Without the Squirm) I know—“selling yourself” probably makes your stomach twist a little. Most of us massage therapists didn’t sign up to be salespeople. That phrase can stir

For many of us, safety isn’t just about locking our doors or finding the right people — it’s also about whether we feel safe inside ourselves. And sadly, for a lot of people, feeling safe in their own body isn’t a given. Let’s talk about why that is — and what we can start to do about it. The Bigger Picture: How Systems Teach Us to Disconnect From a young age, many of us are taught — directly and indirectly — that our bodies aren’t good enough. Society is saturated with messa

There’s a phenomenon in the human nervous system called co-regulation. This means that when a distressed and dysregulated nervous system is near a regulated one, it can learn how to regulate more quickly. Practically, this looks like the moment when you’re breaking down, and your calm friend simply holds space for you. This is the power behind talk therapy. Often, it’s less about the words and more about learning to discuss distressing events while finding safety within yours

When I was starting to really lay out how I wanted this school to be run, I wanted to make sure that at every choice I was making the choice that benefited the students in the program. I wanted the school to be full of equity and mutual respect. One of the ways I wanted to reinvent the traditional massage school is with the Student Clinic. The traditional Student Clinic for Massage Therapists (and many hands-on-customer services) is that at some point in their education, typi