Lindsay Juarez

In massage school, I was taught that one of the main benefits of massage was helping the body flush toxins: pushing fluid toward the heart, reducing burden, and helping the body heal faster. The body knew what it was doing, we just had to assist it. I also was taught that massage squeezes stored lactic acid out of muscles and into the bloodstream. That’s why you feel so good afterward, but might feel sore if you don’t drink enough water to flush those toxins out. It was a simple, satisfying...

I remember being a brand-new massage therapist—those first clients who are complete strangers, and all the feelings that suddenly come up. Am I good enough? Do I know enough? But actually, my inner voice was a lot less confident: You don’t know enough. They can tell you’re brand new. You don’t even remember what muscle you’re touching. Anxiety spread like wildfire. So I went down the path many therapists go: do more . Use all your tools. Push harder. Grind down the taut bands. I took the...

When we talk about marketing, most therapists immediately think about Instagram posts, referral cards, or trying to “niche down.” But...