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

I’ve read a few think pieces about how massage needs saving. One was technically a Facebook rant, so I’m being generous calling it a think piece. The argument usually goes like this: Massage has an identity crisis. We don’t know where we belong. We’re not taken seriously. We need clearer placement inside the medical system. And it’s true, our profession spans a lot: Oncology massage, Post-surgical recovery, High-performance athletes, Hospice patients, Torticollis babies, High

I self-identify as an overachiever: former gifted kid, perfectionist. I’ve always worked too hard, tried too much, overscheduled myself—etc, etc. A lot of my burnout was self-inflicted. Yes, I was operating under scripts I’d absorbed from capitalism and patriarchy: my worth is what I do ; women should be quiet . Those beliefs created a chaotic inner world—like a duck on water, calm to everyone else while panicking just below the surface. Learning massage often follows a predi

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 sim

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

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

Massage therapy isn’t just a career—it’s a calling. It often begins with the desire to help others, to bring comfort and healing through...

If you’ve been thinking about becoming a massage therapist, there’s no better time to take the leap. Massage therapy isn’t just a...

It’s a familiar phrase—and an important one for massage therapists. Our work requires us to be mindful of both our client’s body and our...

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...

As featured on The Scaling Wellness Podcast  with DJ Turner When I first told my dad I’d signed up for massage school, he was...

Advice for Massage Therapists Who Feel Called to Something Bigger   By Lindsay Juarez, Founder – Mindful Massage Academy  🎧 Listen to my...

Healing your relationship with your body doesn’t always require big gestures. Sometimes the most profound shifts happen through small,...

When we talk about healing from trauma or chronic stress, a lot of advice focuses on getting active : Go for a run. Take a yoga class....

Massage Therapy and Emotional Processing: Meeting the Body Where It’s At When we think about healing emotional wounds, we often think...

We often think of relationships as something that exists outside of ourselves — partnerships, friendships, family bonds. But maybe the...

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...

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 ...

When we think about trauma, we often think about memories, emotions, or mental health — but trauma is just as much a physical experience...

Most massage schools aren’t built with burnout in mind. Fluorescent lights. Fast-paced lectures. Strict attendance. Independent study...