Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Erickson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated Seattle Massage School in 1992 and have been working as a Massage Therapist or Massage Therapy Instructor since then. I worked with a Chiropractor in Seattle, then moved to the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John for one season, to my hometown in Montana to open my own business and then to Phoenix for a new adventure working at resorts and hotels. A move back to Seattle in 1998 resulted in finding my favorite job at a private massage studio and meeting my husband. We married three years later, and I left that favorite job to become an AF pilot’s wife. In Grand Forks, ND I had my own small business and taught at massage schools there and in MN. This is also where I was introduced to Yamuna® Body Rolling. We then moved to the U.K., where I had our child (helping my body heal from a C-section using YBR) and worked part-time at a local day spa.
A move to Germany introduced me to Chiropractor and Tibetan Medicine Practitioner/Yoga Therapist/YBR Instructor friends who became influential to me as I explored the body-mind connection as a practitioner, confirming what I’d already become curious about – that the physical body holds emotional trauma, and the patterns existing around that idea. Returning to the U.S. brought me together with three different groups of women who planned healing retreats for women who have suffered trauma. I co-developed a five-day retreat with a good friend who serves the local community where she lives in Peru, and in 2016, ’17, and ’18 I traveled there to co-facilitate these retreats for S. American women. My sister has joined the “cause,” and we now alternate years, but Covid-19 prevented the 2020 retreat from taking place. I also completed my training as Yamuna® Body Rolling Instructor since returning to the States, and am certified to teach Yamuna® Save Your Face, Foot Fitness, and Body Rolling.
I also discovered Oola: Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World, a book written by two holistic doctors, and started using the Oola principals to stay focused on my goals as I moved forward through life. After my husband retired from the USAF in 2015, we traveled the country for a year in an R.V. (very Oola!) and ended up in McKinney in 2018 when he took a job in this area. Finally, we will be in one location for several years, and I have time to offer the business that has been manifesting in my head all this time. I have dreamed of a place where people can find tools for healing and self-care. I have been able to sustain my body as a practicing Massage Therapist for over 25 years using these tools I’ve learned along the way, and I want to share these good things with anyone willing to improve their lives. Joining forces with Honey Freis, owner of Yoga Balance in McKinney, we opened our doors at our new location in June of 2020 (super Oola!). I not only offer Massage Therapy services, but ionic detox foot baths, Raindrop Technique® treatments, and four Yamuna™ Body Rolling classes per week. A brand-new addition is our TheraPlate, which provides a number of health benefits. For any information or to register for a class, people can go the website or contact me, useful products such as essential oils and Thank You Silver liquid and gel, and the Covid-19 Summer offered me time to become a certified Oola Life Coach. I offer monthly Oola workshops to help people identify where they are in life and create steps to get themselves to where they want to be – a Life of Balance (that’s Oola!). Honey and the other instructors offer a variety of yoga classes in person and/or virtually.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Even though I love to travel and experience new things and different cultures, moving often has made it impossible to create a lasting business. And each move has had its own set of difficulties regarding licensure and insurance coverage, especially in other countries. I never doubted that I am meant to provide massage services for people, and I’ve been fortunate to continue to do that, but re-starting in each new location seemed to take too long and I found myself losing patience as I waited for certifications and then clientele. Staying organized and keeping track of continuing education requirements, maintaining certifications, tax prep, etc., can also be challenging and time consuming.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My brand, Massage E.T.C. (Essential Oils, Therapies, and Classes) summarizes what I offer; products, treatments, and classes, all good things for self-care that help me in my work and have helped me in my own life. I am known for my quality massage treatments. I hope that I will soon be known for Yamuna® Body Rolling (I’m the only practitioner in N Texas). My varied experiences have shaped the work I do, and I strive to offer each client a massage that fits their individual needs. I want people to know that I really do care about each client, I understand everyone has different needs, and each body is unique and special. I want to encourage people to take time to care for themselves, and that means different things to different people.
What matters most to you?
Maintaining a life of balance. It’s so easy to get “off-kilter” or lose focus, especially in this strange time we are currently living in. It doesn’t have to be complicated to identify goals and create a life of balance, but it does require commitment and a bit of effort, and it’s worth it! I think everything I offer in my business can help my clients with whatever their wellness goals may be.
Contact Info:
- Email: julie@massageetcllc.com and Massageetcllc@gmail.com
- Website: massageetcllc.com and julieerickson.amtamembers.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Julie-Erickson-Massage-ETC-LLC-107024007651608
