Today we’d like to introduce you to Janice Thompson.
Janice, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For 20 years I taught special needs teens at public high schools in Salt Lake City. I really loved working with this population….for about 16 or 17 of those years! I was getting burned out and was looking for something new to learn. I enrolled in a massage school near my home thinking that it would be a nice addition to teaching, allowing me to work on friends and relatives. About half way through the yearlong course, I realized I’d found a new passion.
After graduating I did work part time on family, friends and neighbors, but took the plunge and quit teaching in 1995 to become a full time massage therapist! Two years later my daughter and I moved to San Diego to be closer to my sister and her family and to experience a very different climate! It was a welcome change and I haven’t regretted one minute of it.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Whenever someone is in charge of their own business, there are struggles! There is no regular pay check, no paid sick leave or paid vacations! The biggest challenge for me was building my clientele. Massage, thankfully, is recognized as a great stress and pain reliever. Still, it is an hour of someone’s time with a massage therapist they may know nothing about! The best advertising is from word of mouth, so it is slow to build the business initially. I did run ads in the yellow pages (yes, it was that long ago!) and some local papers. This helped get me started. I met some wonderful people who enriched my life while I was relaxing theirs! Along the way, some regular clients moved, passed away or were faced with financial obligations that prevented them from continuing with their massages. This is actually a constant challenge; to maintain regular clients and prospect for new ones.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The name of my business is Stress Reduction Therapies, and has been since I started back in Salt Lake City. My primary specialty is therapeutic massage, mainly Swedish Massage. I am able to increase or decrease the amount of pressure I use to accommodate different preferences. Some people like a lot of pressure (elbows, please!), while others prefer less for a more relaxing experience. I include the use of warm stones in my massages, used as tools on the back. This is very relaxing to the client. I also practice foot reflexology and spend 10 or 15 minutes on people’s feet during a typical hour massage.
Another modality I use is CranioSacral Therapy. This is not at all like massage, but is done over the person’s clothing while they are lying on their back. It is a light touch therapy that was introduced by Dr. William Sutherland, DO, many years ago. It can be used to alleviate pain, vertigo, headaches or generalized anxiety. Some folks who don’t really care for massage love this, as it involves no “rubbing”, but just gentle pressure. It is extremely relaxing. Quite a few massage therapists, physical therapists and even dentists have learned the technique to help relieve stress or pain in their clients.
One thing that I feel sets me apart from others is that I truly like and care about my clients. I always give them a full hour, not 45 or 50 minutes (as you get in some of the “clubs” or spas), I am quiet! If my client wants to chat, I will chat. But if they are silent I will respect that and allow them to sink into massage bliss! Many of my clients have been seeing me since I started here in San Diego. I feel that I’m their friend as well as their massage therapist. I really like this about my work!
What were you like growing up?
Growing up is a small northern Utah town was pretty peaceful. I was a shy kid who wanted to be a veterinarian. However when I realized that math and science were not my forte, I gave up on that. As a teen I was quite rebellious! I was bored in my small town. Looking back, I’m grateful for having been raised there, however. It was a beautiful and quaint place. My family loved music. My Mother was an organist and pianist. My sister followed suit. My brother has a master’s degree in music, and so music was all around the house. My Dad was a great listener and supporter of us all. I tried many different instruments before settling on an acoustic guitar. I do still play classical guitar and I also sing folk style music for fun.
Pricing:
- One hour massage: $65 (Over 60 yrs.? $55)
- 90-minutes: $90 (or $85 if over 60)
- 30-minutes: $40
- In home massage: Add $15 to above prices
Contact Info:
- Address: Better Health and Wellness Center
12455 Poway Rd., Ste G
Poway, CA 92064 - Website: www.PowayMassage.com
- Phone: 619-997-7612
- Email: janicet123@gmail.com
- Facebook: @StressReductionTherapies
- Yelp: Stress Reduction Therapies in Poway, CA
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
