Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunnie Gonzales.
Hi Sunnie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2009 I took a 500 hour massage course at Austin community college with their continuing education program. I worked in all of the spas in Austin and round rock areas. Massage heights. Massage envy, oak haven massage, Zenith massage. I got really good and hot stones and foot scrubs, but I needed more than just essential oils and Swedish massages. I wanted to actually help people in pain. I went to work for a Few different chiropractors. Started out at Round Rock Wellness, a place for massage, chiropractic and acupuncture I spent 3 years there and a lot about nerves and numbness, but didn’t know how to fix it. In 2014 I worked at performance wellness, who specializes in ART active release techniques. They used a lot of heat and cold therapy and physical therapy. While working here I got a better understanding of the body and how it works. I started doing more rehabilitation and structural work with my clients. I stayed with them till 2016 until I met Michelle Hittner the owner of Austin massage company. Michelle was a popular name in the Austin massage community. She worked all the cool races and music festivals like ACL, SXSW, and Fun Fun Fun Fest. The 1st time I worked with Michelle was 2016 Lance Armstrong, Live Strong bike race finish line. We set up our massage table and did post race massage to sweaty bikers for 6 hours. I also worked 3m marathon, Mamma Jamma bike race, ACL, SXSW, and Utopia fest. Doing massage outside is not for everyone. I really enjoy it. I have worked many finish line races thanks to Michelle. My favorite race to work is the Austin marathon because I get to work with some of the best event massage therapists in Austin. Michelle Hittner created such a beautiful community of massage therapists and I was very lucky to have been apart of it and even luckier to have her as a mentor for the last 9 years. I love doing event massage and it whats keeps me motivated to bring massage to the community and people who may not ever thought about stepping foot into a spa. I have been a massage therapist for 16 years now and have loved this job more and more as the years go by. There is always more to learn. From 2023-2024 I spent a year teaching at The Lauterstien Conway school of massage. Teaching brought me so much joy, but I took a step back to focus on my personal massage practice. This year I applied for my Massage Establishment License so that I can officially hire other massage therapist to work for me. Taking this next step in my career is huge and. I and so very thankful for the support I have had from my friends and community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being self employed is never a smooth road. The biggest struggle I thought I had was time management and organization. What the real struggle was not being able to ask for help when I needed it. Once I was able to identify my areas of struggle, I made a plan. I asked my mentor Michelle, “how did you do it? Her answer was really simple but it was the hardest thing for me to do. She said, “you have to let go of the simple tasks.”
She suggested that I hire her old office manager, Destiny to come help me figure out what I needed to get done. I had a todo list I have been adding to for months and it got really overwhelming. All of them were simple tasks. I had Destiny come to my office and while. I was working my clients she finished 80 percent of my todo list while I was massaging. It changed my life. I struggle with trusting people especially when it comes to my business. I have worked 16 years to build a name for myself and 7 years in Elgin. I still struggle with organization, time management and trust, but letting go of the simple tasks and asking for help from the right people makes me feel like it’s not as rough as the road could be.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I never know how to introduce myself. When I’m in public I just let my friends do it for me. What I do for work, what I specialize in and what I’m known for are all different things.
What I do for work is that I’m a massage therapist, yoga instructor, massage instructor, and hula hoop instructor.
I’m known for being the vice president of the Elgin Arts Association, I’m a community member and organizer. I also volunteer for many nonprofits like Bastrop Pride, relay for life Elgin and the local loins club.
I am most proud of building community and not competition. Being a healer and a teacher is what I feel that’s what sets me apart from everyone else.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Michelle Hittner of Austin Massage company has been an amazing mentor. I’m not even sure she was accepting people to mentor but I asked a lot of questions, I made sure I showed up on time and did what she asked. After working with her for about a year I noticed she had a specific crew she called the OG crew. They got to do all the fun music events. I would ask to work and she would say I already got my crew. I begged her if someone couldn’t make it to please call me. I got a call on a Wednesday to come out to Utopia Texas for a 4 day music fest and I had to be there tomorrow. I packed up my ice chest and Toyota Corolla to car camp for 4 days. One of the best weekends of my life. I have gone to work the music festival in utopia twice a year for the last 9 years. When Michelle retired a few years ago she gave me the gig out in Utopia. I am so great for the land and opportunity to run the massage tent. I could go on and on how our friendship over the years has blossomed. Michelle is one of the most compassionate, funny, and caring person I have ever met. I would. It be where. I am today with her guidance, wisdom, and knowledge.
Pricing:
- 30 min Massage -$65
- 60 min massage- $110
- 90min massage-$140
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @12starmassage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063718623466
Image Credits
I can’t upload my images it’s not letting me.
