Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Castillo.
Hi Julie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My two best friends from California nicknamed me Magic Hands, which incidentally is the worst business name. On our girl’s trips and hang times, I’d massage them and they always suggested I should do it for a living. I thought it would be fun but there’s no way I could do that for a living, especially in California.
When I moved back to Texas in 2008 I bounced around from administrative jobs to real estate and my last desk job at a tech firm. At the tech company employees received bi-monthly chair massages. This was probably one of the best jobs, free massages, free medical insurance, 3 weeks paid vacation, etc. During these massage perks, I’d become friends with one of the therapists and she urged me to pursue massage school and which one to go to. So I took a gamble and enrolled in The Lauterstein-Coway massage school one-year program. After I started school I knew immediately that this was becoming my career and not just a JOB (just over broke).
As soon as I graduated I started renting a studio with a friend of mine. Now I am in my 8th year of massaging, in my own studio, my own boss, and living the American dream.
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?
Like most new businesses you have to “build your book” of clients, so I’ve worked at many different places and gaining clients from each of them. My first LMT job I started at Austin Preferred Integrated Medicine (chiropractic office), then Massage Envy (membership-based), Body Tonic (medical spa), Austin Massage Company (athletes), Workwell Massage & Acupuncture (hippy dippy), Viva Day Spa (high-end boutique style), Hand & Stone (membership-based), Soothe (mobile massage only), ACL Festival (chair massages), just to name a few.
All of these places were great for my learning experiences and all helped me grow as a therapist, but was never happy doing things the way they wanted to. It wasn’t until the last place I realize it wasn’t their fault, it was me who outgrew them.
October 2020 was the last time I worked for another company part-time. Working for just myself was scary for so many obvious reasons but also because this was still the peak of the COVID era. Turns out it was the best thing I could do for my business and should have done it sooner.
My next hurdle was cancer. In November 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. From January to April 2021 I’ve had 3 surgeries and in May I started radiation treatment. 2021 started rough but it’s all in my rearview mirror now. My clients have been so patient and helpful, I am truly blessed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Each of my client’s sessions is different every time and therefore custom pretty much every time. The client could ask for Deep Tissue but may not need that much pressure that day, or the muscle doesn’t need to be forced, i.e. custom massage. My approach is asking the body to release with techniques rather than force it. Other times you think you just need maintenance but I manage to find an area that needs extra attention. The work I do is as a dance between me and the client, the dance is that we each give back and forth either they are trying the breath through something tuff or being honest with me if the pressure is too much and me knowing their limits.
My certifications and training include; Cupping, Deep Tissue, Himalayan Salt Stones, Prenatal, Oncology/Lymphatic, Myofascial Release, Myoskeletal Alignment, Sports, Swedish, and Trigger Point.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising? By the time I graduated and received my massage license, I was 40 years old. Before then I’ve done and seen a lot. Moved back and forth from California and Texas… a lot. My work history began in the service industry on and off for 20 years. For college, I studied computer graphics, then went back again for web design. I never used my degree, but I’ve done a ton of administration work in financial firms, real estate firms, and tech firms. I believe this is how I can relate to almost every one of my clients.
For fun played paintball at a professional level for 8 years, trained in Aikido for 3 years, taught swing dancing, and completed a triple crown in California (surfed, snowboarded, and skateboarded all in one day), completed a 1/2 triathlon and several bike races, been to almost every gym and gym classes. With all these sport I have injuries and recouped from them all.
I love new experiences and love being active. My plan is to see my 90’s, so I’m only halfway there.
Pricing:
- 60 min Custom Massage – $80
- 90 min Custom Massage – $110
- 60 mins Custom Massage with CBD Oil & Lemongrass $90
- Packages: 3 – 60 mins 5% off = $228
- Packages: 5 – 60 mins 15% off = $340
Contact Info:
- Email: atxmassagebyjulie@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.massagebook.com/Austin~Massage~atx-massage-by-julie?src=external#services
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atxmassagebyjulie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/massagebyjuliecastillo/
Image Credits
STACY@SMSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 512-964-3070 BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AVAILABLE FOR TRAVEL WORLDWIDE https://www.smsphotographyblog.com/
