Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Goldberg Blackthorn
Samantha raised her two homeschooled daughters in East Austin and it has been her home since 2001. Samantha Saladino plays in several local Austin Based bands including premier Klezmer band Mazel Tov Kocktail Hour and Dylan Blackthorn and the Small Flames. She directs a community band which performs at HONK Texas each year called the Austin Klezmer Ensemble. In 2018 Samantha opened a wellness center and apothecary on the east side three blocks from where she raised her children. Ace of Cups provides many modalities including massage, yoga, herbs, class, tarot and more.
Ace of Cups massage therapists are trained in advanced modalities and offer high quality massages in many styles including deep tissue, myofascial release, ashiatsu, hot stone, and cupping therapy. Ace of Cups is also a mystical arts school that teaches massage techniques, reiki, tarot, energy work, herbal magic, herbal remedy making and more. There is a 200 certified yoga teacher training at Ace of Cups of which Samantha, Kaytee Hernandez from Austin Bouldering Project and Jenny Orona teach as a magical trio. Samantha teaches the Anatomy portion, Kaytee teaches the asana and Jenny the mystical arts and philosophy. We strongly believe in sharing the arts and helping to create more teachers, mystics and herbalists.
Samantha and her husband Dylan Blackthorn are opening Alchemy coffee and Apothecary in the Spring which will offer spiced coffee and herbal elixirs, stay tuned for information.
Samantha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I moved to Austin after studying anatomy and physiology at Colorado State University in 1999. I raised my daughters in East Austin and would have loved to have access to a wellness center, massage and other forms of self-care. At that time, nothing like that existed over on this part of town. My landlord and I decided that it would be a beautiful thing to open a wellness center in the heart of East Austin. We have known many of the neighbors for the last 20 years and consulted with them about what they would like to see. They were very excited and supportive about us creating this business. I have been a massage therapist, herbalist and yoga teacher in East Austin for two decades, an anatomy and massage technique teacher at many of the massage schools, and have worked at many of the massage studios in town. I wanted to take the best parts about all of them and create a center that would have not only a beautiful community space for clients but also provide a great place to work. A community space where one could get a massage, do yoga, take a class on healing and mystic arts, have meet up’s and connect with the community. During Covid, we also started selling bulk herbs and other apothecary items to meet the need of the community who were calling and asking us for these items.
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?
I want to say that there were no struggles, but it also wasn’t a smooth road if that makes sense. It has been such an honor and so fun to open this beautiful space. What I have chosen to do is enjoy every step of it as grows and changes. I even enjoyed going to the city and getting my permits and from the licensing department. The city employees were great and I even made some friends in the departments. When Covid happened, we were able to make It through the shut down because the landlord is such an amazing beautiful human and waived much of our rent. Our clients supported us by buying gift cards, herbs, candles, tarot cards and we delivered. So all in all I would say it’s only been an amazing beautiful experience opening this place and shepherding it as it grows.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a local Austin musician as well as a massage therapist, Tarot card reader, Iyengar yoga teacher, herbalist, anatomy teacher and a teacher of mystic arts. I love having a space where all those magical crafts come together. I don’t want to talk about what sets us apart from others because it doesn’t feel necessary to compare us to others. Ace Of Cups Massage and Wellness is magical place with a life of its own, a wellness center, and it is also a Hogwarts type place where we teach magical arts and techniques of self-care.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost my husband Dylan Blackthorn who is a designer and builder and helped me create the vibe of the space. Next, the two people that are local to Austin who helped me the most are Amelia from Sweet Ritual ice cream and Peggy Kelly from Austin yoga school. Both of them have been my allies on the journey of opening this location. Amelia was my business coach as I was opening and Peggy is my yoga teacher. Outside of Austin I also have a amazing inspiration, Sherry Mayrent, my music mentor who inspires me in music and supports me in helping me grow as a person and business woman. And my landlord, who is just an amazing man himself and has supported this business the entire time that we have been renting from him. And a shout out to Harmony down in Mexico and Ellen Goldberg my Tarot mentors. We have a yoga teacher training and tarot classes coming up. We are still doing online classes until Austin’s Covid numbers are under control. We have one on one services available live in person at the studio. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Contact Info:
- Email: Aceofcupsaustin@gmail.com
- Instagram: @aceofcupsaustin
- Facebook: Facebook.com/aceofcupsaustin
