Today we’d like to introduce you to Jani Lovelace-Jensen.
Hi Jani, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Recently, my youngest daughter graduated Kindergarten, and she and her classmates were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. She confidently chose “Teacher!” It’s a question I think most of us have spent our lives trying to figure out.
In my case, I didn’t really choose Massage Therapy. It sort of chose me. I didn’t grow up in a traditional home, and the early years were messy. My childhood chaos taught me a lot about resilience and trusting my instincts. I worked hard to get my high school diploma and going to college was a huge accomplishment. My first semester was difficult, and I realized how unready I was.
This, I’ve learned, is the case for most despite their upbringing. We are all a little caught off guard and underprepared for the path we are walking.
Not knowing at the time, I was being led towards my gift.
I grew up around healers, chiropractors, massage therapists, energy healers, artists, and health enthusiasts. My mother didn’t take me to the doctor when I was sick, she took me to the downtown health food store to ask “Bo” what vitamins I needed. He’d always welcome me with a smile, and I’d pick out a sugar-free candy while my mom shopped for my medicine.
I began understanding that our bodies have the ability to heal from within.
While on my traditional educational path, I failed at many attempts to be anything other than my gift.
I was enrolled in a health class focusing on physical education at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, when I realized I was interested in health care. I wanted to change course and study nursing or physical therapy. I decided then to move to San Antonio. A good friend of mine was enrolled in a massage therapy program and she suggested I give it a try. I was open to anything and massage therapy was always a part of my life growing up. I took a nine-month course at the European Massage Therapy Institute and loved it.
It was the first time I didn’t struggle. The anatomy and physiology was fascinating. I was always confused about how the body worked as a kid and finally seeing how everything worked was thrilling.
I graduated and began working. Almost immediately, I attracted people with medical issues I knew nothing about except that I could help them. I could ease their suffering. I began researching their health issues and found myself feeling underequipped. I wanted to learn more.
My grandmother was always excited about my journey and future. She facilitated most of my success by being supportive and available to me in many ways. When I spoke to her about my desires, she offered me a path. I could move to New York, and continue my education. I learned that my great-grandfather, her father, had attended the Swedish Institute in New York City when he was in his late forties and had a wellness center in Bridgehampton, New York called Restoration for many years. I realized then that this was not an accident. I was already given this gift at birth.
I was excited to know this about my great-grandfather, and I explored my options. I applied at the Swedish Institute but after touring the school, I trusted my instincts that it wasn’t the right place for me.
I decided on the New York College of Health Professions.
This school felt energized and expansive. I felt like I was really going to grow into my skill and develop my abilities.
I successfully completed my studies and gained a degree in Occupational Studies and Massage Therapy.
I finally felt prepared to start my career.
The day before my license was activated, I learned I would become a mother. I was dizzy with love for the tiny dot on the monitor. I couldn’t hold back my excitement. I had everything I ever wanted.
I told my boss at the time and he made a remark “There’s another talented massage therapist career down the drain.” I was shocked. I wanted both. I could do both, right?
I was too motivated to stop, and I had already worked too hard to let such a crude comment stymie me. After taking two years off to just be with my beautiful baby, I was yearning to use all the knowledge I had gained.
I began working. I worked at health food stores, chiropractic offices, gyms, and health fairs.
There were some difficult bosses and work schedules that didn’t honor my work/life balance, so I decided to step away and begin my own practice.
I received negative feedback from friends and family who feared ever taking risks. They said things like, “You can’t just expect to have clients right away.” Or “What if you fail?”
I knew there was a chance of failure, but the gamble was better than being miserable in a joyless career and not honoring myself or my family.
I stepped away from the prescribed life and opened Spicewood Medical Massage. I wanted to provide massage to every type of body, so I specifically focused on the medical aspect of my education.
I wanted to see different ailments and learn how massage could facilitate clients’ wellness goals.
I quickly attracted some good folks in the neighborhood who knew I had something special. They started telling all their friends and colleagues about me. Leila Saleh from The Hair Shack across the highway from me was my biggest supporter. I was busy within two months of opening.
Eight years later, having survived a pandemic, major life changes, a growing family, and a practice so busy I need to clone myself, I finally feel like I made it. I figured out what I’m going to be when I grow up.
I don’t know what the future has in store for me but I’m trusting myself and I’m eternally grateful for the great city of Austin for its warm embrace and for allowing me this fantastic journey.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The pandemic was my greatest obstacle. I’m just now starting to feel myself becoming grounded and centered. I learned a lot about myself. There were many times I felt everything would just fall apart, then I’d get a message from a client or a card in the mail offering support and it would lift me up. I knew I needed to survive and hopefully thrive for myself, my family and my clients. I’m very honored to be where I am today. I take none of it for granted.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a licensed Massage Therapist and Business Owner of Spicewood Medical Massage. I specialize in Medical Massage, Sports Massage and Tui Na. I utilize Trigger Point Therapy, ART technique and MFR in my practice. I believe the body works as a whole. I create a whole-body experience with each session while focusing on your areas of concern.
Everything is connected.
Contact Info:
- Website: Spicewoodmedicalmassage.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spicewoodmedicalmassage/
