Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunnie Gonzales.
Hi Sunnie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a Licensed Massage Therapist since January 2009. Health and healing are my top priorities when working with clients. Every massage I perform is specialized to fit the needs of each client’s specific ailments. I Graduated from Austin community college and has 565 hours of training in Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage. I am also certified in Hot Stone Massage, Chakra balancing and Reflexology (with Ariana Vincent), Prenatal and Postnatal Massage (with Rima Star), Sports Massage, Trigger Point, Myofascial Release, neuromuscular therapy and Barefoot shiatsu. I am also a licensed massage therapy instructor and teach partnered and self massage classes. In July 2022, I will be starting a 200-hour yoga teacher training course with body and shine wellness to deepen my practice.
I am the proud owner of Twelve Star Massage and active member of the Community. I opened my practice in the fall of 2017 in my hometown of Elgin, Texas. I have worked closely with Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, and amateur and professional athletes and knows how to work with injuries. Healing is one of my passions and I love to learn different modalities and to educate myself in holistic healing. I have dreams to travel to different countries like Thailand and Peru to learn new massage techniques and energy work. In my spare time, I like to do yoga, hula hoop, snorkel and explore the different state parks here in Texas and hike…
I always knew I was going to be a bodyworker. I was massaging my family as young at ten years old. My 1st official day of work as a massage therapist was Feb. 14, 2009. I did 5 hours back to back no break. I didn’t have time to eat or use the restroom. I just washed my hands and changed the sheets, and got to work. I wanted to quit massage all together after that 1st weekend. My hands were swollen and I thought to myself, there’s no way I can do this. I took six months off and worked at a convenient store. The night shift at the store was a job, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.
After a day of filling out applications, I was driving down Main Street in Elgin and saw a sign that said 39.99 one hour massage. With 60 bucks in my pocket, I stopped and went inside to see if They had an opening for a massage. When I walked in and talked to the owner, they said that they didn’t have a therapist on staff. She just moved and they haven’t taken down the sign. So I asked if they were hiring and she asked me to come in the next day for an official interview. I spent three years at heavenly hair and spa, and I left in 2013. I traveled to the west coast for a few months and landed in Austin working for chiropractors and different spas. August 2017, I decided it was time to be my own boss. When choosing where to open, it was an easy choice. I already had an established clientele in elgin. When I came back, people were so happy to see me. I have Won Best of Bastrop County in 2019 and 2020. I pride myself in my healing work. I am hoping to create a beautiful health and wellness community here in Elgin Texas.
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?
My biggest obstacle of my business has to be Covid 19. For multiple reasons. I wasn’t able to work for three months. March 18th to May 18. Navigating my business and myself through a lot of growth was difficult. I learned so much about myself professionally and personally. It was hard to not touch people. The pandemic was a big hit to my industry. I learned that I have to keep my hands busy at all times. I learned how to embroider, macramé, and I sharpened my sketching and acrylic painting skills during the time off.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
From the moment you walk in the door to the moment you walk out my attention is focused on the client. The relationships and trust that I have built in the community and with my clients is one of a kind. Massage Is an investment in your health. Connecting mind and body, and depending how your feeling that day I will create a sessions specifically for what you need that day.
I love to work with people who are injured. To see someone walk in limping and shuffling and an hour later see them walk out With no pain. This is why I do this work. I am constantly learning new techniques and taking continuing education courses to bring the best to my clients. I do a lot of myofascial and also integrate trigger point and neuromuscular therapy techniques. In other words, my massages are deep and effective.
I have had several new clients walk in to my office for a session and when I ask who referred them, their response is; (insert name here) said I need to come here, that it will hurt, but that you can fix me.”
I always respond with “ so someone told you that I was going to hurt you, and you still came in?
Pricing:
- 100 an hour
- 130 for 90 mins
- 150 for do-Terra’s aromatouch technique
- 175 for 120 minutes
Contact Info:
- Email: Twelvestarmassge@gmail.
com - Website: www.12starmassage.com
- Instagram: @12starmassage
- Facebook: \Twelvestarmassage
