Today we’d like to introduce you to Joselyn Johnson.
Hi Joselyn, 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?
My primary love language is physical touch, and I’ve always been an observer of people. Noticing patterns, wondering why a person walks the way they do, and knowing if someone is in pain by their gait. I would get fussed at as a child for staring at people but I was just studying them. I grew up in a big, unaffectionate family. I still have to make half of my siblings hug me. So I stole hugs and snuggles while giving scalp massages and rubbing achy shoulders or washing my nieces’ hair.
I was a public educator. I was a teacher’s assistant for 3 years, then a teacher, mentor and lead mentor teacher. A total of 17 years in education, then I had to leave. I was still studying patterns…broken patterns, and I felt like it was going to kill me.
Then in 2018, I came to visit my sister in Charlotte. She was dealing with a hip that needed to be replaced and was in chronic pain with arthritis, degenerative disc and no cartilage in that hip joint. I would find her on the floor trying to stretch and I would dive in with assisted stretch and compression that would bring her relief. She told me you really do have a natural touch and you always have. Why don’t you go to school for massage. So I started doing my research and found a clinical-based school for massage 10 miles from her. North Carolina School for Advanced Bodywork…a group of HUGE body nerds! Studying movement and pain patterns is a real thing, a real purpose and a real passion for these guys. I found a family of like-minded folks, with encyclopedia-like-minded instructors, overflowing with compassion and resting within intuition.
Now I have been given knowledge and skills to help my elders, my peers, young ones (as young as 8) relieve pain, recognize patterns that cause them, move more freely and FEEL better. I have people often ask me if I miss teaching. I don’t. I’m still teaching…just one student at a time.
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?
Nothing worth doing is going to be a completely smooth road. I have fibromyalgia and this is a very physical job. I have to be mindful of my rest, hydration, diet, and stress so that I can physically do what I do. I don’t want to be in the space of being so overwhelmed with my own pain that I can’t help others get out of theirs. I fuss so much about stretching, movement, and hydrating because that’s how I stay out of pain or deal with less pain. Also, I’m working independently now. This economy is rough. When people tighten their financial belts, and we all have to do it, massage and bodywork is often cut. So I have to be consistent about putting out content to attract new clients so I can maintain my life. Do you know how long it takes me to put a reel out??!!!
As you know, we’re big fans of Therapeutic Touch by Joselyn. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
My massage and bodywork business is located within Aura Salons in Fort Mill, SC. It’s Therapeutic Touch by Joselyn. I offer Sports, Deep Tissue, Swedish and Prenatal massage. I also offer full-body stretch sessions and Thai massage for the table. I often incorporate movement into any session and I believe in a softer approach. Some people might prefer or are just used to bodyworkers digging in. I take the time to assess, listen, warm up the muscle tissue and respond to the feedback you AND your body are giving.
I have plenty of clients that have said things like, I’ve never been stretched before, or no one has ever addressed my PECS, or no massage therapist has ever touched my feet! I get it. A lot of their experience has been in a setting where the therapist didn’t have time to assess and discuss pain patterns. That’s why I put myself in an environment where that can and does take place. If you have decreased range of motion, I can help you. If you’re tired, stressed, or overworked, I can help you too. If you’re competing, training, gardening, or building let me help your muscles recover. Massage and Bodywork is about helping your body work better. Everybody needs and deserves that…I can help.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Passion. I love helping people. Therapeutic Touch is my modality for living out my passion to help people move, feel, and live better.
Pricing:
- Hr massage $80
- 90-minute massage $110
- 2 hr massage $145
Contact Info:
- Website: www.massagebook.com/biz/TherapeuticTouchbyJoselyn
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapeutictouchbyjoselyn?r=nametag
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069028434828
