We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jesika La Rusch a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jesika, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Where do I start? My first year as a Licensed Massage Therapist I worked at a slow pace Day Spa. Ideally I wanted to work with clients experiencing new or old injuries from sports or accidents but I figured I would get my feet wet first. In the meantime I educated myself by taking continuing education classes and did research for that perfect job. It was an ordinary day at the spa and I had a ordinary set of clients that day. So I thought.
I like to think of myself as a free spirit who is here to spread joy and love to those I encounter so it was no surprise when I greeted my client with a huge smile and warm energy. I could tell something was a tab bit off in this clients energy but who am I to press the issue?
The massage starts and everything is fine. UNTIL, about half way through the session my client proceeds to bawl their eyes out about their current situation. Is this an emotional release they taught us about in school? I thought.
I have always been the one to comfort someone when they feel down, so it was almost second nature to me to start pouring more energy of love into the session and eventually they became at ease and couldn’t thank me enough for allowing them that moment of release they had so desperately been needing.
After that session from then on I knew I was in the right place. I could feel in my soul I had made the right decision in my career and would expand my healing abilities. I could still work with clients and their injuries but my calling was to encourage the feeling of vulnerability and emotional release from the things we hold so deep and near to our souls.
Whenever I start to doubt myself, my career or my business the universe always finds me a new client to remind me that I am a healer above all else in my career. It reminds me to not get lost in my insecurities nor the hustle and bustle of busy daily life. For that I can not thank the moon and the stars enough for guiding me where I am meant to be.
All you need to do is listen and have faith.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Creative, Dreamer, Ambition, Hope, Humility; all words of the english language that I aspire to be remembered for everyday. My hope is my strength, it has fueled my ambition for something more in this life. Finding comfort in hope has allowed me to face uncertain times with posie but most importantly hope has paved the way for my dreams. I want to give people hope for a better, healthier, pain free life. Through any situation I have encountered hope has been my light and my focus. Humility reminds me of where I came from and pushes me to improve for myself, for my clients and for my family.
Working with my hands, staying healthy and doing what I love were all things I strived to keep possible when looking for my forever career. Creating art and working on projects is a deep passion of mine but at age 18 I didn’t really have a plan of how I would make a career with it. But now!? I have too many ideas!
Another main characteristic of mine is I have always had a passion for helping others. If it involves helping I’m there. So, naturally I took my friends advice when she recommended I look into the massage therapy program she mentioned. Now, 14 years later I own a mobile massage business and couldn’t be happier.
At Peace Massage Co provides on site massage for individuals in their home or work place. Our mission is to help others take control of their health so they may live pain free making it possible for them to live their best lives.
I am so excited to share that our services are growing and we hope to become a mobile wellness provider offering more than massage. We are becoming a collective!
Over the past decade I have experienced how massage therapy positively influences lives. I have helped clients regain mobility in their legs, regain range of motion in their neck/ shoulders and helped clients manage their migraines. We also help women who are expecting little ones stay confident in their bodies ability to accept the constant changes that come with child birth.
Working anywhere from inside a client’s home to big corporate events has really allowed me to grow as an individual as well as grow in my career as a Massage Therapist.
In Home massage therapy not only sets me apart but it has allowed me to connect to my clients in ways I would have never dreamt. Since 2013 I have been so blessed to witness the changing lives of my clients. I have seen singles get married. I have seen families start as two and become 4! I have seen heartbreak, struggles, preservearance and how massage has helped each individual get through. I have seen my clients start their own businesses and clients whom have done what is necessary for their happiness and health. Oh, how incredibly humbling it is to be apart such beautiful lives.
I am a big advocate of rest anyone in my family would tell you that. In fact my mom always tells the story of how I slept the first year after I was born and how I would fall asleep at 9pm with no hesitation. I also trust the healing power of touch, and I believe that massage is so much more than a luxury.
Starting something new on your own is always a little scary and nerve racking. I didn’t want to take out a business loan so starting small was key for me. There was a little struggle through the growing phase, but I was able to get reorganized. I settled into a new routine that worked for the company as well as myself, making a good work – life balance.
Recently with the current events it was a struggle to stay afloat but remaining hopeful, staying in contact with my clients, fellow massage therapist and staying open to my family has helped me push through the restrictions. I refocused on my mission, rested and healed so I could return even better as before.
Owning a business has always been a dream of mine. I was able to start At Peace Massage Co. with a lot of support from family and friends in 2013 as a mobile massage provider. I couldn’t imagine my life any other way and I definitely would not be where I am today without my fiancée and three dogs. Yes three dogs! My fiancée is my biggest fan, aside from my
Mother. She encourages me constantly by reminding me of the healing work I GET to do everyday and by reminding me of the lives I am forever changing. She makes me slow down and step back so I see the growth happening. For if we don’t take that time we will never know what we have done is enough.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Intuition and humility. The number one complaint I get from clients is their previous therapist did not listen to their needs. Seems silly right? Because that’s part of our job. Listen to your client, listen to their body and help provide healing so your client leaves feeling less discomfort.
Staying humble and not over working an area that’s being stubborn because we know we can fix it is probably one of the hardest lessons young therapists learn. Over working an area or forcing an area of the body into a certain position only leaves bruising in the muscle. It can also lead the clients muscles to become guarded without the client meaning to. As a professional massage therapist it is our job to know when the body wants to let go and when it just simply won’t. The reasons for the body not letting go involves past trauma , current trauma and daily stress. That is why I feel intuition is a key factor in succeeding at maintaining a lasting relationship with your clients.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The world is a beautiful creation no doubt. It can also be crazy and dangerous. So, when I decided to take my practice mobile I knew I had to stay safe. The way I did this was by creating a business based off referrals. I ask my clients for referrals and any businesses I collaborate with. When a client tells me they only have this amount for gratuity or that they will get me next time; my response is always the same. “No worries at all. Your continued support and referrals are the best compliment.” And I mean that!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.atpeacemassageco.com
• Instagram: Peacefullywell_massage
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/atpeacemassage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atpeacemassageco/

Image Credits
Grace Williams owner of Graceland Rose Photography