We were lucky to catch up with Beth Owen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, thanks for joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

When I moved back to Elgin, TX, I wasn’t sure I wanted to open a massage practice. I’d been burned out from working in a franchise, and for a while, I drove into Austin for in-office chair massage jobs, but the commute quickly wore me down. What changed everything was having a good friend who had been massaging locally for years. His motto was “community over competition,” and he encouraged me to start by allowing me to rent his room when he wasn’t using it. That support gave me the ability to build my practice in a sustainable way.
A year and a half later, I had enough clients to open my own office, and it’s been great. What’s made the biggest difference is how supportive the community here in Elgin is. To stay on top of my business goals, I created an accountability group with six other local women business owners as a way to stay on top of our goals in a supportive way. Having a community of other entrepreneurs has been such a gift. Growing my practice has reminded me that business doesn’t have to be competitive or isolating, it can be about collaboration, connection, and lifting each other.

Beth, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I first became interested in holistic healing in high school when I started learning yoga and helpful breathing techniques. This fascination led me to massage school after I finished my bachelor’s degree. I’ve been a licensed massage therapist since 2008, and while I’ve explored other careers along the way, including social work and even hydroponics gardening at a tech company, I always return to massage. It’s where I feel most at home, because I love witnessing how people can feel so much after just one session. Working for myself also gives me the freedom to focus fully on each client and create a healing space that feels personal and restorative.

In the past year, I’ve expanded my practice by studying Somatic Experiencing (SE), a body-oriented approach for regulating the nervous system, processing emotions and healing trauma. I now offer Somatic Experiencing sessions both in-person and virtually, which has allowed me to support clients no matter where they’re located. This work has been deeply fulfilling. It goes beyond relieving physical tension and helps people reconnect with themselves and cultivate resilience in a profound way.

What sets me apart is the combination of skills and perspectives I bring. My background in social work & yoga provides a strong foundation in understanding how life challenges and emotions manifest physically, while my years as a massage therapist give me hands-on insight into how to support the body to relax and unwind. Together with Somatic Experiencing, I’m able to offer a truly holistic approach that honors both body, mind, and spirit.

I’m proud that after many years in this work, I still wake up excited to support people in their healing. Regardless of which modalities I’m using, my goal is always the same: to create a safe, supportive space where clients can experience real relief, reconnect with themselves, and walk away with more ease, balance, and energy for their lives.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn (and I often remind my clients) is the belief that healing or progress has to come from pushing hard or constantly staying productive. Many of us carry the story that rest is somehow “lazy” or needs to be earned. In reality, resting is one of the most vital parts of well-being.
Just earlier this week, I was working with an SE client who lives with chronic fatigue. As they settled into their body, a core thought surfaced: “I can’t rest, I have to work hard and be productive all the time.” Together, we slowed down and created space for that belief to soften. Eventually, it shifted into a new understanding: “Rest is productive. I can’t do good work unless I’m well-rested.” When that statement was allowed to be fully felt in the body, something clicked, there was permission, relief, and a sense of empowerment in honoring rest as a necessary part of having a body.
Similarly, I often remind my new massage clients that with bodywork, “more pain does not necessarily mean more gain”. If deep pressure feels too painful, the muscles will clinch up, and I am not able to get into the tissue and do anything useful. Yes, there are times when getting a massage that “good pain” is helpful, but that is not as often as most people think.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

For me, resilience hasn’t always looked like staying in the same career path; it’s been about finding new ways to keep serving and learning when one chapter comes to a close. After burning out of massage while working in a fast-paced franchise, I stepped away and began volunteering with a nonprofit called Street Yoga, where we taught yoga to homeless and street-involved youth.
At first, it was eye-opening to learn how accessible yoga could be: no mat, no stretchy pants required, just breath and movement wherever you are. But what impacted me the most were the teens themselves. These were not “spoiled kids” who didn’t appreciate what they had; many had run away because the streets felt safer than what they experienced at home. Their courage and ability to keep showing up for themselves, even in such difficult circumstances, changed how I understood healing and strength.
That experience gave me perspective, where resilience isn’t about merely getting up when you’re down. It’s about finding meaning in the detours, staying open to growth, and letting each chapter deepen your ability to hold space for others. It’s a lesson I still carry into my life and work today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beth-bodywork.com
• Instagram: beth.owen.wellness

Image Credits

Lizette Navejas Photography