We recently connected with Bianca Julien and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bianca thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

So I’ve always wanted to be a massage therapist since high school. I didn’t get to pursue that professionally until the pandemic. I started school April 2021 and my program lasted until June 2022. Also during this time, I was introduced to martial arts classes. My children were taking TaeKwondo classes before the pandemic started and they had to stop. This new place offered classes for both adults and children. The kids did karate and I started taking Krav Maga. We were taking classes on Zoom at first and then eventually went in to the dojo to take classes.

As I took classes, I noticed that most people started with someone so they would always have a partner in class. I never had a consistent partner. At first, it really sucked but then after thinking about it more, it was actually a blessing in disguised. I got to meet new people and each person I worked with contributed to me gaining more skills. There was a few times I partnered with this older woman named Kris. She was a belt under me but she was taking classes for fitness purposes just like I was. I mentioned school to her one time and she asked what was I in school for. I told her massage and her face lit up. She immediately started telling me about this woman who owns a salon and does her hair. She was looking for a massage therapist for the spa they were developing. She mentioned this to me a few months before I even graduated so i told her I would keep it in mind.

While taking classes at school, everyone would ask what you are doing after you graduated, At Lincoln Tech, they had several people come in from different places like Elements, Massage Envy and some independent therapists to give presentations on why you should work with them. They were all informational but nothing jumped at me like, Okay thats where I want to go to work. I knew I wanted to have some freedom so independent contractor was the way to go. The part that I wasn’t sure of was how to gain a solid clientele so I can grow with that. I wanted to work somewhere where I can showcase my skills, grow professionally in my career but also be creative.

A few months go by and I get closer to graduation and I get to partner with Kris again. She asked how school was going and I told her that I would be graduating soon and then will take the test for my license. This had to be in June. Kris gave my Emily’s number and said to call her just to see how things would go. When I thought about what I wanted to do after I finished school, I really didn’t have a direction. There were options like working at Massage Envy but I didn’t feel called to work there. So i gave Emily a call and we set up a time for me to come in. This was early July after the Fourth.
I met with Emily and while talking to her, it felt like perfect alignment, Everything I stood for which is holistic wellness, kindness, client-based service, women led/operated business and so much more. Granted the salon was a bit far from home but it still felt like where I was supposed to be. So once I got my license, I was able to start working at Haven Beauty in August 2022. Its a been a beautiful journey since then,

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Okay cool, My name is Bianca Julien. I am a 4 time published author and homeschooling mama of 4 children. Professionally, I am a licensed Massage Therapist in MA & RI, Infant Massage Instructor with IMUSA, and a Certified Peri/Prenatal Massage Therapist.

My journey with entrepreneurship and business started when I was young, I am the daughter of parents who in their own way did some type of business. My mother sold Avon and my father had a gas station business at one point. So I like to say that business is really in me and not something I figured out later on. I learned about having a career in massage when I was in high school. I grew up in Boston, MA mostly with my mother, sister and step father. I did well in school to a certain degree but still wasn’t intrigued to say the least. My cousin introduced me to this woman who worked for a program called BAHEC. At BAHEC, students from around the city would come in to do their homework and then learn something about the health industry. Oftentimes, the staff would have people from different health professions come in to present what they do and why they love what they do. One time a massage therapist came in. I was drawn into her story of how she got started and the places she would massage at. She mentioned making money, traveling, freedom and making people feel great So I said hmm, I love that. I want to do that.
So I started with just giving simple head and shoulder massages to friends. This carried over into college. My original plan was to graduate high school and then go to school for massage therapy. My mother and guidance counselor didn’t really agree with that plan and they told me to look at traditional colleges and get a Bachelor’s degree because it is “safer” So I said okay and applied to 13 different schools. I ended up choosing UMASS Boston and got a Bachelors of Science in Finance, While attending UMASS, my plan was to graduate with my degree and then go to massage school. But I ended up being pregnant with my first child in 2008/2009. After graduating I went straight to work for Corporate America not because I wanted to but because I now had a child to feed. Without going into too much detail, I went on and had 3 more children with the same person. Our relationship after having 4 children was not the best and he was not necessarily supportive of me chasing my dream.
In 2019, we broke up and immediately I looked and found a therapist. I needed to figure out how to get back to my individuality and sense of self. My therapist first got my mind out of thinking about him and more about myself, then we broke down all the insecurities I had and lastly she helped me remember my dreams from childhood. First dream I accomplished was publishing a book. I started a publishing company and published four poetry books. Because of my own personal success, I helped my children publish two books of their own. Once the pandemic hit, she asked me about school. She would give me homework every week in regards to finding schools, finding out costs, going to see them and being solid on if this is what I actually want to do. I chose to go to Lincoln Tech and started classes in April 2021. Since I was attending at night, the program would last for a year. I ended up graduating in June 2022. Because of a connection in my martial arts class, I was able to land a job within a month of finishing school, taking my MBLEX exam and receiving my license. From there, I stayed open to opportunities and many followed. I landed a contract with Tides Family Services to provide massage services for their employees. In November 2022, I traveled to San Diego to learn Peri/Prenatal techniques from Carole Osbourne. I started sharing space with a friend who is an esthetician in February 2023. The Director of the Track & Field Team at Brown University came in one day and after the massage asked me if I was open to offering services for their team. I received random offers to do chair massages for companies like Pepsi. I took a course in May of 2023 to learn how to become an Infant Massage Instructor. I continue to connect and learn as I am growing in this industry. Everyone who has been here sees me as new but when they speak to me to realize how wise I am and give me credit.
While working, I started my own business, B-Intuitive Massage LLC. With B-Intuitive Massage, I want to elevate wellness with massage through intuition. It’s not about knots and relaxation, it’s about offering a holistic experience that speaks to your mind, body, and soul. Imagine massage being more than a robotic routine, it’s a journey of discovery led by intuition to provide the right pressure, techniques or strokes to relieve pain or discomfort. B-Intuitive Massage isn’t just a massage – it’s a step towards a healthier, more harmonious you. Clients experience the harmony of physical and emotional wellness through my intuitive touch. I believe that true wellness is achieved when your body’s inner wisdom is honored. My massages are like conversations, where I listen to your body’s whispers and respond with soothing strokes and targeted techniques. It’s about finding balance, relieving stress, and igniting your body’s natural healing abilities.
What sets me apart from other therapists in the industry are quite a few things. Each massage I provide is fully customized. I do not believe or agree that people just need one type of massage. There are exceptions to this but overall, people come in to get massages for more than one reason unless they are on vacation. The routine learned in school is not going to satisfy the majority of your clients. Another thing is I have a holistic approach. During my consultations, I ask clients questions about their lifestyle, history, sleep habits, work environments, hobbies, activities and more. With my knowledge I learned in school as well as in life, I work with my client to come up with a game-plan to jump start their wellness journey in massage. I’m also very relatable. I’ve had such great experiences in life that I am able to connect on a personal level with my clients, This allows them to open up more and feel comfortable about the service I will provide. I like to have fun and be stress free. My energy already is calming and welcoming and that also represents the energy set in the room. I am open and keep things light hearted. It helps to lighten up the mood when you make a joke and people laugh along with you. Lastly, the dynamics with massage is very awkward because you are coming to a stranger, getting undressed and laying on a table alone with the them for an hour or so. You have to have a very high level of integrity to service people and make them feel comfortable enough to relax and let go. Massage doesn’t work if someone is scared, anxious or nervous on the table.
The number one problem I solve with my clients is activating the PNS, Parasympathetic Nervous System and giving them a moment in time to reset, restore and to recenter. We live in a world of instant gratification, rushing to the next thigs, fear, anxiety and depression. Everyone is walking around on alert because you just don’t know what is going to happen whether you are at work, home, traveling, with family or even by yourself. There is a mental health epidemic happening amongst children. Suicide rates have went up. People have more prescription drugs for almost everything. We had a pandemic which took a hit to everyone’s immune system but also put distance on physical interactions. The first sense developed in the womb is touch. Humans cannot survive without it and unfortunately most people see massage as a luxury or something you should receive once a year on vacation. People are walking around with pain in their minds, bodies and souls and think that is normal. It’s NOT!! I want to be the reminder that you need to take a second, take a break and breathe. Being a PNS Specialist is a big responsibility. I want to be able to affect a family starting with moms who are pregnant. If moms are getting massages, I can help teach them how to massage their babies. If their babies are being massaged, that helps with their development and establishes that closeness that families have lost. As a child grows, the dynamics on what massage looks like changes but it is still prevalent. They will carry that on into adulthood and will make sure to get massages for their own needs regularly and the cycle continues. My biggest dream when it comes to massage; to remind people that massage is for everyone and can be applied everywhere. It’s a trusted art and modality that needs to be brought to the forefront and I want to be one of the people who sets this new tone in the industry.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think the number one thing that is helpful in succeeding in any field is authenticity. People love to connect to the realness that is you. Allowing yourself to truly be seen lets your clients know that you are still human. It is one thing to be an expert in your field, but adding a bit of personality is like adding seasoning to your food to make it pop. A wise person said one time “There is no such thing as a bad business. Its the people. You make your business what it is and clients will spend with you if they are valued, appreciated and served with love. If you don’t do that, you wont have a business that thrives.” So be yourself, you are beautiful. People will fall in love with your personality before they become long term clients. I learned in school about boundaries and transcendence. Having boundaries and being aware of transcendence is necessary, but that doesn’t stop you from being yourself.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy to growing my clientele is top tier customer service. Treating every single one of my clients as if they are celebrities makes all the difference in how I approach them. Their needs and wants are heard. Service is exactly what they need and looking for. When people feel heard, seen and valued, they feel great about themselves. They then go off to tell other people about your service. I strongly believe that if you treat people well, they will treat you better. The number one way to find great massage therapists is word of mouth. Making sure I do not play favorites and also remaining non-judgemental, allows me to stay humble, stay present and open to provide the best service possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bintuitivemassage.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bintuitivemassage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089667767857
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-julien-lmt-050a6945

Image Credits
Instagram- @Vamboracreative, @apboudoir