Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I was facing a lay off in September 2012. I was only half bothered for I had been unhappy there for a long time and I would have some unemployment to help me get through the transition. A turn of events took that away and forced me to make the decision to leave what I should have left a long time ago on my own. Another company bought the old company and offered me my job back. I just could not see voluntarily going back to being so miserable and instead chose to jump off the cliff and sprout wings on the way down. At that time, I had been licensed for massage for over 12 years but had let fear get the best of me when it came to actually working in the field. I had kept up with my massage license because I am a just in case girl. I found a chain establishment that would give me a chance even though it had been so long since I had graduated. I began learning what I did and did not want out of a massage therapy job and thereafter it was cliff after cliff until I was officially working for myself. Fully thankful for well earned lay offs.

Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been working as a licensed massage therapist since October 2012. I have honed my skills to be a perfect balance between deep tissue and relaxation. I can go heavier on either when requested. Most of my clients see me for bodywork, more than just relaxation. I do a lot of deep tissue, focusing on the fascia. I want people to feel better even when they are off of the table. To feel a little taller and sitting up a little straighter. I help people that are healing injuries as well as maintenance to help prevent injuries. I enjoy working through old tensions that have set in with muscle/cellular memory. I also enjoy scar work. My favorite modalities are muscle stripping, pin & stretch, massage cupping and Graston/GuaSha. I aim to always be learning and am looking forward to a couple of upcoming classes. Prenatal, PTSD & Massage and Lymphatic Mojo, Vagus nerve and Glymphatic Mojo with Dr. Perry Nickelston of Stop Chasing Pain.

And full disclosure, I still have all covid precautions in place including masks required for both client and therapist.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The fact that I am still here hanging on is a testament to my resilience. I had officially stepped out completely on my own to work for myself in 2016. I was making it with lots of room to grow when I had to relocate. I took a chance moving closer to town in 2017 from the East End to Third Ward. I took on more expenses but looked at them as investments. I was still trying to pay off all of my deposits and trying to sustain and grow in a new area when Hurricane Harvey hit. I found myself struggling with wanting to continue trying to massage or not throughout 2018. 2019 was quite the personal roller coaster. I took a small business course at the end of the year and it renewed my drive to keep going and start growing. I hit the ground running in 2020 and had an amazing start to the year and then covid hit. That is a whole other story itself. But here I am, still hanging in there.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Intuition. Training and experience are super important but intuition is crucial to applying the knowledge. At the start of all sessions, I ask the client about their body, how it is feeling, where we want to focus etc. Then I listen to what the body tells me as I am working with it. My elbow, hands and knuckles have conversations with the body that the ears are not privy to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fullcirclehealing.massagetherapy.com/
• Instagram: @fullcirclehealingmassage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fullcirclehealingmassageandbodywork
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-davis-39b07872/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBjYnlh6E3-g3zondyVhI3Q
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/full-circle-healing-massage-and-bodywork-houston
• Other: https://www.massagebook.com/Houston~Massage~full-circle-healing?src=external

Image Credits
Logo by Hosanna Rull of iRull Designs. Outdoor pic by Hosanna also.