We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jillian Diwan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jillian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I had no intention of starting my own practice by entering massage school. I really just wanted to learn more about how to help the body, on a physical and energetic level- through bodywork. Building my own practice kinda happened naturally.

I remember i felt really lost and ungrounded. I had spent the past 2 years nannying and working on the roads with local bands, selling their merchandise. The year I decided to go to Thailand to study Thai massage, i had traveled to 30 different states with 11 different bands and production companies. Fearing I would run out of money during the holidays prior to my journey east, i picked up a waiting tables job at zingermans roadhouse. I only planned on working there through the holidays until i left for my trip.

Upon my training at zingermans, not only did i learn what ingredients went into a james beard award winning bbq sauce, i learned how to build and start my own business. The culture at zingermans was contagious, and the ceo was incredibly supportive and inspiring to work for. i went off to Thailand to study Thai massage and couldn’t wait yo return to my waiting tavles job.

I built my own practice offering massages to coworkers as practice, some of those co workers are still my client, 11 years later.

I would also pass out my business card to patrons at zingermans i would connect with.

Slowly but steadily my business grew out of control that i was working on 30 clients a week.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jillian Fuleky and im a pain management massage therapist. I got into massage after working on the roads with bands as their manager of merchandise. On tour, after we’d set up, we’d have time to kill, and I’d use that to work on band mates. I was fascinated how different musicians held their selves while playing an instrument for hours at a time.

I went to Thailand to study Thai yoga massage. Then went through American massage school. Then yoga school in india.

I built my own business while waiting tables at zingermans- by working on coworkers and patrons I’d connect with.

I specialize in neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, Thai massage, pain management and ashtanga yoga.. I help people with their posture and pain cycles.

Ive been running my own massage clinic for 11 years.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Helping people out of pain. Physically removing pain manually from their muscles. After you help many people, they tell everyone.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Building a great business- by ari weinzwig

Contact Info:

• Website: Jamhandsbodywork.com
• Instagram: Jamhandsbodywork

Image Credits
Yorg kerasiotis