We recently connected with Olive Panes-Gindelberger and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Olive, 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.
Before entering the health and wellness world, I was in the corporate industry of workers’ compensation for 11.5 years. That line of work allowed me to meet wonderful people and female thought leaders who helped inspire me to be the entrepreneur I am today. As change was the only constant in life, I yearned for a career where I could care for others directly. I didn’t know what that looked like until I started my healing journey, which led me to massage/bodywork.
I went back to school to train as a massage therapist, and the pandemic hit just when I was about to finish. Thankfully, I persevered and graduated on time. Within the same year, along with living with the unknown of where the pandemic was going, I bravely took the chance of going mobile and obtaining my license. Given that everything was closed, this was the most viable route to get my work out there, along with navigating entrepreneurship.
My massage practice started with trust from family and friends as I took care of them in the comfort of their homes. I am endlessly grateful for their confidence and support in me as I built my repertoire and honed in on my craft. At that time, although everything was uncertain, we were at an all-time high of worries and stress, and people still knew taking care of themselves was crucial. Therefore, I knew building trust and rapport was essential as I was going to people’s homes. By doing this, they saw the items I was bringing in, the safety protocols I had in place, and how I disinfected everything after their session.
Over time, I felt encouraged, became more vocal about my line of work, and started to embrace my passion and challenge my imposter syndrome fully. I learned how vital setting boundaries are, what self-worth means and how it’s significantly tied to your business. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have changed anything. I believe I was divinely guided into this calling, and the rough patches along the way helped me build character, tackle complex changes and continue learning and evolving to this day.
I would advise a young professional who might be considering starting their mobile massage practice to jump in and do it. Trust that you will be led to greatness and find healthy support from the mental, physical and emotional aspects of being an entrepreneur. The ride will have challenges, but what you learn and the people you meet along the way make it worthwhile.
Olive, 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?
My name is Olive Panes-Gindelberger (she/her), founder of Solimar Wellbeing, holistic mobile massage therapy in San Diego. My massage journey started when I began to listen within and embrace my spiritual gifts and intuitive voice. I believe our body has an innate ability to heal itself and be transformative, but sometimes, we need extra support. Therefore, using various healing modalities, my bodywork transcends beyond the body to connect you in mind and spirit as one.
My self-care was non-existent, which sadly is not uncommon. When the pandemic hit, many people looked deeper within and paused in the fast-paced, unsustainable life we were living. The stress from the pandemic impacted our nervous system, which controls our flight or fight mode. With training in eastern and western modalities, I incorporate various techniques to help tailor my bodywork to each person’s needs. Within my holistic practice, I also provide sound baths combined with a guided meditation to help bring energetic balance and deepen the relaxed state.
Aside from the holistic approach to my practice, one of the essential components of my service is using a trauma-informed approach to support my clients in regulating their nervous system. Pulling from my experience as a woman of color, I hold space for others and empower them. My primary modality for this is Craniosacral Therapy, Somatoemotional Release. Craniosacral Therapy, Somatoemotional Release, is a technique that empowers you to take charge of your own body and connect with your inner wisdom to guide you in uncovering the mental, emotional, and physical blocks that are inhibiting your healing and growth. I care for my clients from a person-centered approach; each session considers your personal needs, health history, physical limitations, and overall well being. The hope is for you to move forward into a place of better awareness of yourself and expand into your utmost potential. Nothing is more freeing than when you realign with your most authentic self to be clear and confident with the choices you make for yourself.
As a socially conscious Filipino American immigrant, I approach my craft with care. Growing up, my dad would massage us for our aches and pains, which in Tagalog is called Hilot. Hilot is an ancient intuitive bodywork that is usually taught to be passed down from families if possible or, in my case, transcends into my work using my gift of touch along with intuition combined with the varying techniques I’ve acquired. I take caution in not co-opting, exploiting, and appropriating healing modalities and practices from other cultures without acknowledging my teachers, be in right relationship and not doing further harm to marginalized communities.
My goal is to create a meeting space for the community focused on restorative care. In this space, resources, mutual aid, connection to social services, linkage to organizations focused on addressing basic needs, and educational material from other integrative medicine and mental health. I know this will take a lot of collaborative effort, reflective work, networking with like-minded folks, and receiving critiques and humbling feedback. I’m hopeful that my vision will come to life to serve a greater purpose.
Lastly, what I’m most proud of at the moment is providing care to those open to different healing modalities and collaborating with others to uplift the community with intentional circles/gatherings. Not only do I love what I do, but seeing how transformative my work can be for others is rewarding. As someone continually doing their healing work, I want others to know that you can come as you are. That you will be held in a sacred container in the comfort of your home whether emotions show up or if you need to decompress. I will do my best to uplift you and help you feel seen and supported. My progress and personal care translate into my work and is how I create the best environment for you. Trust that what I bring to the table is my utmost best, with you as the top priority in mind.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Injury is sadly part of the job of a massage therapist. In June of this year, I was hit with a series of challenges, getting sick with Covid, celebrating my Lola’s (grandma) 101 years of life and her passing away the next day, and lastly, getting diagnosed with De Quervain Tenosynovitis. De Quervain Tenosynovitis is a swelling of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, most likely due to the compounding effects of my repetitive movements from my previous job and my massage work. The series of events and injury caused me to take a step back, pause and reevaluate life.
After diving head first into building my practice, I began to neglect other aspects of my life, resulting in imbalance. My injury caused me to reevaluate my priorities and bring balance into my life. I’m grateful to my therapist, trusted bodyworker colleagues, friends, and family for supporting me in this process.
I have learned many lessons since starting my mobile massage therapy business. One of the most valuable lessons that helped me as an immigrant was to achieve the American dream; you have to work hard to get where you want, but this dream is not always sustainable. Informed by the American dream, I became hyper-focus on building my business, leading me to ignore my aches, pain, and the little things that brought me joy. I’ve learned that boundaries with work, balance, structure, and attending to other aspects of my life lights me up. Balance in life looks like making jewelry or art, eating well, more self-care, playing with our cats, cultivating quality time with loved ones who uplift me, or simply time for me where I can regenerate and be centered.
I’m leaning into softness and shedding away the hardness of being in the corporate world of being “on” all the time. Balancing life is always challenging, but I’m taking these growing pains as a path that will lead me to greatness, more compassion for myself, and allowing gentleness to witness myself grow as I would for my clients.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
As Filipino and Asian-American in this field, people don’t see the challenging work of breaking down stereotypes about Asian women in the massage field when unsolicited requests beyond therapeutic massage are requested. Not only is this experience violating and jarring, but it can also be disheartening to move past. I’ve learned to set boundaries, have detailed intake questions, and intuitively listen when something doesn’t feel right.
Being a mobile therapist can sound daunting, but learning how to be safe is vital to this field. Besides knowing your craft and what you offer, networking with like-minded people to help elevate you is essential. The support you receive from others is a crucial part of the journey, as the word-of-mouth referral will help tremendously. Also, learning to put yourself out there to do events or meet others that you can collaborate with will be helpful in the long run. Also, knowing your worth and expertise to help boost your confidence will be felt by others and help build their trust. Have faith in yourself and continue to be passionate about your actions which will take you a long way.
Lastly, be open to where you are led. I call it divine timing in which you wouldn’t have gotten to a different path of possibilities unless something previously caused you to get you there. Due to my injury, I’m guided to further my studies to become a health and wellness coach. This will be a new journey, but not too surprising as I’ve known I would be on this path eventually to help me connect much more with my clients. So here’s taking the leap, trusting yourself and where you’re being guided despite any setbacks you come across.
Contact Info:
- Website: SolimarWellbeing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solimar_wellbeing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolimarWellbeing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olive-royce-panes-gindelberger-lmt-91203320b/
- Other: For Google Reviews: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJ5emgoZNX2YARwcp2uO96QTY
Image Credits
Photo by Lauren Nicole Peters of The Radiance Studio,