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

Rebecca, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea?

I had been doing some soul searching as to how to best support my clients. As a professional bodyworker and massage educator with over 15 years experience, I felt like I had hit my peak in some ways. I was asking myself if I should go back to school for psychotherapy, chiropractic, or acupuncture to enhance my knowledge and better serve my community. But staring down the barrel of another 5+ years of education before practice was daunting to say the least. During this time of searching my cousin opened the first place with sensory deprivation tanks in Santa Cruz, Sage Float Spa. I thought it was really awesome my PHD cousin was getting into the wellness game. Then I floated during a visit and it was a revelation to me. My partner really encouraged me, told me that’s what I should do next in my life. So I started with my first Float Conference, yes there is such a thing, in Denver in 2019, learning all things float, including how to build and run my own float center. At the start of 2020 I entered a Start-A-Center giveaway contest sponsored by the people who put on the conference. We had to write an essay describing our dream float center. I actually won the grand prize which included so many tools to help me actually begin the process. A 40 page business plan template that I could take to a bank and ask for loan, a proprietary construction book that gives all the best advice in building a float center, which is a very specific type of buildout due to the massive elements of epsom salt and water the center handles on a day to day. Plus lots of other goodies and, most importantly, the unwavering support and good humor of Float Tank Solutions, who have been there guiding me with any question, no matter how ridiculous it seems. I was ready to hit the ground running with that kind of support! Well that was in January 2020, so we all know what happened next. I decided to go through the daunting process to acquire a significant SBA loan even though there was so much uncertainty. I rationalized to myself, that hey THIS is the time to start an isolation tank business! The process took several months and finally in September of 2020, I was denied. Not too surprising considering how tenuous the circumstances were. Over the course of the next year, I looked into different funding sources and through that process I had a few angel clients who offered to invest in the float spa with me. I came back to the SBA in 2021 with a more favorable application and received that significant loan I had been looking for. It truly felt like a miracle. 76% of SBA loan applicants are denied. Now that I had some money coming in to finance this dream the real struggle began-getting permits from the city to build. I had found an ideal building that was exactly what I was looking for- growing neighborhood, stand alone building with high visibility and its own parking and already incredibly quiet inside due to the concrete cinderblock walls. I signed the lease in September 2021, found my incredible architect Keoni Rosa and we submitted our plans on November 4th. We didn’t hear back from the city until May of 2022. We got our final plans stamped and permission to build June 28th. We are currently under construction and have a tentative opening for Stardust Float Spa in October! We can’t wait to offer a beautiful new wellness center next to our beach communities.

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

I got into wellness because I love people. Very simple, but true. The stories of their hopes, their challenges, and their dreams, continue to inspire and amaze me. One of the countless gifts I received from my beloved teachers from IPSB College, was to pay attention to what has heart and meaning. That direction has provided me with the ability to hold a safe space for others to feel totally comfortable being themselves. I make sure they know that their time with me is compassion guided and a judgement free zone. The tools I rely heavily on are: active listening, touch, humor, and witnessing to create the trust needed to do our work. Receiving massage can be an enlightening and vulnerable experience for those that consciously or even unconsciously utilize it to its fullest alchemy. I want my clients to know that they can feel safe sharing uncomfortable experiences, That one of the most enriching ways to process our trauma is to have another human to lean on. As we collectively have gone through so much in the past several years and continue to face a lot of scary unknowns in our future, I wanted to do more for my clients. Opening a wellness center with massage, float, sauna and cold plunge, along with a boutique skincare company, Amethetics, is going to give San Diego a unique place to support your body, mind, and spirit. Mentoring other massage therapists is where I also see my future. I have always enjoyed teaching and see a real need in San Diego with the closing of several local massage schools in the past few years. I mentored a small group last year and know that is place I really shine. I absolutely love instilling confidence in my clients and students that change and possibility is always available to them. I want people to know that they matter, their experiences matter, and how they feel about their experiences matter. The values that I hold dear to running my business are compassion, integrity, and service. Every person who comes to Stardust will feel welcomed and valued. This is a place where your uniqueness is acknowledged and celebrated! WIth great affection, I tell my clients when they are in a lovely blissed out state after receiving bodywork or a float, that they have traveled back to their home planet.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I was lucky enough to start my wellness professional journey when myspace was still a thing and social media was more for socializing and wasn’t as important for business. I learned that having joy and passion about my bodywork profession allowed me to open up and share with people the ways I thought I could help them. It gave me a language to comfortably communicate what my intentions are. I relied heavily on good old-fashioned word of mouth. Working with one person and then having that ripple out to their partners, their children, their neighbors, or random people they talk to at the sandwich shop. I have clear ethical boundaries so that everyone knows where they stand. By being a part of a community, or any group you build relationships around your passions. Volunteer and support the non-profits that speak to your heart. Show up as consistently and authentically as possible. Letting people know the times when I was struggling and humbly asking for their grace. But just by being a presence in people’s lives, even when there isn’t a transaction happening has made for incredible loyalty over the years. Check in on your people, follow up, let them know you are thinking about them and wondering how they are. People appreciate being seen as whole, not just a transaction for my business.

Have you ever had to pivot?

This is the time of the pivot for me! I have enjoyed my bodywork profession so much over the years and it has taught me so much. I have had some of the most enriching moments of my life working with people as they move through their life transitions. But it is very physical work, most massage therapists have an 8 year shelf life. I made it more than twice that long and I am ready for change. I am ready to use my mind more than my body and I am so excited to grow and learn in a whole different field of management and operations. Even though running a float spa is something I have never done before, I am thrilled to be learning about every aspect of construction, maintenance and marketing along the way. I have always been an experiential learner, the best way I learn is by doing. Seeing the inevitable mistakes that happen along the way present me with the chances to problem solve. I am making a big shift in this middle stage in life. To step more into the role of an owner/operator rather than the technician I have been for the past 17 years. I still have a deep desire to assist others on their journey towards peace and acceptance, and I believe Stardust is going to give us an incredible environment to accomplish our goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stardustfloatspa.com
• Instagram: @stardustfloatspa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stardustfloatspa
• Other: https://stardustfloatspa.myshopify.com