Today we’d like to introduce you to Susanna Bolton
Hi Susanna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Massage therapy is my second profession. Prior to being a massage therapist, I was an eighth grade English teacher; and although I still love teaching, I felt there was something different I was supposed to be doing. So, I looked at life and realized I was in a perfect position to pivot. With a total upheaval, I returned to the Knoxville area and enrolled in the Massage Therapy Program at Roane State Community College. I learned so much and I was absolutely on fire with excitement for my new profession. I finished the program and became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2018. After receiving my license, I had opportunities to work and learn in a variety of types of settings including working under a mentor for Craniosacral Therapy, a small business setting, a larger corporate setting, and for a time, I worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Roane State Massage Therapy Program. I enjoyed elements of each setting and learned a great deal from each practice.
Thomas enjoyed and shared my enthusiasm for a new profession in massage therapy. In 2019, he made the leap to add his second profession. While continuing with his work in building maintenance for a local company, he enrolled in the Roane State Massage Therapy Program. With his studies, he began to discover his own areas of specific interest and expertise within massage therapy.
In 2020 Thomas and I got married and we began dreaming of a future. We created Juniper Massage and Wellness and opened for business in late May 2023. Juniper was created as a place where people could take a break from daily life and be restored physically, mentally, and energetically. We want to help people in a variety of ways including craniosacral therapy, cupping, and general massage therapy. Additionally, we want to connect with other local health and wellness practitioners. We want our business to be a place of support and connection for our clients, our staff, and other practitioners in the area. We want our clients and our staff to thrive at Juniper. We want to build relationships with our colleagues. We are excited to continue to grow and can’t wait to see where this wonderful dream takes us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning your own business is never without its struggles, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I think the primary struggle has been the challenge of sitting back and letting the people who are supposed to end up at our practice find us. In the beginning of my massage career, I feared hitting the necessary financial marks, so I rushed around marketing, hustling, and stressing a fair amount. Gratefully, my books did always fill that way, but I found at times, it left few available appointments for additional people who found us and were perfect candidates to benefit from our specific techniques. Currently, at Juniper Massage and Wellness, we do not do a ton of marketing or outreach. It seems that clients who find us often end up being our greatest communicators and advocates and help us spread the word about our services. Clients who need us seem to find us organically. So, now I very counter-culturally sit and pray that whoever needs to find us will find us. Somehow, they always do, and we are always excited to meet them.
We’ve been impressed with Juniper Massage and Wellness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our business is Juniper Massage and Wellness. We are located at 10424 Kingston Pike Suite 4. We provide a variety of massage and energetic services including relaxation, pregnancy, deep tissue, hot stone, myofascial structural integration, Craniosacral Therapy, cupping, and more.
Juniper was created to provide a place for people to come restore physically, mentally, and energetically. Good massage therapy benefits the body by relaxing muscles, helping the nervous system go from fight or flight mode into rest and relax mode. Our muscles keep the score of what is happening emotionally and cognitively in our bodies. Good massage therapy can help the body begin to process beyond the physical discomforts, hurts, and hang-ups and move forward cognitively and emotionally.
One specialty technique that sets us apart is Craniosacral Therapy. Craniosacral therapy or CST for short, is a light touch therapy that uses 5 grams of pressure or less to release the restrictions to the head, spine, and sacrum. The focus of this work is to improve the function and communication of the craniosacral system to the rest of the body. This technique can improve lots of symptoms related to nervous system dysfunctions, migraine headaches, TMJ dysfunction, vertigo, adrenal function, digestive issues, female issues, and more. I am so passionate about this work and love the implications it has for our clients. It is quickly becoming a highly requested and frequently scheduled service from my clients.
What makes you happy?
Of course, I love my work at Juniper Massage and Wellness and it is thrilling to be growing my business. In addition to my work, I love spending time with my husband Thomas. We are Aunt and Uncle to 9 nieces and nephews. I am an avid reader, love the great outdoors, enjoy knitting, and have just begun to learn the art of making sourdough bread. I also enjoy snuggling up with a cozy cup of tea and giving snuggles two our two fluffy Maine Coon cats.
Pricing:
- Integrated massage: 60 min:$100 90 min:$130
- Cupping massage: 60 min:$115 90 min:$145
- Craniosacral massage: 60 min:$115 90 min:$145
- Pregnancy massage: 60 min:$100 90 min:$130
- Deep tissue/ sports massage: 60 min:$100 90 min:$130
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Junipermassageandwellness.com
- Instagram: junipermassageandwellness
- Facebook: Juniper Massage and Wellness
- Other: email: junipermassageandwellnesstn@gmail.com
