Jennifer Stelzer - Jennifer Stelzer Licensed Massage Therapy, Portland, Ore.

• Favorite healthy food? Does water count? If not, fresh pineapple!

• Favorite indulgence? I’ll admit it: bacon (but not very often!)

• Favorite activity? Dancing!

• Favorite movie/book? I love watching “Winged Migration,” a beautiful documentary about birds and their migrating patterns. I recently loaned my DVD out to a client who bird watches, and she loved it too.

• Favorite music for doing massage? Flamenco guitar music. My father builds flamenco guitars, so I grew up listening to some amazing guitarists, and he has made me a number of CDs to play at my studio.

• Favorite music to listen to? Techno/Dance (this threw you, right? 😉 )

• Favorite kind of ice cream? Coffee

Background in massage?

I completed an 800-hour massage school training/clinic at Everest Institute. One year after graduation, I completed a 200-hour sports/injury recovery certification program with a 12-week externship working with athletes from a local, private university. I own a local massage studio in Portland, Oregon, where I am one of almost 5,000 LMTs in the metro area!

What do you like best about doing massage?

The satisfaction of knowing my work has helped others manage their chronic pain and recover from physical trauma.

What inspired you to get into this industry?

A very serious auto accident where both my knees (among other bones) were broken. I received massage treatment twice a week during the long recovery process. I feel part of my success in being able to walk normally again was due to the massage treatment I received during that time. I decided I wanted to “pay it forward” and help others in recovery.

What do you find are your biggest challenges – as a therapist? as a business owner?

As a therapist, the biggest challenge is knowing I have limitations and setting boundaries for myself with my clients.

As a business owner, it is continually marketing myself, which means being “on” all the time – whether online, at a social event, anywhere. If a client or possible future client has an encounter with me, I want it to be a positive one.

What one thing would you like to change/improve about the massage industry?

I think there needs to be a consistent standard for massage schooling and regulation of the industry.

Also, students need to be taught research literacy so they are able to follow developments in science, which relate to our profession and know which studies are valid and which are considered “pseudoscience.”

What are you most excited about/interested in using with MassageBook?

The online scheduling has been great for my practice. I am really looking forward to the possible implementation of medical insurance billing as I currently use a different software for that piece of my business. It would be great to have one program to “do it all.”

How do you think MassageBook can help with your business?

I am hoping there comes a point where I am receiving referrals from MassageBook as the site grows. I would also like it if my Google+ page reviews were included on the site.

Who are the important people in your life?

My family – my husband, my dad, my sister and my nephew. All of them were very supportive of my decision to change careers and become a massage therapist.

What do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy walking, reading, watching documentaries and classic films and searching the Internet for things to think about.

How do you like to relax?

I actually love the alone time I have in my studio between clients. It is my space, and it was the first time I was ever able to go to town with decorating and painting with no compromises. I will sit and read and relax between clients or putter around organizing.

– compiled by Laurie Volkmann;