Meet Jessica Davis | Covid Safe Massage Therapist & Furbaby Caregiver Extraordinaire

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk terrifies me. Risk often hinders me unfortunately. However, there are times when it comes down to risk or misery. I went to school for massage while I was working in a different industry. I allowed fear to prevent me from starting my massage career right away. I stayed in a field where I was miserable but it was familiar and safe. That is, until a moment of risk seemed worth it if the alternative meant staying stuck and marinating in a place where I was extremely unhappy. I finally took the risk to begin my massage career. I then took the chance to go out on my own as an independent therapist. Between relocations and hurricanes, it began to feel like I was just repeatedly starting over but I stayed afloat. That was still better than where I was before massage.

Then along came covid. It has definitely been a test of my resolve to continue my massage career much less continuing as a therapist working for myself. The whole world was going contactless and my entire livelihood is centered around touch. For the first time since 2015, I had to take on work outside of my massage business. At the same time, I wanted to stay covid safe. I began doing furbaby care to supplement as well as a WFH office job for a year while I hung on to what was left of my business. A few months ago, I felt it was time to sprout the wings and jump off the cliff of risk again. I asked myself if I genuinely felt it was possible to sustain a covid safe massage space considering not everyone is okay with massages and masking. I decided there was only one way to find out.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a licensed massage therapist and small business owner. I was actually licensed to be a massage therapist in 2000 but did not start practicing until 2012. I let fear get the best of me. I had begun a healing journey of my own and finally starting my career as a massage therapist grew out of that. I needed to go on my own healing journey before I could help to facilitate others. I worked for others for a while to refresh myself on my craft. I also learned what I did not want out of my career and knew that I would eventually begin working for myself. I took the leap in 2016. I have been working from a space in my home ever since. My main modality is fascia focused deep tissue but I am also growing a little in the direction of a lighter touch such as lymphatic drainage.

Covid instilled an entirely new fear and I was doubting myself, being able to sustain a covid safe massage space. I am currently finding & creating what my new normal is in this endemic world, learning to sustain a cootie free space indefinitely. There are probably more people than not, that would prefer to receive their massages sans face mask but I want to offer a space for those that would prefer precautions. I, of course, have clients that are not cautious outside of their appointments here as well, but they still come for my work.

I also provide a safe inclusive space. I am honored to have such a varying client list. I adore having a client that is a mental health therapist that highly recommends bodywork as a part of a good self-care routine. I am thankful for the part time Pilates teacher, full time mom and wife that takes care of everyone else, entrusts me with her bodywork. I am pretty proud that I got to be a part of a couple fight camps for a client, who was a world belt holder in boxing at that time. I am grateful when clients trust and refer their partners and loved ones to my care.

One of my favorite aspects of what I do is that I get to teach clients that the usual aches and pains are not simply a part of growing old but that they are a matter of time and what we do with it. That regular bodywork maintenance can help to prevent injuries, help with recovery, improve performance and enhance overall quality of life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I could have a carefree week with an old friend, looking through pre-covid lenses, I would probably include a few places like Pythagoras Space for a vegan spot with a bar and live entertainment. Breakfast or lunch, coffee, tacos and pastries on the patio at Doshi House. More meals at Ginger Mule or Mo’ Better Brews, both with drink options and live entertainment options. Open mic night at Avante Garden. Take the dogs to walk the trails at Hermann Park. Free concert nights, roller skating, hoola hoop dancing and maybe some tennis at Emancipation Park. Miller Outdoor Theater. El Segundo Swim Club for some social swimming & sunbathing or Gigglin’ Marlin for some laps. Hang in the hammocks at Axelrad.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Dr. Alicia Jackson of Analog Earth Healing Hubb Holistics has been a guiding energy along my journey. She also has creative sides, one of them being making music as Jadefly & The Pollinators.

Website: https://fullcirclehealing.massagetherapy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcirclehealingmassage/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-davis-39b07872/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fullcirclehealingmassageandbodywork

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/full-circle-healing-massage-and-bodywork-houston

Image Credits
All were taken by me. Logos and client review image designed/created by Hosanna Rull of iRull Designs. Review is real, she made it look better. 😉