Sustainable Bodyworker

If you’re still wondering why your hands and shoulders ache after every deep tissue session—no matter how precisely you “fix” your body mechanics—it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. This conversation with Jim Funk and Kelsy Filler goes straight to the heart of what so many of us never heard in massage school: the mythical “low table, squat all day” advice isn’t actually the answer for longevity.

Jim Funk breaks down how he had to unlearn years of pain and “muscling through” (sound familiar?), and take a totally different approach with his forearm fusion work—one that actually leaves you with energy at the end of the day. The raw honesty about burnout, sneaky patterns of overgiving, and the constant practice of boundary-setting feels like a relief. If you need permission to work smarter, not harder—and to stop sacrificing your body for your clients—this one will hit home.

To attend Jim’s Forearm Fusion course, click HERE, or come see what CE classes are being held at The Academy of Massage Therapy & Bodywork HERE. 

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!

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If you’ve ever felt like your heart just isn’t in your sessions anymore—like If you’re a massage therapist who wants your practice to feel sustainable again, the Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is where we go deeper. Inside you’ll find practical tools, honest conversations, and support for building a practice that actually works for your body and your life. Click here to learn more and join us.----more----

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!

Are things in your treatment room feeling a little… off? A low-key unsettled vibe you can’t quite name, but your nervous system absolutely picks up on? Turns out, the space itself is doing way more of the heavy lifting than most of us realize. Gretchen Popp gets honest about how she barely used to think about her massage room beyond the basics—until talking with Jamie Smith left her wheels spinning all week about the real impact of design on work, rest, creativity, and client care.

The most powerful shift? Recognizing that your environment shapes everything—from how safe clients feel to whether you leave work each day depleted or actually regulated. You’ll walk away seeing your clutter, lighting, linens, and workflow in a totally new light (and maybe give yourself permission to upgrade the table or toss that ancient salt lamp). Forget perfection—start with what drains or nourishes you most. Regulation and calm don’t just happen; you can build them right into your space, one intentional choice at a time.

Click HERE to work with Jamie on revamping your treatment space! ----more----If you’ve ever felt like your heart just isn’t in your sessions anymore—like If you’re a massage therapist who wants your practice to feel sustainable again, the Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is where we go deeper. Inside you’ll find practical tools, honest conversations, and support for building a practice that actually works for your body and your life. Click here to learn more and join us.----more----

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

This shortened track is adapted from a longer, in-depth hypnotherapy session available inside The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership, where you’ll find an entire library of custom hypnotherapy tracks created specifically for massage therapists and bodyworkers.

Inside the membership, you’ll also get:

Links Mentioned:

Tags:

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!

If you’re someone who finds gratitude tough when everything feels heavy — or worries that you’re “doing it wrong” — you’ll find real relief here. Tiny, regular practices aren’t just fluff; they literally retrain your brain, replenish your emotional reserves, and help you start seeing the small wins when life gets hard. This one’s full of practical shifts you can use right away, from a simple morning practice to a soothing visualization you’ll actually want to return to, especially when you need some grounding before a client or after a long day. Gratitude, reimagined — no performance required.

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.

Stuck in the burnout trap even after trying all the "right" self-care? You’re not alone. Gretchen Popp pulls back the curtain on what healing from burnout—especially that chronic, nervous system kind—really looks like, and spoiler: it’s not a straight line or a magic overnight fix. She shares real stories from her own years-long journey with fibromyalgia, fatigue, and self-sabotage, getting honest about the messy process of figuring out what actually works and what just piles on more guilt.

What shifts things isn’t perfection, but tiny, ridiculously doable habits—like leaving a glass of water by the bed, sitting on the yoga mat for just a minute, or tackling whatever actually has the least resistance. If you’ve been stuck waiting to feel motivated before starting something new (and then beating yourself up for failing), this episode is a permission slip to get real about how habit change, nervous system safety, and even hypnotherapy can help you stay out of that burnout spiral—for good. Consistency doesn’t mean perfect; it just means you keep coming back, one small decision at a time.

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

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If you’ve ever felt like your heart just isn’t in your sessions anymore—like If you’re a massage therapist who wants your practice to feel sustainable again, the Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is where we go deeper. Inside you’ll find practical tools, honest conversations, and support for building a practice that actually works for your body and your life. Click here to learn more and join us.----more----

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!

If you ever catch yourself scrolling online, eyeing another massage therapist’s business, and thinking, “Well, she must have some magic gene I just don’t”? Trust me, you’re not alone—and honestly, that lie is one of the biggest blocks to real sustainability. In this episode, Gretchen Popp brings on Jessica Curtis, who’s as down-to-earth as they come, and unpacks what it’s really like to build something visible without burning out, freak out about cringey old videos, and still struggle with imposter syndrome no matter how successful things look from the outside.

There’s so much truth here about showing up imperfectly, letting go of “expert energy,” and leaning into the messy, ongoing process—because actual growth isn’t about polish, it’s about staying curious, setting boundaries, and learning to trust yourself (and your nervy little brain) enough to keep moving forward. If you’re feeling behind, burnt-out, or like you’re missing something everyone else has, this one’s your permission slip to just start where you are and create your own definition of success.

If you’d like to explore more of Jessica’s work, click here, or follow her on Instagram!

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

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If you’ve ever felt like your heart just isn’t in your sessions anymore—like If you’re a massage therapist who wants your practice to feel sustainable again, the Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is where we go deeper. Inside you’ll find practical tools, honest conversations, and support for building a practice that actually works for your body and your life. Click here to learn more and join us.----more----

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.

As we move into November, the energy naturally begins to slow. The days shorten, the air cools, and everything around us invites a deeper inward turn — a time to rest, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most.

Timestamps:

Links Mentioned:

Tags:

Affiliates:

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!

If you’ve ever resisted delegating, felt stuck playing every role in your business, or found yourself questioning whether it’s okay to admit you need help, this conversation is your permission slip. It’s not about finding the perfect productivity system—it’s about getting honest with yourself, setting down the guilt, and learning the art of building a business that works with your real life, not against it. Expect practical mindset shifts around capacity, realistic planning, and the kind of self-parenting that lets you serve from a place of true fullness (instead of scraping by).

Check out Spa Ninjas to book a connection call with Ezralea and explore more of her work! 

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.

Ever notice how some sessions leave you feeling lighter and restored, while others just drain you dry—even when you’re doing all the “right” things? This conversation with Gretchen, Kelsy, and guest Alyse Faith gets brutally honest about the back-and-forth dance of flow states in massage therapy, why getting stuck in overthinking mode is part of the job, and how burnout sneaks in when we’re always giving but rarely letting ourselves receive. Gretchen opens up about her own struggles with burnout and guilt (especially that pressure to “love” this work, even when it’s not lighting you up), and the conversation unpacks what it means to shift back into your joy—without spiritual-bypassing the tough parts.

Flow isn’t just for those magical, sparkly sessions. It’s a body-mind reset you can intentionally build into your day, in small ways, whether that’s a literal hand-washing ritual between clients or learning to let yourself receive—support, abundance, even a simple favor. There’s so much permission here to get messy, experiment, and treat your own well-being as non-negotiable, not just nice-to-have. If you’re feeling disconnected or running on fumes, this episode is a reminder that showing yourself more compassion isn’t just self-care, it’s business strategy.

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!

If you’d like to explore more of Alyse’s work, click here, or follow her on TikTok! Also check out her shop The Cozy Coven on Instagram and be sure to stop by whenever you’re in Sleepy Hollow!

Books mentioned in today’s episode:

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.

How many times have you been told there’s only one “right” way to do your work—or felt that anxiety spike when you consider stepping outside the lines of what you were taught? If you’ve ever worried about getting it “wrong,” especially with something as vulnerable as abdominal massage, you’re going to feel seen in this conversation. Michelle Hansen (who went from burnt-out nurse to fiercely empowered abdominal therapist and educator) is proof that curiosity and nuance can be your superpowers, not something to hide or apologize for.

Here’s Michelle’s visual representation of a tilted uterus from today’s episode!

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!

Gretchen shares her own run-ins with gatekeeping in continuing education—those moments where you’re made to feel small or unsafe trying new things—and digs into why true mastery actually comes from weaving together what you learn, not locking yourself into one rigid method. If you’re looking to break up with dogma, trust your clinical reasoning, and create work that honors your clients’ complexity (and your own nervous system), this episode is like a breath of fresh air.

If you’d like to explore more of Michelle’s work, click here, or connect with her on Facebook! 

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

Affiliate Links: 

We’re careful about what we share here. Everything in this section is something we personally use and come back to again and again — tools that support our own bodies, nervous systems, and day-to-day work.

Bon Charge: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off!

Swanwick Glasses: Use code GRETCHENPOPP for 10% off!

InHarmony Meditation Mats: Use code NEURO5 for 5% off!

Global Cupping: Use code NEURO for 20% off your first order!

Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!

If you’ve got a story, skill, or insight you think would help other bodyworkers, we’d love to hear from you — click here to apply to be a guest on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast.

The ideas and techniques shared by our guests on the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast are their own unique perspectives and don’t necessarily reflect those of Gretchen Popp or the Sustainable Bodyworker team or community as a whole.