Lina S. Mobile Massage Therapist Jacksonville » Business Story

Lina S. Mobile Massage Therapist Jacksonville, FL
LMT (MA64478), CPT, BAS INFO TECH MANAGEMENT

My name is Lina Smirnova, I am a licensed massage therapist (licensed in 2010), a certified personal trainer, and a person who enjoys learning about healthy living! During my journey in the wellness industry, I have become knowledgeable about many topics regarding massage, fitness, nutrition, and general health! In 2011, I founded Massology and am very passionate, not only about helping people live healthier lives, but helping other wellness practitioners navigate the waters of becoming a self-sustainable entrepreneur. Over the years, I have completed additional training in various massage modalities including thai, hot stone, prenatal, medical, lymphatic drainage, and sports, to name a few.

While building Massology Wellness, I gained many practical business-related skills, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Management. Initially, I went back to college to get an associate degree to prove to myself that I could be a good student. After a year of hard work, I received a full-ride scholarship from the National Science Foundation and, inadvertently, completed 4 years of school, instead of the two, like I originally planned. This was a great accomplishment for me because I never believed myself to be a diligent student. Boy, did it feel so good to prove myself wrong! As such, I always encourage others to go for what they want. I know for a fact, when we want something bad enough, we can surprise ourselves in the best of ways.

How I Got Started In The Wellness Industry

After I (barely) graduated high school, I was looking forward to becoming a nurse. So, I plunged head first into working toward my future career! I got certified as a Nurse Assistant, and off I went on my new journey working for a rehab center in Utah.

However, my journey did not end up a happy one. I quickly learned that I disliked spending large chunks of time in a medical setting. To be frank, I also did not enjoy the way American Medicine was structured. I felt that there was too much emphasis on cure rather than prevention. So, I chose to go a different route and in 2009, I became a massage therapy apprentice for a girl who would set me on a trajectory to business ownership. Right away, I really enjoyed the field of massage. I enjoyed working with clients and helping them feel better in a natural way, I loved learning about health, and people were always happy to see me! (Nobody is ever mad to see their massage therapist! How strange.) Also, I found that I adored getting massages myself. I felt that they truly improved my own quality of life.

The Journey of Starting My Massage Business

My business journey began shortly after I moved to Florida. I learned a lot from my previous boss, and it inspired me to see her bravery, independence, and boldness. Perhaps it is no wonder I have a desire to give the same assistance to other people as she gave to me.

This journey, however, has had no shortage of hardships and sleepless nights. Owning a business comes with many ups and downs, grueling work hours, and stress. Yet, it is one of the most motivating and rewarding challenges you can possibly take on.

My best advice to someone who wishes to start their own wellness business is be like Nike and ‘Just do it’. This is because fear is real. Imposter syndrome is real. Mental blocks are real. We cannot overcome those without diving straight into them. Even when we think we have overcome many of those fears, new ones will emerge. It’s a never-ending story and a learning process which takes you to new places, many of which are super uncomfortable. Another piece of advice, which is more practical rather than abstract, is try to avoid debt. Start small if you must, keep expenses as low as you possibly can when you’re just starting.