Sustainable Bodyworker

Ever catch yourself building a business to escape burnout… only to realize you’re slowly recreating the same kind of pressure and exhaustion, just with your name on the door? This episode is a really honest look at how that happens—and why avoiding structure altogether isn’t actually the solution. Gretchen unpacks the difference between systems that control and systems that support, and how clarity, when it’s rooted in real values, can actually feel like relief for your team instead of restriction. She shares pieces of her own clinic experience, from creating alternative roles beyond hands-on work to learning how misalignment—not just overwork—drives burnout. The deeper takeaway here is that sustainable leadership isn’t about rejecting structure, it’s about being intentional with what that structure is in service of. When your systems, communication, and decisions are grounded in a clear mission and practitioner-first values, you create something that can grow without quietly draining the people inside it. Register for the Sustainable Success Blueprint CE Class HERE!  ----more---- CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BREAKTHROUGH EXPERIENCE WITH GRETCHEN ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Good therapists don’t usually leave because “people don’t want to work.” They leave when they don’t feel seen, supported, aligned, or set up to succeed. In this episode, Gretchen talks about what it actually takes to become the kind of employer talented massage therapists want to stay with—and why retention is about so much more than filling a schedule or offering a decent paycheck. She shares lessons from her own clinic, including the mistakes she made, the repairs she had to own, and the systems that helped her team feel more grounded. This conversation is really about leadership as a practice: clear communication, thoughtful onboarding, fair compensation, real feedback channels, and a culture where people feel valued as humans, not interchangeable hands in a treatment room. Register for the Sustainable Success Blueprint CE Class HERE!  ----more---- CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BREAKTHROUGH EXPERIENCE WITH GRETCHEN ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Feeling maxed out and assuming hiring is the obvious next step? This episode is a needed reality check. Gretchen talks about the pressure so many massage therapists feel to “scale” by bringing someone on, and why being overbooked, exhausted, or craving relief doesn’t automatically mean you’re actually ready to lead. She shares what she learned from her own early hiring mistakes—waiting too long in some ways, moving too fast in others, and realizing that good intentions are not the same thing as a solid plan.   What matters more than being busy is whether you’ve built the foundation to support someone well. Gretchen walks through the deeper readiness questions around leadership capacity, finances, client demand, onboarding, culture, and alignment. The big takeaway here is that hiring isn’t just a solution—it’s a responsibility. And if you’re not ready yet, that doesn’t mean you’re behind. It just means your next job is to prepare thoughtfully instead of hiring from panic.   Register for the Sustainable Success Blueprint CE Class HERE!  ----more---- CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BREAKTHROUGH EXPERIENCE WITH GRETCHEN ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Feeling like your only options are burnout in someone else’s business or burning out trying to run your own? This conversation challenges that binary in a way a lot of us probably need to hear. Gretchen talks about how so many therapists didn’t actually want to become business owners—they just didn’t feel supported anywhere else—and why that’s a bigger problem in the profession than we tend to admit.   Gretchen shares pieces of her own experience hiring (and mis-hiring), including what it really looks like to onboard someone well versus just throwing them into the deep end. The deeper takeaway here isn’t just about hiring—it’s about leadership as a skill set, not a personality trait. Slowing down, getting clear on your standards, and actually listening to your people isn’t just “nice,” it’s what creates a business that doesn’t quietly recreate the same burnout culture you were trying to escape.   Register for the Sustainable Success Blueprint CE Class HERE!  ----more---- CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BREAKTHROUGH EXPERIENCE WITH GRETCHEN ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Are you tired of feeling like you have to either become a full-time content creator or just hope clients magically show up? This conversation with Annette gets down to the honest reality that marketing yourself doesn’t have to mean playing the Instagram lottery or hustling for likes. In fact, Gretchen Popp shares her own experience wrestling with the expectation to “be visible,” especially when all she wanted was to do good work and go home. Together, they talk about the resistance to showing up online (because, let’s be real, most of us didn’t sign up for massage school to make reels and go viral), and why the goal isn’t more eyeballs but more genuine, local connections. One of the biggest mindset shifts here is moving from chasing mass approval to focusing on what actually works for you and your nervous system. Whether it’s posting a simple “static” account with your actual info (no dancing required), saying no to the energy-suck of giant Facebook groups, or being radically honest about whether entrepreneurship is really for you—this episode is a reminder that sustainable business is about clarity, boundaries, and support that actually feels good. If you’re feeling burnt out by the noise and craving real connection (with yourself, your work, and actual humans), this one’s for you. Click HERE to explore Annettes Bolstered community! ----more---- CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BREAKTHROUGH EXPERIENCE WITH GRETCHEN ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

You ever wonder if confidently owning your clinical expertise will scare off loyal clients—or if “fixing people” just means you’ll work yourself out of business? You’re not alone; so many of us secretly worry that helping folks get real, lasting results will mean running out of work or missing out on consistent income. In this episode, Gretchen’s conversation with Robyn Zappy is a breath of fresh air. What really stood out for me was how shifting into a clear, clinical approach isn’t about posturing or memorizing scripts, but about actually knowing what you’re doing (and why), then communicating that with grounded honesty. Robyn Zappy lays it all out—how mapping out treatment plans, setting mutual goals, and reframing “fixing” as an invitation to deeper trust can free you from guessing and burnout cycles. If imposter feelings or fear of disappointing clients has kept you playing small, this one’s a real nudge to ask: what if clarity and honesty, not just soft skills or following routines, make your business (and nervous system) sustainable in the long run? Click HERE to explore more of the Wellness Institute of Chester County’s continuing education classes, and HERE to explore their online LMT forum!   ----more---- CLICK HERE FOR A FREE BREAKTHROUGH EXPERIENCE WITH GRETCHEN ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

If you’ve ever felt like your heart just isn’t in your sessions anymore—like you’re running on autopilot, ticking off protocols, and rationing your energy just to make it through the day—you’re not alone. The pressure to show up for your clients while ignoring what your own body is telling you is real, and it’s a fast track to burnout. This conversation put words to that gnawing sense that something bigger might be missing for bodyworkers: the power of presence and honest, non-performative self-care. What landed for me, and maybe for you too, is the reminder that your well-being isn’t just a bonus—it’s a non-negotiable professional skill, as Jim Funk put it. Practicing even five minutes of somatic mindfulness a day, not as a fix-it hack but as a genuine way to be with yourself, can change the tone of your whole practice. The “how” matters more than the “what.” When you get curious about what your body’s really saying (instead of pushing through) and give yourself a little acceptance, you’re not only sustainable—you might actually start to feel at home in your own work again. Click here to explore moe of Fernandos work with Somatic Mindfulness!    ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

If you’ve ever wondered how to show up for clients when you’re scraping the bottom of your own energy barrel, this episode’s going to hit home. Nicolle Mitchell opens up about what actually shifts the quality of care for people living with dementia—not just fancy hands-on techniques, but the real, relational groundwork: slowing down, truly attuning, and making consent a living, breathing part of every interaction.  The biggest takeaway? Sustainable, nervous system-aligned practice isn’t about doing more, it’s about carving out genuine space for connection, boundaries, and curiosity. And honestly, that’s what lets you stay present without burning out (even if the work gets heavy). This episode is full of real tools and permission to check in with yourself, not just your clients—so you can keep showing up, in a way that actually feels good. Click here to explore more of Nicolle’s work!  ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Ever reach that point where you’re “successful” on paper but inside you’re just—done? Like your body and brain are screaming for something new, but letting go of what you built feels impossible (and maybe a little bit like failure)? That’s the real talk Gretchen Popp and Alyse Faith get into here. Both have ridden the rollercoaster of growing a busy practice, hitting all those external markers of success…and then realizing the relentless hustle was grinding them down. This conversation isn’t about perfect business plans. It’s about listening when your nervous system shuts down the old ways—letting things fall apart, sitting in that awkward, stripped-down middle space, and trusting that the next idea (the one that actually lights you up) needs quiet and regulation, not more pushing. You’ll hear Gretchen unpack her own identity crisis after stepping away from clinic ownership—and what it actually took to create something from genuine inspiration instead of hustle high. If you’re in that messy transition—gutting your business, questioning all your “shoulds,” or finally ready to build around your actual needs instead of everyone else’s—this episode gives you real-world proof that your weird, winding path is part of the process. The seeds you plant in those uncertain seasons can grow way bigger than you think… if you’re willing to listen, slow down, and let go.   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!   ----more---- 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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!  

Ever caught yourself wondering if you’re even cut out for this work anymore—especially when that sense of passion starts to feel more like a trap than a fire? This conversation cuts right to the core of what so many massage therapists go through: you follow your joy, master a skill, maybe even get “successful,” and then wake up one day exhausted, disconnected, or not even sure if you want what you’ve built. Gretchen shares her own story of building a thriving clinic, only to realize she was burnt out and headed in a direction she never meant to go. She and Nathan Nordstrom get honest about the pivots it takes to build a truly sustainable career, the danger of mixing up your identity with your work, and why “passion” isn’t a straight line (thank goodness). If you’re the type who can’t help but chase new ideas or is forever pushing yourself to be “better,” you’ll appreciate the gentle nudge to slow down, get curious when you hit a wall, and see setbacks as feedback instead of failure. There’s a lot here on nervous system-friendly ways to audit your practice and set boundaries—plus, permission to find joy and stability beyond just cranking out more massages. If you’re spun out or craving more meaning, this one gives you some breathing room, a little perspective, and maybe a fresh place to start. To work with Nathan, reach out through his website Educated Touch, or reach out to him directly at [email protected] Be sure to stay tuned in for the release of his book “When Your Passion is Your Profession!” ----more---- Founder’s pricing for The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is open until March 8th (lowest rate, locked in while you’re a member). Founder members also get a 90-day framework workshop in mid-March, and you can book a 1:1 call with me as soon as you join to map your best first steps. Click here to join! ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

🌿 A conversation about bodywork burnout that goes deeper than food choices, willpower, or “doing better.” In this solo episode, Gretchen responds to a charged conversation in the massage therapy world around practitioner health, weight, and burnout — and reframes it through a lens of nervous system regulation, systemic pressure, and subconscious self-abandonment. Drawing from her own lived experience with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune issues, and early-career overwork in high-volume clinics, Gretchen unpacks why so many bodyworkers end up exhausted, inflamed, and disconnected from their own bodies — even though they know exactly what health should look like. This episode explores how caregiving professions quietly reward self-sacrifice, how survival-mode habits like sugar and caffeine are adaptations (not failures), and why awareness alone rarely creates lasting change. Gretchen shares why prioritizing self-care first isn’t indulgent or selfish, but essential — especially for practitioners who hold space for others all day long.   🎧 You’ll hear reflections on:   Why many bodyworkers are “cared out” before they ever get to themselves The difference between knowing what to do and being able to do it How subconscious patterns sabotage progress when we start changing Why income, time, and nourishment are inseparable from practitioner health How hypnotherapy can bridge the gap between insight and integration   🌱 Gretchen also shares how stabilizing her income allowed her to work fewer clients, rest more, nourish herself better, and access the care her body actually needed — and why sustainability in this profession requires both internal rewiring and external support. 🤍 This episode is for massage therapists and bodyworkers who feel tired of blaming themselves, who want to take better care of their bodies without perfectionism, and who are ready to build a career that doesn’t cost them their health. ✨ If this conversation resonates, Gretchen offers deeper support inside the Sustainable Bodyworker membership — including CE-approved classes on nutrition and sustainable self-care, plus a growing hypnotherapy library designed specifically for bodyworkers. ----more---- Founder’s pricing for The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is open until March 8th (lowest rate, locked in while you’re a member). Founder members also get a 90-day framework workshop in mid-March, and you can book a 1:1 call with me as soon as you join to map your best first steps. Click here to join! ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Ever find yourself completely wiped out, hustling through the admin, laundry, marketing—all the not-so-glamorous parts of running a bodywork practice—while your actual passion feels buried under a pile of “shoulds”? This episode felt like a permission slip to see your business as a living, breathing thing—not just a machine you’re supposed to keep running at all costs. I loved Daniela’s take on bringing permaculture and farming principles into the way we care for ourselves and our work; honestly, it’s such a relief to think about business growth as messy, seasonal, and cyclical, instead of linear and relentless. If you’ve ever struggled with productivity guilt or felt bad about letting an old offering die out, this conversation unpacks why letting things compost—whether it’s a service, a habit, or even a whole version of your business—isn’t just okay, but vital. Sometimes rest, observation, and small slow shifts do more to nourish your practice (and your nervous system) than any grand rebrand or marketing sprint. The big mindset shift here? Trusting yourself and your cycles enough to step back, notice what’s really feeding you, and let go of what isn’t—even if that means unlearning a whole lot of business advice along the way. Click here to explore more of Danielas work! ----more---- Founder’s pricing for The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is open until March 8th (lowest rate, locked in while you’re a member). Founder members also get a 90-day framework workshop in mid-March, and you can book a 1:1 call with me as soon as you join to map your best first steps. Click here to join! ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

✨ What if charging your worth isn’t about money at all, but about reciprocity, nervous system safety, and the longevity of your career? ----more---- In this solo episode, Gretchen reflects on an “aha” moment that connected relationships, boundaries, and pricing in a way she hadn’t fully articulated before. She explores why energy imbalances, especially around money, quietly erode our capacity to show up fully, even when we’re deeply committed to doing good work. Drawing from lived experience in clinical practice, sliding scale experiments, and years of mentoring bodyworkers, Gretchen unpacks the difference between generosity that comes from overflow and self-sacrifice that leads to burnout. She names the uncomfortable truths many practitioners sense but are afraid to say out loud, and offers a grounded reframe for raising prices without guilt, shame, or fear of becoming “unethical.” This episode is for the bodyworker who feels overbooked and underpaid, underbooked and undervalued, or caught between wanting to be accessible and needing to be sustainable. 🌿 You’ll hear reflections on: Why reciprocity is a nervous system issue, not a mindset flaw How working below your energetic or financial threshold impacts your presence in session What sliding scales often reveal about value, power, and investment The difference between offering access from obligation versus from abundance Why sustainability may be one of the most ethical choices you can make If this conversation stirs something in you, relief, resistance, or curiosity, that’s not an accident. It’s information. And it might be pointing toward a different way of practicing that supports both your clients and your body. For deeper support around pricing, boundaries, and building a nervous system-aligned practice, Gretchen shares more inside the Sustainable Bodyworker community: a space for practitioners who want their work to feel as good for them as it does for their clients. ----more---- Founder’s pricing for The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is open until March 8th (lowest rate, locked in while you’re a member). Founder members also get a 90-day framework workshop in mid-March, and you can book a 1:1 call with me as soon as you join to map your best first steps. Click here to join!  ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Burnout isn’t proof you’re failing. It’s a distress signal — and the panic, resentment, and “I can’t keep doing this” moments aren’t meant to be bypassed. They’re information. In this Season 2 opener, I’m naming the old stories that keep bodyworkers trapped, and sharing a new way to build a career that’s actually sustainable for you — your body, your nervous system, your values, your life. In this episode: Why “sustainable” is personal — not one proven system The old stories keeping therapists chained to the table (and why they feel so real) Why “I know what to do but I can’t do it” is biology, not a character flaw The 4 keystones: freedom-generating revenue, purpose + meaning, nervous system capacity, and community 3 actions to take this week (plus a bonus): Highlighter Audit: Identify your green/yellow/red clients and start a plan to discontinue the reds. Do the math: Your real life needs + your sustainable hands-on capacity. Name the signal: “This is information.” “This is my signal.” Bonus: Share this episode with a bodyworker friend — don’t do this alone. Want support + structure? Founder’s pricing for The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership is open until March 8th (lowest rate, locked in while you’re a member). Founder members also get a 90-day framework workshop in mid-March, and you can book a 1:1 call with me as soon as you join to map your best first steps. Click here to join!    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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Click HERE to join us in our Sustainable Bodyworker Bingo Challenge for 2026!  So many of us set big resolutions and think, “this year, I’ll finally stick with self-care”... only to get steamrolled by old patterns, client demands, or that sneaky voice insisting five seconds of breathwork doesn’t “count.” We get it—and we’ve done more than our share of Monday-morning resets, chasing motivation until burnout finally called our bluffs. The real shift? Ditching the all-or-nothing mindset and actually embracing what nervous-system regulation looks like: tiny, doable actions that build self-trust, not shame. This episode isn’t about overhauling your life or getting “perfect.” Instead, Gretchen and Kelsy put real talk behind January’s Sustainable Self-Care Bingo challenge—micro habits that can fit into the messiest seasons, even if you’re running on fumes. These aren’t silver bullets, but think of them as proof that the smallest boundaries, the shortest moments of presence, and the quietest acts of kindness toward yourself are enough to start rewiring your brain and your workday. It’s not about smashing the overwhelm in January—it’s about making space for the kind of change you might actually keep.   Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!   ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

Who am I to raise my prices, teach a class, or even call myself an expert? If those thoughts have ever circled your mind louder than clients on a Friday night waitlist, you’re not alone—Gretchen lays it all bare in this episode. She shares the very real, not-so-glamorous side of growing beyond what you ever thought possible (and what happens when a “You’ll never make any money doing that” moment from your past tries to call the shots years later). Instead of hustling for confidence or waiting for the imposter feelings to disappear, Gretchen offers simple, nervous-system friendly shifts: name what’s happening, zoom out beyond your inner critic, and take one tiny action—because real confidence is built, not inherited. Whether imposter syndrome has you procrastinating, scrolling, or losing sleep, you’ll hear reminders that you are not broken and you don’t need to “think positive” your way out of growth. Sometimes, the fact that your brain is screaming may just mean you’re on the very edge of something meaningful.   ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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!

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! ----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! We are so grateful for your support of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast and would love to hear how we can better support you! Click here to give us your feedback on the show.  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:  💫 A growing collection of hypnotherapy tracks for confidence, boundaries, pricing, and purpose  💫 Monthly CE classes and on-demand business courses  💫 Group coaching, community support, and strategy sessions for building a sustainable, values-driven practice Hypnotherapy completely changed my life — and it’s now one of the most powerful tools I share with my students to rewire subconscious beliefs, move past self-sabotage, and create businesses that feel as good as they look. If you’re new here, this meditation is a perfect place to start.  And if you’re already part of our community, this is your reminder to slow down, listen inward, and let yourself be supported.   Links Mentioned: 🪷 Join The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership Here  🎧 Get the Free Guided Hypnotherapy Experience for Bodyworkers Here  💌 Follow along on Instagram & Facebook for updates and new releases!  Tags: Massage therapist podcast, burnout prevention, nervous system regulation, intuitive business, hypnotherapy for bodyworkers, guided meditation, sustainable business for massage therapists, energy protection, mindfulness   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! Ever get tired of gratitude being framed as some forced holiday ritual or another “should” on your self-care to-do list? Yeah, Gretchen gets it — real gratitude often gets lost under the pressure to perform. In this Thanksgiving week episode, Gretchen breaks down exactly why gratitude isn’t just a sugary sentiment or an Instagram affirmation, but actual nourishment for a nervous system (and business) that’s stretched thin. She gets honest about her own history with gratitude feeling contrived, and shares grounded, science-backed practices that actually shift your baseline from survival mode to a place where your work feels like a privilege, not an obligation. 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! ----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.

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! ----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.

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! ----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.

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. This month’s guided hypnotherapy experience is designed to help you do just that. Together, we’ll ground into the body, create an energetic shield for protection, and open to intuitive guidance — so you can hold space for your clients (and yourself) from a place of clarity and calm, even through the busy holiday season. 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:  💫 A growing collection of hypnotherapy tracks for confidence, boundaries, pricing, and purpose  💫 Monthly CE classes and on-demand business courses  💫 Group coaching, community support, and strategy sessions for building a sustainable, values-driven practice Hypnotherapy completely changed my life — and it’s now one of the most powerful tools I share with my students to rewire subconscious beliefs, move past self-sabotage, and create businesses that feel as good as they look. If you’re new here, this meditation is a perfect place to start. And if you’re already part of our community, this is your reminder to slow down, listen inward, and let yourself be supported. Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome + November reflections  2:40 – About this month’s intention and track  4:30 – Guided Hypnotherapy: Grounding, Protection & Intuitive Connection  18:30 – Integration + closing Links Mentioned: 🪷 Join The Sustainable Bodyworker Membership Here  🎧 Get the Free Guided Hypnotherapy Experience for Bodyworkers Here  💌 Follow along on Instagram & Facebook for updates and new releases!  Tags: Massage therapist podcast, burnout prevention, nervous system regulation, intuitive business, hypnotherapy for bodyworkers, guided meditation, sustainable business for massage therapists, energy protection, mindfulness 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! Ever notice how burnout sneaks up on you, not just in your hands or your calendar, but in those moments when you realize you’re putting everyone else first—and forgetting what actually fills you up? Gretchen sits down with Ezralea Robbins, and what stands out isn’t just her decades of practical business wisdom—it’s the radically honest talk about what bodyworkers are really chasing when they dream big, leave jobs, or start teams. It usually boils down to wanting to feel seen and heard, by yourself most of all. Ezralea gets real about hitting her own walls (cue the nervous system red flags), learning to let go of “shoulds,” and unapologetically prioritizing self-care that’s actually nourishing, not just another box to check. 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: A Liberated Mind by Steven Hayes, referred to as “The Awakened Mind” in the episode. Sacred Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith Heal Your Body by Louise Hay The Heroines Journey by Maureen Murdock   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.

So many of us know what we should do for our practices—raise our rates, set boundaries, say yes to that new idea—but actually getting our minds and bodies on board? That’s a whole different challenge. In this episode, Gretchen introduces a gentle, real-time hypnotherapy session designed just for massage therapists and bodyworkers who get stuck in old patterns (think: avoidance, self-sabotage, or just plain overwhelm). If you’ve ever felt like you’re trying to steer your business with one foot on the brakes, this is for you. Gretchen walks us through a grounding “timeline” meditation to help you see the big picture of where you’ve been and where you’re headed. This isn’t about quick fixes or denial—it’s about letting your nervous system settle, noticing your real wins, and actually opening up to future possibilities, one grounded step at a time.   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 catch yourself looking at another massage therapist’s success and thinking, “Okay, but why not me?” If imposter syndrome or comparison spirals have you stuck, this conversation with Michelle Ratz McGuire is the real talk you need. Gretchen shares her own experience of coaching ambitious, burned-out bodyworkers—including what it’s like to be seen as “the expert” when, behind the scenes, you’re still wrestling with doubts and old patterns. Together, they dig into what actually moves the needle on confidence (hint: it’s rarely taking yet another course), and why the tiniest, gutsy actions—like sitting with hard questions, saying your big dream out loud, or rewriting the limiting stories in your head—matter way more than perfect plans. Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE! Michelle gets honest about building her teaching career from the ground up, the hours spent stuck in fear-brain, and what helped her finally trust that she—and every practitioner listening—already has what it takes to shake things up. If you’re tired of waiting to “feel ready,” or if you catch yourself shrinking back from dream-big moves, you’ll find permission here to get a little messier, show up anyway, and remember that your work has ripple effects far beyond what you can see now.   If you’d like to explore more of Michelle’s work, click here, or connect with her on Instagram!    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 glaze over at the thought of insurance billing, picturing a mountain of paperwork you'll never see a dime for? Same.   That's why this conversation with Adrienne O’Brien hit so hard—she lays out how billing auto insurance isn’t the soul-sucking mess a lot of us think it is, and how it can actually open doors for clients who need our work the most (hello, accessible massage for folks after serious accidents). We both swapped stories about those post-whiplash clients—their pain, but also the tailspin of nervous system chaos nobody warns you about. Adrienne’s honest about being thrown into this specialization by her own life (and, real talk, three car accidents at sixteen), and how she totally didn’t have it all mapped out.   Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!   The big takeaway? The “boring” stuff like billing can end up being the most sustainable, purpose-driven thing you do, and it’s absolutely okay to build offerings, systems—or even a whole course—one slow, slightly messy step at a time. If your usual way isn’t working or your brain screams “imposter,” this one’s your permission slip to try what actually makes sense for your clients and your own bandwidth. If you’d like to explore Adrienne’s class, click here, or connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook!    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’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.

What if you stopped waiting for the “perfect” time, skill level, or outside validation—and just said yes to that little nudge inside, even if you felt wildly underqualified? This episode is for every bodyworker who’s ever wrestled with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or the story that you’re not “expert” enough to lead, teach, or offer something new. Gretchen sits down with Chantelle Williamson, who built a multifaceted CE business by following her curiosity and responding to what her community actually needed—usually way before she felt fully “ready” herself. Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE! The most grounding insight? Permission to experiment, learn out loud, and lean into the invitations that light you up, even if you’re afraid you’ll mess it up. You’ll walk away with practical encouragement to check in with your own energy (is this aligned, or just another should?) and the reminder that your unique spin—however simple it seems—might be exactly what someone else needs. If you’re craving sustainable growth but scared of stretching beyond what’s familiar, this conversation feels like a deep exhale.   If you’d like to explore more of Chantelle’s classes, click here, or connect with her on Facebook!    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 catch yourself feeling totally depleted after a workday—even when you’re “doing everything right”? Those sessions where every client’s energy feels like it seeps into your bones, or you notice your own armor coming up before you even hit the table with someone. In this episode, Gretchen sits down with Tracy Windmill to get honest about what’s really happening in the room: the constant push-pull of nervous system patterns, both ours and our clients’. Gretchen shares her own experience with burnout (remember the fibromyalgia, the quick snacks between sessions, and the “wait, am I even in my own body right now?” moments), and digs into how sneaky protective patterns—like the good old turtle shell—show up in massage work. Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen! The most useful takeaway? Getting curious about your own state before a session and having rock-solid, realistic tools (hello, 2-minute vagal nerve resets in the car, yoga in weird hotel rooms, and non-negotiable “sharpen the saw” routines). Tracy’s grounded perspective on nervous system attunement and body-mind fitness is pure gold if you’ve ever wondered how the heck to keep doing this job without burning out—or losing yourself in other people’s pain. This conversation won’t sugarcoat the challenges, but it will leave you with fresh permission to put your own needs first, and some genuinely practical ways to make that happen. Explore Tracey’s course Nervous System Foundations HERE! 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’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.

Wondering if burnout is just part of the deal, no matter how “healthy” you try to be? Gretchen gets brutally honest about her own crash-and-burn story as a young massage therapist—how she went from hustling for validation at a franchise spa (while ignoring her body’s red flags) to dealing with a full-blown fibromyalgia flare that forced her out of work. She opens up about all the ways burnout is so much deeper than sore wrists or bad posture, especially when you’re stuck in systems that clash with your values or run by beliefs that tell you rest isn’t allowed. The real kicker? Healing didn’t come from a new protocol or strict routine, but from actually listening to her nervous system and questioning the stories she’d absorbed about worth, success, and what “strong” is supposed to look like in our field.   Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!   If you’re at the edge—tired, in pain, or just sick of pretending everything’s fine—this episode is your permission slip to get curious about what your body’s really trying to say. Gretchen shares nervous system tools, mindset shifts, and the hard-won wisdom that sustainable business (and health) starts by honoring your own needs—not what the industry, or your old stories, demand.   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.

When was the last time you actually admitted out loud how hard this job is? This episode with Corey Rivera goes right to the heart of the “secret crisis” so many massage therapists carry: the isolation, the emotional exhaustion, even the guilt we feel when loving our work just isn’t enough to keep us afloat. Gretchen gets real about the sacrifices she’s made in her own social life and the unspoken pressure to keep clinging to passion—because what happens if we let ourselves admit that’s not enough? Corey shares the behind-the-scenes of Healwell’s viral article on mental health and the hidden toll of our profession, including the stat that hit their team like a tidal wave. They dig into why “being a healer” can feel like a burden, why boundaries are so tough without real community, and what we actually need to stay well—not just at the table but as whole human beings. Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen! For anyone tired of pretending that love for massage should fix everything, this conversation is a breath of fresh air. You’ll walk away feeling less alone, plus better equipped to recognize the price of this work, the value of honest boundaries, and the deep importance of finding your people—no guilt, no perfection required. To see more of Corey’s work and become a part of the Heal Well community, click here.   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’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 caught yourself powering through pain—whether it’s your wrists, your back, or just that stubborn voice saying “well, this is part of the job”? Natalie Pendergrass gets it. She’s built a career out of living in the gray zones of discomfort and hypermobility (hello, Ehlers-Danlos fam), and in this conversation, we get real about how even the smallest, subtlest shifts can transform how you show up at the table and in your life. I had one of those “oh, wow, I’ve been breathing wrong this whole time” moments right alongside her, realizing that what feels like weakness or instability isn’t a failing—it’s information. And if you’ve been fighting your own body or feeling disconnected, Natalie’s reminders about nervous system safety, honoring the micro-wins, and reclaiming five minutes in the morning for gentle reset might just be the rope that pulls you out of the overwhelm. Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE! The biggest takeaway for me? Breathing isn’t just about oxygen—it’s about giving your body the steady input it needs to feel at home, so you’re not muscling through or zoning out every day. It’s easy to ignore those subtle signals, but the magic is in returning—again and again—to practices that make you feel grounded, supported, and a little less alone in the grind. If you’re quietly struggling or just bone tired from holding it all together, you’ll find something real and restorative here. If this episode resonated with you, click here to connect with Natalie’s work directly!    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.

Book your Alignment Call with Gretchen HERE!   It’s easy to think you “should” have it all figured out by now—maybe you’ve tried every trick in the book to calm the chaos, or followed all the business advice only to end up feeling more depleted and out of alignment than ever. Gretchen gets brutally honest in this episode, not just about her own experience running a clinic with massive income but zero joy, but about what really shifted things: walking away from cookie-cutter business strategies and old stories about what success “should” look like. What actually moved the needle for her—and for the real-life bodyworkers whose stories she shares—was learning to build from purpose and nervous system safety first. The game changes when you stop chasing someone else’s idea of success and start allowing your own needs and values to lead the way.   Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!   You’ll hear what happens when practitioners tap into alignment, get brave about boundaries, and ask for what they’re worth (even when it feels scary). If you’re sick of pouring heart and energy into your work without seeing your own life supported in return, this conversation is the permission slip—and the practical roadmap—to build something that genuinely fits you.     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.

Register HERE for the Sustainable Success Blueprint Live Class on August 9th, 2025! Struggling to break free from the feeling that your whole life revolves around hustling for clients and scrambling when one cancels? You’re definitely not the only one. Gretchen cracks open her own story of moving from white-knuckling her massage business out of fear and overwork to actually designing her days around rest, presence, and—shockingly—joy. Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!   She gets honest about the old patterns that kept her stuck (hello, productivity guilt and survival mode parenting), what it took to rewire her relationship to rest, and why sustainability isn’t just about money but about nervous system safety and honoring your real-life values. If the grind has you questioning why you ever got into this in the first place, this conversation is a reminder that your worth isn’t measured in hours booked or clients squeezed in—and there’s a way to build a business that actually supports your life instead of running it.   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.

Get on the waitlist for the Sustainable Success Blueprint HERE! If you’re tired of feeling like you’re checking off all the business advice boxes—networking, raising your rates, squeezing in one more client—yet still wind up totally depleted, then you’re in the right place. This episode goes straight to the heart of why so much “proven” business strategy just doesn’t fit our world as massage therapists. Gretchen talks candidly about her own experience building a business that looked great on paper but left her completely burnt out and disconnected from what actually mattered. What really hits home is the reminder that unless your business is rooted in your own values, nervous system, and the pace your body can sustainably hold, no amount of strategy or hustle will get you where you want to go.   Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!   If you’ve ever wondered if you’re somehow doing it wrong, this one’s a reality check and a permission slip all at once. Expect practical encouragement to center joy, clarity, and your real capacity—instead of patching over exhaustion with someone else’s formula. When you build from that solid foundation, your business starts to support you right back.   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 feel like your sessions are missing something — not because you’re doing it wrong, but because your clients are stuck in overdrive before they even hit the table? This episode is all about vibroacoustics — and before you tune out thinking you don’t have time to learn a whole new modality, hang tight. We’re talking about sound and vibration in ways that are simple, intuitive, and surprisingly effective at helping your clients drop in faster, receive more deeply, and leave more integrated. Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE! Gretchen and Kelsy unpack what’s actually happening in the brain and fascia when sound meets touch, how humming or a single singing bowl can shift someone’s whole experience, and why this isn’t just a nervous system shortcut for your clients — it can be one for you, too. You’ll walk away with low-lift, high-impact ways to start experimenting (like one bowl at the sacrum, or using your own breath as a tool) and real client feedback that might make you want to dust off that crystal bowl you shoved in a closet three years ago.   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 catch yourself re-reading a text to a client for the millionth time, convinced that one wrong sentence will unleash chaos—or at least a passive-aggressive Google review? This episode is a gentle gut check for every bodyworker who’s ever lost sleep over boundaries, pricing, or just saying what you actually mean (without becoming an emotionless robot). Gretchen sits down with Annette Montgomery for a seriously honest, down-to-earth chat about that old tug-of-war between “wanting to help everyone” and “not wanting to collapse in a heap.” They both share what it’s really like to learn boundaries the messy way—not through perfectly crafted scripts, but by reaching a point where burnout makes niceness physically impossible.   Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!   Here’s the shift: You’re not broken if enforcing policies or raising your rates gives you hives. It’s your nervous system talking, and there are ways to make hard conversations feel less terrifying—starting with honest scripts, permission to add a little joy (yes, even on your balance sheet), and finding your own “gooey middle” between people-pleasing and rigid business rules. If you’re tired of business advice that skips over why saying no is so loaded for healers, or if you just want to feel less alone in the awkwardness of growth, this one’s for you.   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.

Feeling overwhelmed by a mountain of unfinished projects or half-baked business ideas? You’re definitely not alone. In this episode of Sustainable Bodyworker, Gretchen Popp dives deep into the all-too-familiar cycle of getting sparked by inspiration, starting lots of projects, and then losing momentum before anything gets finished. This isn’t a flaw in your motivation or a sign of bad time management—it’s actually often a nervous system response, a loop your brain gets caught in seeking the rush of a new idea rather than seeing something through to completion. She shares candidly about her own struggles with accumulating started-but-not-finished projects and how this kept her feeling stagnant and anxious, even though she appeared busy and productive on the surface. The overwhelm stems from having too many “open loops”—unfinished tasks—cluttering up your mental bandwidth, which ultimately slows you down, just like having too many open programs on your computer.   Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE!   To break out of the Start-Stop cycle, Gretchen suggests a few practical strategies: Brain Dump: Get everything out of your head and onto paper, from the tiniest admin task to the most ambitious future dream. This creates clarity and helps you actually see what’s taking up mental space. Step Back: Give yourself some space after making your list. This pause can spark fresh insight and make it easier to distinguish between what’s urgent, what moves the needle, and what’s just mental clutter. Elimination & Prioritization: Cross off anything that doesn’t align with your goals or current capacity. Place the “maybe someday” ideas in a parking lot for later, freeing up focus for what’s important now. Commit to One Thing: Identify the single task or project that’s most aligned with your business goals and energy. Protect this commitment, breaking it down into small, actionable steps so it’s less overwhelming and easier to start. Recognize Resistance: When resistance shows up (perfectionism, fear of being seen, the urge to start something new), remember it’s your nervous system seeking comfort, not a sign you should quit. Acknowledge it, regulate your body (movement, breathwork), and gently guide yourself back to your focus. Create Supportive Systems: Work with your natural rhythms, block time specifically for focused work, and build in accountability that steers you back on course without self-criticism. You don’t have to juggle everything at once. Clear the mental noise, pick your priority, and stay with it—not to force productivity, but to create the conditions where you can actually grow and thrive, sustainably. 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.

Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE! Ever feel like you’re the only one quietly unraveling behind the scenes—staring at the clock during sessions, wondering how much longer your body (or your brain) can handle this grind? This episode’s for you. Gretchen sits down with longtime massage therapist and mentor Melinda Loo, who’s seen both sides: the burnout spiral and what it actually takes to bust out of it. Instead of spouting cookie-cutter advice, Melinda cracks open the real stuff—why mastering techniques and self-care routines matter just as much as dropping that invisible “minimum wage healer” mindset lurking under the surface. They get honest about the cycles of boredom, injury, and straight-up fatigue that nobody admits out loud, plus the sneaky ways burnout shows up (like wanting every client to cancel, or fixating on “the next thing” so hard you barely remember why you started). If you’ve ever wished for a mentor who just gets it—someone who isn’t pretending the fix is easy, but reminds you that being well actually can come first—this conversation is a breath of fresh air.   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.

Real rest isn’t just taking time off—it’s giving each part of you the type of recharge it actually needs.   In today’s episode, Gretchen and Kelsy discuss how massage therapists can avoid burnout by embracing Seven Types of Rest model, created by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. These seven types are: physical, mental, emotional, sensory, social, creative, and spiritual rest. They discuss ways to use this approach of resting to intentionally give your mind, body, and spirit what they specifically need to recover.   FREE offerings from today’s episode:   Click HERE for your free printable Self-Care Assessment Wheel, Guide of 7 Types of Rest for LMTs, and Custom Hypnotherapy Tracks for the areas that you need the most rest. Get your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE! The co-hosts share practical ways to identify when you're depleted in each rest type—like feeling physically sore, mentally foggy, or emotionally drained—and offer simple, accessible ideas to restore yourself both during and after your sessions. They highlight the importance of boundaries, mindful movement, quiet time, and reconnecting with your "why." Overall, this episode is about recognizing and honoring your unique rest needs, staying well-resourced, and making self-care a natural, ongoing rhythm instead of a last resort. Click HERE for your FREE Mindset Shift hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!   Key Themes Discussed:  1. Seven types of rest for therapists   2. Recognizing signs of rest depletion   3. Practical, accessible rest strategies   4. Boundaries as self-care   5. Sensory overload and intentional downtime   6. Self-compassion and subconscious beliefs   7. Reconnecting with purpose and spiritual rest   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.

Feeling drained no matter how much time off you take? In this episode, Gretchen unpacks what joy really means for massage therapists who are trying to build sustainable businesses — and why it’s often the missing link in your burnout recovery plan. She shares her own story of hitting a wall (more than once), what finally shifted, and how understanding the nervous system helped her stop pushing and start healing. You’ll walk away with a better grasp of the brain science behind joy, plus practical tools to weave small, meaningful moments into your day — not just as a luxury, but as a strategy for staying in the game long-term.   Get your FREE mindset shift hypnotherapy session HERE! Key Points: - Joy and Burnout Often Coexist: Success can arrive with burnout if we neglect our personal needs and boundaries. - Not Just Gratitude, But Feeding Joy: There’s a difference between noticing joy and intentionally planting it in your life, making it a repeatable, nourishing habit. - The Brain Science Behind Joy: Our brains have a built-in negativity bias, prioritizing threats based on ancient survival needs. Actively focusing on joy helps retrain the brain and nervous system for greater resilience. - Joy as a Business Strategy: Making time for joy and nervous system regulation isn’t fluff—it’s foundational for showing up consistently, setting boundaries, and magnetizing the right clients. - Practical Steps and Reflection Exercises: Gretchen walks listeners through writing down five small, accessible things that bring them joy and encourages making one non-negotiable in the daily schedule. - Real-Life Transformations: Personal anecdotes and client success stories illustrate how prioritizing joy leads to clearer thinking, better boundaries, increased magnetism, and business growth. - Redefining Success: Sustainable business isn’t just about income or hustle—it’s about how much joy you can hold as you create and serve.   Quotes from the Episode: - “Joy and burnout often show up in the same season.” - “When you feed your joy, intentionally plant it around you, it shows up more often.” - “The secret to building a sustainable business isn’t just better time management or marketing. It’s building a nervous system that can tolerate expansion. And joy is one of the quickest ways to access that regulated, connected state.” - “Joy is not a luxury or a byproduct of success. It's the soil your business grows in. And if that soil is depleted, it doesn’t matter how many seeds you plant.” - “You are not here to build a business that burns you out. You’re here to create something that fuels your life—and joy is part of that plan.”   Click HERE for your FREE mindset shift hypnotherapy 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.

Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast – Episode 1: Moving Beyond Burnout: Sustainable Growth for Massage Therapists   Welcome to the very first episode of the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast, hosted by Gretchen Popp—a massage therapist, mentor, educator, and self-proclaimed “recovering overachiever.” This show is dedicated to massage therapists and bodyworkers who want to build thriving, purpose-led businesses—without burning out. Today, Gretchen shares her own journey through burnout, hustle culture, chronic illness, and ultimately, sustainable success. She dives into the real reasons massage therapists get stuck and why adding more certifications usually isn’t the answer. Instead, she explores how nervous system alignment, integrating what you already know, and deep belief work are the keys to lasting change.   Get your free breakthrough hypnotherapy session with Gretchen HERE. Key Takeaways -   - The importance of Integration Over Addition. More trainings aren’t the solution—learning to trust what you already know is. - Burnout Isn’t a Badge: How burnout, overwhelm, and undercharging are deeply tied to mindset and nervous system safety. Feeling safe to show up, charge your worth, and be seen is essential. - Moving Beyond Mindset: Utilize mindset shifts to move beyond burnout and start thriving. Lasting change requires nervous system safety, embracing boundaries, clarity, and embodied belief work.  - The role of hypnotherapy and nervous system work in helping bodyworkers finally take action.   FREE GIFT:  Go HERE for your free breakthrough hypnotherapy session with Gretchen!   If you’re ready to build a massage practice that truly works for you—without burnout—hit subscribe and tune in for upcoming episodes where we’ll discuss practical business strategies, nervous system support, pricing, visibility, passive income, and more for massage therapists!  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.

Welcome to the Sustainable Bodyworker Podcast, the go-to podcast for massage therapists ready to break free from burnout and build thriving, purpose-driven practices! Hosted by Gretchen Popp—massage therapist, mentor, educator, and recovering overachiever—this show dives deep into nervous system aligned business strategies, sensible pricing, and practices for client work that sustains rather than drains you. Whether you’re just starting out or seeking ways to make your career truly support your life, tune in each week for grounded advice, actionable tips, and honest discussions on how to create a sustainable and fulfilling bodywork business.   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.