We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Valerie Morillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Valerie below.
Valerie, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
Something that became clear to me, as I continued to take care of others, was the importance of taking care of myself! I’m a single mom of two teenagers, building a business, and starting life over again in my 40s. My young adult life was spent being a mom, and taking care of a household, husband, and children. I completely neglected my own needs in order to cater to the needs of my family. And as you can imagine, that left me feeling depleted. I was tired, depressed, cranky, and sometimes short-tempered.
Now, at my big age of 46 years old, I finally understand what I need in order to feel whole, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Physical activity plays a major role in that. Hiking and strength training are my go-to forms of self-care. Hiking helps me process stress and emotions. But it’s also what I do for fun and fitness because I truly enjoy it. Strength training keeps me physically capable and resilient, which is essential in my work as a massage therapist.
Staying active this way has drastically improved my effectiveness. In my early days as a massage therapist, before I understood what I needed to do to take care of myself, I would get home from work exhausted, in pain, and completely drained both mentally and physically. Once I figured out and set a work schedule that worked for me and made intentional space for workouts, downtime, recreational activities, and time for recharging, everything changed. I’m now more grounded, patient, and present with my clients and my kids. I’m stronger, more focused, and far more energized than I used to be. Self-care is the foundation that allows me to care for others without burning out.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In a nutshell, I’m a licensed massage therapist and the owner of San Antonio Ashiatsu Massage, located in the heart of downtown San Antonio. I fell head over heals for Ashiatsu massage from the first time that I tried it. I knew right then and there that THAT is what I wanted to do with my massage career. Fast forward to today, I now specialize in Ashiatsu massage, a unique form of deep tissue massage where I use my feet, supported by overhead bars, to deliver slow, broad pressure that reaches deep muscle layers without the sharp discomfort that elbows or thumbs can cause. It’s incredibly effective for relieving tension in the neck, shoulders, back, and post-workout muscles, and it often leaves clients feeling both physically restored and emotionally grounded.
In addition to Ashiatsu, I offer Ashi-Thai, a dynamic and passive stretching technique that combines the deep pressure of Ashiatsu with the assisted movements of Thai massage. It’s perfect for clients who need improved mobility, flexibility, and relief from chronic tension. I’ve also recently added an infrared sauna to my studio, which is an amazing tool for relaxation, detoxification, and muscle recovery. Clients often enjoy using it before their massage to warm up the body and deepen the benefits of their session.
What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to help people reset; not just their bodies, but their minds and nervous systems. I’ve shifted my brand messaging to focus more on stress relief and emotional wellness, because I’ve seen firsthand how much of people’s tension comes from mental and emotional overload. I love creating a space where clients can feel safe to relax, let go, and reconnect with themselves.
My work is also deeply personal. As a single mom rebuilding my life in my 40s, I know what burnout feels like and I’ve learned how essential self-care is to staying grounded and functional. That experience is what informs how I show up for my clients. I’m not just offering a massage; I’m offering a restorative experience from the perspective of someone who gets it.
Right now, I’m focused on growing my local presence and connecting more with the people who live and work downtown, and I’m exploring new ways to reward client referrals and encourage regular self-care through future membership offerings.
At the heart of my brand is the belief that taking care of your body should feel empowering, not indulgent, and that healing can be both deeply effective and enjoyable.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One quality that I believe was most impactful in my journey was being coachable. I came into this industry as a blank slate. I let go of what I thought I knew and allowed myself to learn. Not just the hands-on, (or in my case, feet-on), techniques of massage, but also how to hold space for people, how to communicate professionally, and how to build something sustainable. Even now, as I continue to grow, not just as a massage therapist but as a business owner, I stay open to feedback. I regularly invest in continuing education, especially in advanced therapeutic techniques within my niche, so I can provide the highest quality service possible.
The second major factor was resourcefulness. Starting a business on your own can be overwhelming, especially when you’re learning as you go. I leaned heavily on free and low-cost resources available to small business owners, like the Small Business Administration, local entrepreneur support programs, online workshops, books, podcasts, and community business centers. The more you can take initiative to seek out help, even if it’s just a free webinar, the more confident and prepared you’ll feel.
Finally, emotional resilience has been a critical part of my journey. I struggle with anxiety and often get overstimulated and overwhelmed. Starting over in my 40s while raising two kids and trying to grow a business has required me to stay grounded through setbacks, slow seasons, and moments of doubt. I’ve had to learn how to separate temporary challenges from my long-term vision, and to keep showing up even when results weren’t immediate. For anyone early in their journey, my advice is: build your emotional toolkit. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, find healthy outlets for stress, and remind yourself often why you started.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Oh my gosh!! I’ve read SO MANY BOOKS!!!! Here are my top three in no particular order:
1) Massage is weird by Ian Harvey – So many helpful nuggets throughout the book. So helpful for us overthinkers! He busts some of the most common massage myths, helps boost your confidence and engage your curiosity!
2) Massage MBA by Rachel Beider – This book was so validating for people with self doubt and high anxiety, and offered plenty of practical and actionable steps to take right away!
3) Profit First by Mike Michalowicz – Perfect for ANY new business owner, not just massage therapists. I was fortunate enough to have received this book recommendation very early on in my career, so that when I finally started the process of starting my own business, I already had a solid foundation for how to handle and manage my finances responsibly and with ease.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sanantonioashiatsumassage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanantonioashiatsumassage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanantonioashiatsumassage
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