When you meet our Durham barefoot training instructor Julie in person, you may be fooled by her petite size. Her sweet-sounding Southern way of talking is simply sugar coating on her wickedly deep and specific feet, which she uses to Rolf.
Your name?
Julie H Marciniak
Tell us about your pets!
Jack is our last dachshund baby. We lost Max right before Christmas this year. He was a dachshund too.
Introduce us to your family.
My eldest is our son Blake, SPC (Specialist) in the Army. Our daughter Michaela is a sophomore in college. My husband is Michael, a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard (his photo is in the header.).
What did you want to be when you grew up and why?
I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but something that required college and taking me away from the farm! (Julie grew up on a tobacco farm!)
I loved biology. I went to Governors School for Biology in high school and participated in my1st cadaver class.
Where do you teach?
I teach in Durham, NC. NC Ashiatsu Training is my teaching gig and Bull City Soles is my studio.
What’s cool about your city?
Durham is a really eclectic city, also known as the Bull City, and there are various bull statues, art and of course we have the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team.
We also have a cool history with tobacco and lots of old warehouses downtown have been converted to businesses, and they are centered around the Durham Performing Arts Center, and right next door to Duke University and Duke Medical Center.
Which classes do you teach?
I teach Fundamentals, ROM, Intermediate (Supine-Side body), Advanced and hopefully future Clinical Tracks (Julie is in the process of co-writing our 1st clinical class with Jeni!)
How has doing barefoot massage changed your career?
Barefoot Massage literally saved my career.
10 years in I was hurting, my hands, my arms, my neck. Once I learned Barefoot Massage I went back to school to learn Rolfing at the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute realizing that I had the tools to succeed.
27 years later I’m still LOVING what I do and looking forward to the next 20 years!
What do you love about teaching barefoot massage?
I love spreading the passion for barefoot massage and showing massage therapists the possibilities!
Chronic pain is such an epidemic and I feel better knowing I can help even more people by giving massage therapists more tools to treat pain.
Other than doing barefoot massage until you die, what would you do when it comes time to retire?
I don’t know what I’d do when I retire. If I would! I love what I do. Maybe have some grandbabies to spoil and teach barefoot massage?
Hobbies?
I like working in the yard, cooking and reading.
Can you drive a stick shift, scooter, motorcycle, boat?
I learned to drive a stick shift when I was a little girl on the farm. I drove a school bus my junior and senior year of high school.
Funny story: We were stationed on an Army base in Ft Leavenworth, Kansas couple years ago and I had ordered a sleeper couch from Ethan Allen. When the delivery came to the gate the driver of the 16 wheeler didn’t have his ID and they wouldn’t let him on the post.
They had driven 1 hour to get there. The other guy that was with him didn’t know how to drive a stick. So I went up to the gate and drove the 16 wheeler onto the post. LOL.
I had to use a pillow behind my back so my feet could reach the pedals but I got my custom couch for 1/2 price! 😉 I had to get my son and his friend to help me and the one delivery guy drag it up a flight of stairs.
Any tips to keep yourself healthy as a massage therapist?
I try to get some form of bodywork on a regular basis, whether it’s massage, cranial/visceral work, Chiropractic or Rolfing.
Right now I’m doing functional dry needling and it’s really helping my own chronic pain issues.
What’s a random thing that most people don’t know about you?
I’m American Indian, Lumbee actually from Robeson County, NC. People look at me and think I’m either Hispanic, Indian or something else with my dark skin but I think my last name, Marciniak throws them off. My husband is actually 1/2 Polish and 1/2 Lumbee Indian.
Fave foods??
I love Greek food, I love Chick-fil-A and sweet tea! Fresh veggies, fruit, especially watermelon.
Have you been on any podcasts or write anywhere?
✓ Massage Business Blueprint E210: How Anatomical Knowledge can Help Your Marketing (with Julie Marciniak)
✓ And I blog on our Bull City Soles website
Where can people schedule an appointment with you?
Only Rolfing SI (Structural Integration) appointments (which I do primarily with my feet) are available.
Where else can people find out more about your classes?
🌎 Center for Barefoot Massage instructor page
🌎 NC Ashiatsu barefoot massage training page
Where can we follow you on social media?
🌎 NC Ashiatsu: Facebook
🌎 NC Ashiatsu: Insta
🌎 Bull City Soles: Facebook
🌎 Bull City Soles: Insta
Julie’s official bio:
I received my original massage training from the Carolina School of Massage Therapy in 1992. In 2002, after ten years of providing the deep tissue massage techniques my clients craved, the repetitive wear and tear were taking a toll on my wrists, elbows, and shoulders. I was desperate for an alternative modality and pursued ashiatsu barefoot massage training.
Barefoot massage saved my career and empowered me to begin Rolfing® SI training in 2005. I also started teaching Ashiatsu barefoot to massage therapists. In May 2018 I completed my Advanced certification in Rolfing® SI and, I continue to develop my myofascial barefoot skills.
While I no longer offer massage sessions, I continue to personally train the Bull City Soles team in Ashiatsu barefoot massage and instruct other massage therapists under the umbrella of The Center for Barefoot Massage. It’s been a remarkable journey!
At home, I’m married to a full-time NC Army National Guardsman, with a daughter in college, a son currently serving in the U.S. Army, and one aging dachshund. To say the least, I stay busy! In my rare off time, I enjoy cooking, reading, gardening, decorating and creating beautiful and functional spaces.
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