Colette Bing - Massage Therapist, Soluna Yoga Spa
Both of Colette’s hustles do wonders for the ones lucky enough to enjoy her talents. As a full-time massage therapist, she specializes in structural bodywork, neuromuscular, kinesiology and sports therapy. Through the art of massage, she’s dedicated to helping people improve their quality of life through massage and healing—both physically and mentally. Part-time, Colette gets people moving on the dance floor as DJ Honeydo. Having worked with her in the past, we can confidently confirm that her skills behind the decks do not disappoint. We’re cheering her on as she continues to kick ass in her career and set goals we know she’ll accomplish.
The Basics:
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Current city: Jacksonville, FL
Alma mater: Florida School of Advanced Bodywork
Degree: Clinical Massage Therapy
Very first job: Nanny
Hustle: Clinical Massage Therapist, Soluna Yoga Spa; DJ Honeydo
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
Amanda Seales is an amazing activist and actress that I find myself resonating with. You'd probably know her as a character on the HBO show Insecure, but her Instagram is a great resource. She is hilarious but also adamant about uplifting black voices, and she has really helped me get through this rough summer.
Favorite way to start (or end) the day?
Start: a warm beverage. End: a journal entry.
What’s your favorite app, website, or blog?
I still love Reddit—it's definitely helped me get through some things that I've felt like I couldn't speak to anyone in my life about. I love an open forum where people get to share about being human beings to other human beings.
Dream concert to attend?
Past: The Cramps (RIP Lux) and Marvin Gaye; Present: Snoh Aalegra, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Nick Hakim
If you could have dinner with one woman, who would it be?
Erykah Badu. She’d probably make me laugh and cry simultaneously. What an absolute visionary, ya know?
What’s your dream gig?
DJing with Cercle! They take DJs to extravagant and visually striking places all around the world. Their most viewed video is Ben Bohmer DJing in a hot air balloon above Turkey—check it out!
What’s your favorite self-care ritual?
I love a good soak and body scrub sesh! I feel like I’m shedding old skin metaphorically and physically, reborn as a soft little baby who smells great.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
Massage Therapy is an ancient art. Most people are familiar with the typical Swedish relaxation, rub-some-lotion-softly-all-over-kind of massage. But in reality, massage is the oldest form of healthcare. I'm personally trained in Structural Bodywork, Neuromuscular, Kinesiology, and Sports Therapies; I'm a very results-based kind of therapist. I like to help people improve their posture and in turn, their quality of life. I work out of Soluna Yoga Spa in the Riverside area of Jacksonville. I typically see 3-4 clients in a day, and probably half are people who see me regularly. Everyone has different needs and wants, so all of my sessions are completely personalized. Everyone at Soluna is highly trained in different aspects, so there's a lot of freedom we have to be creative and innovative. I try to educate people on the power that massage and yoga have on our physical and mental wellbeing. The most rewarding part is when my clients leave the room and gush about how much better they feel. My favorite statement is "I feel like a new person!" For the first time in my life, I genuinely LOVE my day job. As for my work as a DJ, I have the occasional gig here and there, but I've mostly just been playing out of my house and using this time to hone in on my skills.
What inspired you to pursue massage therapy?
Honestly, I just got tired of people telling me "You should get paid for this!" I've been working on family members since I was about seven years-old. My high school sweetheart and I were very interested in massage therapy, and we used to practice on each other all the time. It was always a backup plan in my head, and it wasn't until I was 21 that I decided to become certified. It's a certification you can tack on to so many other things and make your own career with. The best part about the massage industry is that you're always learning more about different modalities. I'm currently studying Reiki, Reflexology and Thai massage. As someone who is dedicated to learning their whole life, I would love to eventually be a transpersonal psychologist. Essentially that’s just a holistic healer, providing care for the mind, body and spirit.
When did your passion for music begin? What steps did you take to pursue DJing, and what do you hope for the future of DJing post-COVID?
They used to call me the human iPod in middle school! I've always had an affinity for knowing what people want to hear. And again, I got tired of people telling me I should get paid for it. When I moved to Jacksonville in 2015, I worked up the gumption to try and start DJing. I bothered the bar managers at Birdies for months to give me a shot. They finally did and loved it, and I played there every Wednesday night for over a year. These days, I've really chilled out on playing gigs. I have so many other hustles, and I also know that there's a lot of struggling full time DJ's trying to find work. I'm enjoying live streaming so much right now! I love seeing people on Twitch and playing what they want, rather than what the crowd in front of them wants. Everyone has a different flavor, and sometimes it's hard to show that to a room full of demanding drunk people.
How do you ensure you’re properly performing your work duties without injuring yourself?
Ahhh there's the age old adage: Who massages the massage therapist? Ice is my best friend; I try to do ice baths for my hands and arms at least once a week. LMT’s definitely do free body work for one another. For me at this point, I don't physically fatigue as much as I do mentally. The energy exchange between a therapist and a client can be really intense. Meditation is key!
What’s one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve made in your career?
I actually failed out of my first massage school after I had already been attending for a year. My father was livid. I had already chosen to not go to a four-year college like my siblings, and I just wasn't putting in the effort that I needed to better myself—but it was definitely a blessing in disguise. I found the Florida School of Advanced Bodywork, which was much more focused on what I was passionate about. I ended up having to retake all of my classes from the last year. There were a lot of tiring days, most of them with only a few hours of sleep a night. Working full-time and going to school full time made me a stronger person and a better therapist in the end.
How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry?
I'm not sure if it's because of my hair color, or I'm young, a woman, or a woman of color, etc., but I find that sometimes people really don't take me seriously. I find myself being sexualized in both of my professions—one being dominated by men, and the other known for sex trafficking. Getting hit on at work really ruins my day. With massage, once those lines are crossed, the relationship can no longer be therapeutic. There’s a level of trust that has to exist between clients and therapists. To me, that relationship is sacred, and requires absolute focus, much like any other connection between a mental health or wellness provider. With massage and DJing, there's a similar mentality that I have; I know what's best for you right now. Yes, I know you think that this random Pitbull song is gonna SLAP right now. But maybe, just maybe, making only you happy is going to ruin the vibe for everyone else. And yes, I know that you said your lower back hurts and you think I'm not spending enough time rubbing it to death—but that's because it's actually your hamstrings causing the problem. Both of my careers require a lot of research-based knowledge that I have taken the time to acquire, so you don't have to. A little trust goes a long way!
What’s the gender ratio like in your industry? Do you see it evolving?
There is a gatekeeping mentality that I think is dying with the older hip hop heads. I'm looking forward to seeing more women do what I do—they are definitely multiplying! On the other hand, I'm in a female-dominated industry of massage. I'm a very analytical anatomical therapist, which is why a lot of my favorite like-minded LMT's are men. Unfortunately, male therapists are typically booked less than female therapists. People actually call in advance and make sure that they have a female therapist—a lot of clients won't even give a male a chance. Granted, there’s a lot to say about trauma and the patriarchy there. When the male species learns how to keep their hands to themselves, maybe that will change. Until then, I don't blame anyone for feeling unsafe being naked and touched by a man alone in a dark room. I feel blessed to be a member of the sisterhood in my line of work.
What’s a memorable experience you’ve had on the job?
It’s always memorable when people are pleased with my work, whether I’m playing their favorite song or I release bodily tension that’s been there for ages. Helping people become closer to themselves is rewarding.
What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?
I think it’s all about the little things. Every client that leaves my office relieved is a huge victory. I love clients that I’ve had for extended periods of time—it’s amazing to see their quality of life improve, and to get to know an otherwise stranger so intimately. I hold so many people’s stories in my heart. If I had to narrow it down to a moment where I felt great accomplishment, I would say the first time a client had an emotional release on my table. We actually hold our emotions in the physical body. When we’re able to access and release that emotion, it’s very overwhelming but extremely beneficial. Sometimes people will start crying uncontrollably, hyperventilating, shaking, etc. It can be confusing and frightening for the client, and the first time that it happened to one of mine was no different. I was secretly very excited and helped them through it. They gave me the best and biggest hug afterwards and said that it felt like I had dug up a fossil they had been carrying for ages.
What does activism mean to you? How does it impact your approach to your day-to-day work?
My existence and doing what I love feels like activism in itself sometimes, ha. I don't support or work for businesses that don’t align with my views. I vote locally and I spend wisely. With massage, I've gained patience and understanding of different ideologies due to my clientele; I've become a lot more tolerant and appreciative of people I don't agree with. I think that we learn the most from people we differ from. It's important to get out of your echo chamber and have constructive conversations with different walks of life—I think that's where real change lives. Not on your Instagram feed, or events that don't reach the opposition. I've been marching since I was in high school, I have nothing to prove. I'm not interested in activism that feels like a vanity project.
How have your job, roles, and industry differed from what they looked like before the pandemic?
Sanitation is at an all time high, as I’m sure it is for most workplaces. We spend 30 minutes after each session disinfecting the room. Therapists and clients have to wear masks at all times, even during the session. We thought people would complain about the masks more, but no one cares what it takes, they just need relief. Honestly, what I’ve learned through the pandemic is that massage is definitely an essential business. I’ve been booked nonstop since we reopened in June.
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
I respect all of my co-workers and the owner of Soluna, Dori Thomsen. She is supportive as a superior and genuinely cares about employees and clients wholeheartedly. Her ability to manage a business and a child with as much attention as she does is beyond admirable. I also love my nonbinary DJ sis Geexella so much. I remember a few years ago when they came out to see me DJing because they were interested in pursuing it as well. Now, they’ve surpassed me! They created Duval Folx, an all-inclusive dance party for our queer POC's of Jacksonville. They’re just a great person who really puts themselves out there for their community. Enerji is another amazing female DJ from Jax that I'm just really enjoying right now. Finally, DJ Luna Cross. We're really showing up in this city more and more—I love it!
How do you rest, recharge and find inspiration?
Therapy. We all can get bogged out in our minds and it's great to speak with someone who can share a different perspective. Alone time is great for recharging as well.
Career and/or life advice for other babes (both inside and outside of your industry?
Soluna has a saying for 2020: Stop the glorification of busy. You shouldn't equate your self-worth to productivity. It's just as valid to do nothing as it is to complete something on your to do list. An equal balance is needed. We have a short time on this planet. Do what you love and everything else will fall into place.
Connect with Colette:
Massage Instagram / Personal Instagram
This interview has been condensed and edited.
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