Meet Julie Polvinen of Zen Animal Massage in Somerville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Polvinen.

Julie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have had a deep love for animals since I was a child – the wild, the feral, the stray, and the domesticated. I longed to work with them and give back in a way that spoke to who I am. I was never strong enough to be a vet, because ultimately, I knew I could never put an animal down. I quietly searched for a way to enhance their lives and be at their service.

To date I have been a mother to 3 cats — Declan, Nua and Nonnie; 2 dogs – a Beagle named Dillon and now a Jack Russell/Beagle named Penny.

I began my journey taking in stray cats. From there I would find and bring injured wild animals to the Wildlife Center in Hingham for rehabilitation and release, then more formally, volunteering at the Standish Humane Society in Duxbury where I fed over 100 homeless cats every Friday for 2 years. I began to foster their kittens and re-home them. This is where I got my current cat, Nonnie, who is now 20 1/2 years young.

Prior to bringing her into the family, I brought home my first dog, Dillon. I am ashamed to say that he came from a breeder in Lakeville. I know now that adopting an animal is the best thing we can do for them. The experience of owning Dillon changed my life. For 18 years he was my best pal and toward the end of his life I hired an acupuncturist and a massage therapist for him, to compliment his regular veterinary visits. This was my first exposure to alternative therapies for animals and I was hooked: seeing was believing. Dillon’s arthritis improved without the use of medications.

After Dillon passed, it took me 5 years to get another dog – I was heartbroken. During that time, I volunteered at the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston and realized that animal massage was what I had been looking for all along. I attended massage school at the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Worcester and was able to do my internship at ARL. I graduated from Bancroft in 2011 and offered my services at the best dog hotels in Boston for many years, while growing my private practice. I now solely focus on my own work as a traveling massage therapist in the Greater Boston area.

Massage and bodywork are gentle manual manipulations of muscle, tissue, and joints. They are also about trust, love, and healing. I never imagined this work would provide me the opportunity to love more dogs and cats, be-friend many an owner and feel my own sense of healing.

Certification to be a Small Animal Massage Therapist includes the completion of a 200-hour program in anatomy and physiology, as well as hands-on training in many types of massage strokes, palpation, muscle mobilization techniques, passive range of motion exercises and myofascial release. We are trained to work with owners and with veterinarians to provide the best course of action for each individual animal.

I believe in supporting organizations that make a real difference in the lives of animals. 5% of my annual proceeds go to support The Animal Rescue League of Boston, where I treated dogs and cats with massage to ease their transition into shelter life, so they could find their forever homes faster.

I am a member of and insured through Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP). I am also a member of The Pet Professional Guild which advocates for force-free professional pet care. We believe in relationship building between pets and people and pain-free practices.

Has it been a smooth road?
Once I finally realized I wanted to be a massage therapist for animals, oddly the road has been an easy one! It took me longer to figure out what I wanted to do than to implement it. The only struggle I actually felt was related to being out of school for so long, I had to re-learn how to learn.

Many people in my class are not practicing massage today, I knew I wanted to jump in with both feet after graduation. I built relationships with the places I worked before I finished school, I created a new service in their industries and worked there for over 6 years before finally focusing on my own thing. I am very grateful for the opportunities to serve the dogs and cats I see and their owners. It has been a gift in my life.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Zen Animal Massage – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My company is Zen Animal Massage, http://zenanimalmassage.com/. I am the Sole Proprietor offering massage and bodywork to any animal under 200 pounds. This is my 7th year in business with this growing traveling massage practice. I serve dogs and cats in the Greater Boston area and have an active Facebook page that can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ZenAnimalMassage/. I specialize in working with older animals who suffer from arthritis, mobility issues, and the discomfort that cancer can bring.

I offer my clients free consultations regarding ways to make their home more pet-friendly for geriatric and ailing animals. I also have a large network of vetted providers that I share when clients are looking for additional services for their pet. I am most proud of the effective treatments I am able to deliver, the positive results that have been seen in the animals I treat, and the trusted relationships I have built with pets and especially their owners, who trust me with their animal’s care. I have built lasting friendships based on mutual love for animals.

I am also proud of the Ratings and Reviews I have have been given on my Facebook page. I see it as a reflection of who I strive to be in my business and life. I’m not sure what sets me apart, but my clients tell me that they appreciate my authentic approach, my calm nature, my enthusiasm for this work, and my desire to improve the quality of life of animals and be a steady support for their humans.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the city of Boston! I have lived here for 20 years, and was born here, oh-so-long ago 🙂 One of the things I like best is its openness to try new things. 7 years ago when I started my massage practice, the animal industry was pretty small regarding alternative services for animals. Today, it is commonplace to see massage offered in pet spas and top hotels here in the city.

What I like least about Boston is the traffic and constant construction.

Pricing:

• 1 – hour in-home massage = $70
• 1-time medical and behavioral intake for new clients = $40
• Travel fee, if over 5 miles outside of Somerville, MA = $10

Contact Info:

• Website: http://zenanimalmassage.com/
• Phone: 617-784-1614
• Email: julie.polvinen@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenAnimalMassage/

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.