Josiah Lillard, Founder, Balm of Healing Mobile Massage Therapy in Surprise, AZ. (Image provided.)
How Josiah Lillard turned a childhood desire to help his mom into an Arizona mobile practice that heals both the body and the home.
It started with a third shift job. Josiah Lillard watched his mom work all night and come home exhausted, only to wake up and homeschool him and his siblings. He wanted to help. He turned to YouTube, learned some basic massage techniques, and started working on her feet and shoulders to give her some relief.
Word got around the neighborhood. People told him he was a natural. He bought a massage table and started practicing. Josiah knew that to really make this a career, he needed to do it right. He went to Cortiva Massage School in Chicago and graduated at the top of his class.
Now, with over ten years of professional experience under his belt, Josiah runs Balm of Healing LLC as a mobile operation here in Arizona.
The Reality of Going All In
Building a business like this is a constant push. Since moving to Arizona, Josiah has faced the very real struggle of getting his name out there while fighting the temptation to split his attention in multiple directions. Going all in on one business takes courage. He credits his wife for pushing him forward and helping him brainstorm ways to expand.
Releasing the Unseen Weight
For Josiah, the physical knots are just the surface. He knows people are dealing with anger, depression, and everyday stress. Josiah believes a lot of physical pain actually comes from mental and spiritual exhaustion. His mobile table becomes a place where people can finally let go.
STATISTIC
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, 79 percent of people who received a massage in the last year did so for health, wellness, or stress-related reasons.
“I have had people cry on my table just from ‘letting go’ and feeling so much better.” Josiah Lillard
Protecting the Boundaries
One notable expansion for Balm of Healing addresses a common concern among married couples. A lot of husbands draw a hard line when it comes to another man working on their wives. It is a completely valid boundary. Josiah created a specific service to solve this exact problem. He teaches married couples basic massage techniques. He trains the husband how to properly relieve his wife’s stress, keeping those boundaries intact while giving couples a physical way to help each other survive the daily grind.
STATISTIC
A study presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference found that when couples learn to massage each other, mental and physical well-being surges for both the giver and the receiver.
“Understanding how to approach your spouse’s body in the right way is very important to them. Being able to teach couples is very important to me because this also helps them stay together despite what they are going through.” Josiah Lillard
A photo of a typical Balm of Healing LLC workspace. (Image provided.)
Building Trust at the Front Door
Then there is the logistical reality of the job. Being a mobile operator means stepping into people’s homes. That requires a massive amount of trust. It is completely normal for a woman to feel hesitant about a strange man walking into her house for a session. Josiah completely understands that barrier. He leans heavily on his decade of licensed experience, his top tier education, and his deep faith to create a safe and professional environment. His business is rooted in his connection with God. He prays before entering a room to make sure his clients feel completely secure, respected, and ready to heal.
STATISTIC
For the busy operator who thinks they lack the time to book a session, a study highlighted by the American Massage Therapy Association showed that it only takes 10 minutes of massage to significantly boost the nervous system’s ability to relax and handle stress.
The Long Game
Josiah is playing the long game. Looking ten or twenty years down the road, his ultimate goal is to open a Christian based massage school. He wants to train the next generation to help people stay active as they age. Until then, he will keep packing up his table, driving to the next house, and doing the work required to build a lasting legacy for his family.
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