Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Babiera.
Hi Bri, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Being a massage therapist was never on my radar. I wanted to be a writer, or a journalist, or fashion designer. Those were the things I was confident about. I wrote stories, I was on my school’s newspaper, and I’d been sewing for years. I could make something out of those, for sure.
I remember when the idea of “career” was first presented to me in high school, when they make you take that silly aptitude test. I would say it was in that moment when I realized that I didn’t know anything of what I really wanted from life. What fifteen year-old does? And why was I being pigeon-holed into these stuffy career fields? I just know I was expected to go to college and “makes something” of myself. College equals successful career. That was the formula.
I made an effort at that, truly. I went straight into my local community college after graduating high school. And let me tell you, I hated every second of it. I was not meant to function for another four-year schooling situation. So I didn’t. I stopped going, and I left town for the Ypsi-Ann Arbor area.
I worked a minimum wage retail job, I moved around a lot and had a colorful variety of roommates, I made some bad choices for myself. Any ambitions I had were set aside for the sake of growing up and learning who I was as a person.
And then I became a single mother. I was 24 when my daughter was born. I needed to be better for her. That little human saved my life in a way she will probably never understand.
As an infant, she was diagnosed with torticollis—a shortening of neck muscles that forces the head to twist and tilt to one side. I opted to take her to a physical therapist for treatment instead of an alternative therapeutic helmet I would have never been able to afford. Our PT was an amazingly inspiring woman who cared deeply for her patients, and fought so hard to help my daughter with her mobility. I was given homework of exercises to do with this stubborn tiny girl between sessions, and it was in those few months that I decided that I could do this. I could be a PT.
Maybe.
I went back to school. I worked my retail job. I finished my application for the PT program…and then it all fell apart when I was told that a new law required PT’s to have a doctorate. I did not have time for a doctorate. I tried a different school for PTA instead, thinking that would be a better option. Nope. That school turned out to be a scam. At this point I was hopeless and nearly ready to resign myself to a life in retail. Instead, I took a step back and focused on raising my child, even if that meant struggling for just a little longer.
Then one day in 2014, I needed a massage. I hadn’t gotten one in years and was in pain…but also pretty broke. I found Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy (AAIMT) and booked a session, knowing I wouldn’t be able to tip my therapist, but desperately needed pain relief. I remember looking around that little clinic room and seeing all the anatomy posters and books everywhere, and it dawned on me that this was it, this was what I was going to do with myself. I already had an background in A&P (and was surprisingly good at it), and I already had the people-person skills from years in retail. It seemed like such a no-brainer!
I spent my entire appointment completely oblivious to what the young guy was doing as I was more concerned with asking him questions about the school (I’m sure he was annoyed with me by the end). I went up to the admin office afterwards and found out that their next round of classes wouldn’t start until that Fall. Waiting to join that class felt like the longest 5 months of my life!
I walked into the building that August and told myself I would keep my business to myself, get through this year, get my degree and move on with my life. Little did I know that my classmates weren’t about to let that happen…in this best way. They became a second family in that time. I actually still get teary-eyed all these years later, because I had a support system in them that I never knew I needed. It’s one thing to have your immediate family, or close friends at your back (and I did, which I am immensely grateful for), but another to have others in the thick of it with you.
I graduated in September of 2015 at the age of 29. It felt like a better-late-than-never kind of thing…but I did it. It is an indescribable feeling to accomplish something you never knew you needed.
I quit retail that winter and got hired into a company in Ann Arbor for my first full-time massage therapist position. I stayed with them for a year until I was offered my own space in Dundee by another LMT who was opening an office. I stayed with his business for 4 years and established myself in the community. I learned so much from my boss and coworkers in that time. I’m truly grateful for those years of experience as it lead me to where I am now.
I left Dundee and settled into an office in Ann Arbor as a sublet to none other than a classmate of mine from AAIMT. I opened Full Body Alchemist in December of 2020 in the height of COVID. It was an absolutely insane move. I look back on that and realize what a huge gamble that was. I honestly didn’t think anyone would want to keep receiving bodywork during a pandemic, but I had to try. It took something like 3 years to gain the steady following of clients that I have now, and it was well worth the wait.
I feel so incredibly lucky that I not only had folks follow me from Dundee, but now have some who found me organically here in Ann Arbor and tell me they’ll never see anyone else for massage. The gratitude I have for that sentiment knows no bounds.
As of late 2025, the door to my office has my business name on it. I still share the suite, but this time with two other women who are both in the mental health field.
I never thought I would be here. I never thought I would be successful. I guess I just didn’t know what I was capable of until it was presented to me. To quote Frida Kahlo: “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can”.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Money was always my biggest struggle. I worked minimum wage, and was on state assistance for food and child care. My mom was helping pay my bills, and I felt terrible being so dependent on her for that while I tried to get on my feet. I also found myself in some relationships that just weren’t healthy, both romantically and platonic friendships. I had to learn that not everyone is out to see you succeed. Finding my people was a lesson well learned.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist who specializes in therapeutic massage. A session with me is an integration of neuromuscular therapy, myofascial therapy, relaxation, and if needed, cupping therapy. I see clients from all walks of life, but the majority are typically dealing with some sort of chronic issue and are seeking pain management. I have worked with people suffering from autoimmune disorders, recovering from surgery or an injury, in need of headache and migraine relief, or just overexerting themselves in their sport or hobby.
I am most proud of that fact that my clients recommend me to their friends and family. I have “collected” so many interconnected people! To know that they trust me with not only their care, but also their loved ones? Such a great feeling!
I like to think that I stand out because I don’t take myself too seriously. My office is full of what I call “professional whimsy” decor, and I love to chat with my clients and learn about their lives. I feel like I have found that sweet spot between being a healthcare professional, and being personable.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned is to trust my gut, embrace the power of “no”, and never settle for less than what I’m worth.
When I got into this field I was fresh off of retail and was still in the mindset that I should do whatever my boss or manager wanted from me without question. To stand in my “no” and protect myself mentally, emotionally, and physically, was the best thing I could have ever done. It was scary, but it was also uplifting to finally be able to place boundaries that were respected and not have my livelihood be on the line.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fullbodyalchemist.square.site/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FBAMassage
