Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaimee Chappell.
Hi Jaimee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was a child, I remember my mom asking me to rub a knot in her shoulder. Hearing her gratitude for being provided relief felt fulfilling. My grandpa loved his scalp being massaged and would fall asleep in, what felt like, seconds. With the support and encouragement of those two, my passion for giving massages grew. With that in mind, I strategically chose classes in high school that would help with my pursuit to become a massage therapist: anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, health science I, and health science II.
In health science II, I was a part of a shadowing program that allowed me to intern with multiple doctors related to my chosen career path. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and chiropractors all allowed me to sit in, learn, and participate sometimes in their work which further validated my desire to become a massage therapist; I wanted more hands on time with muscles. Upon graduating high school, I enrolled in San Antonio River City School of Massage Therapy and passed with Honors less than one year later. The following day, I took my state board exam and received a passing grade within 45 minutes.
During the time it took for my license to be approved, I was introduced to a local salon owner by one of the chiropractors I shadowed in high school. The owner of that salon, formerly known as the BWB Salon, offered a deal for me to pay a percentage of my earnings up to the full weekly rent until I could consistently pay in full. This allowed me to start my own business at 19 years old and build my clientele in a safe environment close to home. I figured that starting my own business would be better in the long run instead of starting with a company who would likely make me sign a non-compete making it more difficult to start my own business later down the road. I thought I might as well start from scratch while I could afford to not have money since I still lived with my dad at the time.
After the 2016 Summer Olympics, multiple requests for cupping started coming in. In February of 2017, I completed a three day cupping course, making me the first certified cupping therapist in New Braunfels. Adding this technique was the first cornerstone in my business’ success as it allowed me to be more effective with the time I had. Clients started getting relief from their sciatic nerve pain and TMJD within one session! Other techniques that have been added to my skillset since include: myofascial release, psoas release, lymphatic drainage, and breaking down scar tissue.
Learning the most effective techniques has always been a high priority for me. Unlike many massage therapists, I provide intentional therapy tailored to each individual that books an appointment with me with the mindset to improve their quality of life to the point where they don’t rely on me to live a comfortable life. My goal is to graduate each client to an “as needed” schedule by providing tips on how to adjust habits to produce better results and suggesting exercises to strengthen weak muscles so that I can continue helping as many people as I can. “We are a product of our daily habits” and “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got” are frequently used phrases I tell most of my clients who haven’t understood why their body hurts so we can start getting to the root of how their aches and pains started in order to figure out how to keep them from coming back.
In 2021, the citizens of New Braunfels nominated and named me as one of the top three best massage therapists in town through the Herald Zeitung’s Citizens’ Choice Awards. I received this award again in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Last year, I claimed the #1 spot as the Best Massage Therapist in New Braunfels. As a massage therapist who works on my own running for that title against full service spas with at least half a dozen practitioners employed, I consider myself blessed for my business to even be considered one of the top three best in town!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up in a divorced household had its challenges. Both parents struggled with depression and coped with it in different ways. One parent was volatile and neglectful. We were met with anger when we asked questions if we weren’t ignored altogether, even with a simple request to play outside with friends. The hostile environment filled the apartment leading to my siblings and I choosing to move in with our other parent. Our other parent never truly learned how to be a present parent or a partner for their second spouse and worked nights which meant they slept most of the afternoon into the evening before leaving for work. Sleeping all afternoon required a quiet home where we couldn’t ask for things without having to wake them up. Working nights also meant leaving us with their alcoholic spouse who abused that parent in many ways unfortunately. Together, they both failed to provide a healthy environment to grow up in. One by one, each sibling, besides me, chose to move back in with the first parent. I stopped communicating with that first parent because the verbal abuse had become too frequent. The quiet space I had in the household I chose to stay in felt like the safer option and proved to be until that parent’s alcoholic spouse started emotionally, mentally, physically, and eventually financially abusing my parent. After witnessing too many altercations, I spoke up about how wrong everything was and was essentially kicked out by that step-parent just seven months after starting my massage practice.
I signed a twelve month lease with the boyfriend I had been dating just over a year and realized one month into living together we were incompatible. I rode it out for as long as I could; we thankfully agreed to part ways nine months later, two months shy of our lease ending. My financial commitment was minimal, so it was no issue covering that the remainder of the lease while I stayed with my older sister.
After being kicked out and the first parent still not being stable, my relationship with both my parents were strained at this point in my early twenties and continued that way for a few more years until I asked the parent in the abusive relationship to move in with me so they both could work on themselves while living separately for six months in hopes of rekindling with a healthier marriage. This ultimately ended with the step-parent filing for divorce, which resulted in my (work related) disabled parent living with me for a couple years. That parent attempted to unalive themselves after the divorce, resulting in a two week stay at a mental health facility. All of my siblings had moved out of state by this time, so helping that parent heal and move forward was all on me. Our relationship got a lot better during the time we lived together, and while there were times they got on my nerves, I am thankful for that time we had together.
My other parent did eventually address their mental health and has lived a more stable life for around eight years. Our relationship continues to improve with time and effort. They have consistently been a cheerleader for the success of my massage practice.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Due Diligence?
I chose to name my massage practice “Due Diligence” because it perfectly represents the intention of how I run my business. Continuously searching for effective techniques to further improve the quality of therapy I can provide for my clients is a consistent effort and passion of mine. I offer tailored therapeutic massages that target the specific needs of each individual that schedules with me using techniques such as Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, passive and assisted stretching, and cupping. All of these techniques can be incorporated with a therapeutic massages, with cupping having an additional charge. Additional services that are offered include: raindrop technique with Young Living Essential Oils, prenatal massages, and reflexology.
Throughout the twelve years I’ve owned my business, my reputation for effective treatments has spread and keeps me consistently booked. At my busiest, I was booked two months out after having been voted one of the top three best massage therapists in New Braunfels. My goal is to help each client understand, if they don’t already, how their body became tight and educate them on how to keep that tension from coming back so they don’t have to rely on massages to live their lives fully.
Winning the award for being the #1 Best Massage Therapist in New Braunfels last year has to be my proudest moment. I’ve been nominated and named one of the top three best in town four different years and am thankful to even be a runner up with dozens, maybe closer to a hundred, of competitors.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
New Braunfels being central to San Antonio and Austin has proven to be a convenient place to live when times call for a bigger city while still providing its own conveniences within our smaller city. Growing up here I’ve made a lot of connections that helped ease me into owning a business. My reputation for being eager to help, learn, and teach started well before I started practicing massage therapy since I’ve volunteered in various capacities since childhood. Watching this city grow from a small town to a small city has created a sense of pride for giving back to a community that has given so much to me over all these years. I love how many volunteer opportunities New Braunfels has to offer. Anyone can find their niche, meet new people with similar interests, and create your “village.”
While I did pave my own path to success through my own initiatives, having a caring community to use as resources definitely helped make things that much easier and enjoyable. There are many opportunities to become who you want to be while living in New Braunfels and surrounding areas. If you don’t know the way and are unsure where to start looking, someone can help; you just have to create opportunity by putting yourself out there unapologetically and ask questions.
I don’t have many complaints about our city. Infrastructure with roadways and drainage is my main complaint.
Pricing:
- 30 minute therapeutic massage $55
- 60 minute therapeutic massage $105
- 90 minute therapeutic massage $160
- 120 minute therapeutic massage $210
- add cupping $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://duediligencenb.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimeerchappell
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/JaimeeChappellLMTCCT
