From Solo Practice to Professional Freedom at Zenith
How Jesse Burlingham transitioned from running a solo massage practice to thriving inside a collaborative performance and physical therapy team at Zenith Performance & Wellness.
“I LOVE coming to work and being part of this team.”
Jesse Burlingham, Licensed Massage Therapist, spent six years running his own private practice.
He loved the hands-on work — anatomy, physiology, helping people feel better and stay active. But running a solo business meant juggling everything behind the scenes.
Accounting. Scheduling. Marketing. Administration.
“There are a lot of moving pieces beyond what people see during their sessions with me. I love what I do as a massage therapist, but the business side of it was very time consuming — and unpaid.”
Working from home blurred the boundaries between personal life and professional life. He missed being part of a team.
Jesse first met Zenith founder Jesse Klein when the clinic was just starting in a garage. Over the years, he watched Zenith grow into a high-level performance and rehabilitation center serving the Eugene community.
In late 2024, the timing aligned.
“I reached out about joining the team, and it just so happened they were looking to add a massage therapist. It felt meant to be.”
Today, Jesse specializes in:
• Deep tissue massage
• Sports massage
• Assisted stretching
• Therapeutic recovery work
Working inside a physical therapy clinic sharpened his clinical approach.
“I’ve always liked the more therapeutic side of massage. Being at Zenith helped me dial in my techniques and build confidence. I collaborate with the PTs regularly and I’m constantly learning.”
The most meaningful moments?
“When a client hugs me with tears in their eyes after feeling relief from pain.”
He’s helped clients with persistent low back pain improve quality of life through regular massage. Competitive athletes report measurable improvements in performance when pairing massage with strength training and physical therapy.
For Jesse, professional freedom now means:
Work-life balance.
Confidence in his craft.
And leaving work at work.
“When I leave at the end of the day, I’m done. No accounting. No late-night admin. Just focused, high-level care.”
His advice to clinicians feeling stuck?
“Don’t be afraid to change things up. Try something new.”