Freeland massage therapist rebuilds business with pay-what-you-can booth

A pay-what-you-can massage booth at South Whidbey Tilth has become Marc Juneau’s most visible step back into work after a motorcycle crash last November upended his business, his routine and his recovery. The Freeland massage therapist returned to his practice this spring and began using the Sunday market to rebuild an appointment book that took a hit while he was out.

Juneau spent two weeks in the hospital and then 12 more weeks confined to a hospital bed in his living room. Doctors initially expected him to be recovering into the summer, but he was back on his feet by March and reopening his schedule at Whidbey Massage Therapy. The forced stillness, he has said, was one of the hardest parts of healing, which makes the return to hands-on work especially meaningful for someone whose job depends on movement, strength and steady client contact.

His booth at South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday through Oct. 18, matching the market’s 2026 season of Sundays from May 3 through Oct. 18. Clients can pay by donation, even if that means only a few dollars for a short session. Juneau has said he would rather people keep up with care and live with less pain than skip treatment because of cost, and he sees massage as regular self-care rather than a luxury.

The arrangement also fits a practical reality for Island County workers who cannot always book daytime appointments. Whidbey Massage Therapy keeps availability open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so service workers and others with irregular schedules can still find a time that works. Juneau also works alongside chiropractor Dr. Eli Bentabou at Bentabou Chiropractic & Wellness, 1705 Main Street in Freeland, a setup that helps him coordinate care for clients dealing with chronic pain, mobility problems or injury recovery.

Whidbey Massage Therapy lists neuromuscular therapy, active isolated stretching, acupressure, myofascial release, Reiki, sound healing and aromatherapy among its services, with in-office, mobile and chair massage options. Juneau’s path to the profession stretches back to 1997, when he enrolled in massage school right after high school, and he has also worked in web development, including running a New Orleans agency called NOLAGraphics. At South Whidbey Tilth, where the market grounds also include a native plant restoration area, a community garden and demonstration forest and farming projects, the booth gives him a way to meet clients where they are while he rebuilds a business one appointment at a time.