Today we’d like to introduce you to Marijo St-Laurent Dean.
Hi Marijo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Quebec, Canada and spoke only French until I was about 14 years old. After graduating from university, I had a strong desire to see the world and experience life beyond what I knew. That dream led me to an incredible opportunity working for Norwegian Cruise Line, where I spent three years traveling the world and living at sea.
During that time, I met my husband while docking in Florida ports. Eventually, I knew I was ready to trade ship life for land life, and in 2005 I moved to Palm Coast to build a new chapter with him.
Once settled, I went back to school and became a licensed massage therapist, and later also trained in medical billing and coding. Over the years, I helped open 10 injury clinics and even became a partner in another. While those experiences taught me a lot, both environments eventually became negative, and I realized God had something different planned for me.
I’ve always been a traveler at heart, and I’ve always been passionate about helping people heal. I truly believe God guided me back to what I love most — massage therapy and travel — which is exactly how iCare Massage & Travel was born.
Today, I’m a business owner, a wife, and a proud mom of two. My mission is simple: to help people feel their best, live pain-free, and experience this beautiful world with less stress and more joy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a completely smooth road — like most entrepreneurial journeys, there were definitely unexpected challenges along the way.
One of the biggest struggles was navigating professional environments that eventually shifted in a direction that no longer aligned with my values or the positive, healing atmosphere I believe people deserve. Sometimes life forces transitions that you didn’t plan for, and you have to make the choice to move forward with integrity and faith.
I also faced the challenge of rebuilding and pivoting while balancing real life — family, responsibilities, and the pressure of being consistent as a business owner. Starting something of your own takes courage, resilience, and a lot of trust in the process.
But through it all, those experiences shaped me. They reminded me that I’m most fulfilled when I’m helping people feel better and creating experiences that bring joy, healing, and connection — which is exactly why iCare Massage & Travel was born.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about iCare Massage & Travel?
iCare Massage & Travel is a unique wellness and travel company designed for people who want to feel better, live better, and experience more—without stress or overwhelm. We specialize in two powerful areas that naturally belong together: therapeutic massage therapy and curated travel experiences, including wellness retreats and cruises.
On the wellness side, we are known for delivering high-quality medical therapeutic massage that focuses on real results—pain relief, mobility improvement, post-surgery recovery support, stress reduction, and long-term wellness. We offer a wide range of modalities including deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, reflexology, lymphatic drainage, prenatal massage, sports massage, chair massage, and more. What makes our service truly special is that we provide it wherever our clients need us most—at home, in the office, at vacation rentals, recovery locations, and even on the beach. We also offer treatments at our Palm Coast office for clients who prefer a dedicated space.
On the travel side, we create unforgettable getaways—from all-inclusive vacations to luxury cruises and group travel experiences. We’re known for making travel planning easy, organized, and exciting. Many of our clients love that we offer both the “quick escape” and the “once-in-a-lifetime adventure,” with personalized guidance every step of the way.
What truly sets iCare apart is that we don’t just offer a service—we offer an experience. Our brand is built on the idea that wellness should meet you where you are, and that travel should feel effortless and elevated. We combine professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail so clients feel cared for from the moment they book until the moment they return home.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the reputation we’ve built around trust, convenience, and excellence. iCare means being taken care of—your time, your place, your comfort. Whether someone is recovering, overwhelmed, celebrating, or simply ready to enjoy life again, we create experiences that help them feel restored and inspired.
At the heart of iCare is a simple mission: to help people experience this beautiful world feeling their best—pain free, stress free, and fully supported.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality I believe has been most important to my success is resilience combined with heart.
I’ve learned to keep moving forward even when the path changes, when challenges show up, or when things don’t go as planned. But I also lead with genuine care—because iCare isn’t just a business to me, it’s personal. I truly want people to feel better, feel supported, and experience life with less stress and more joy.
That combination of persistence and passion is what has helped me build trust, strong relationships, and a brand people remember.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RetreatsandCruises.com
- Instagram: @icaremj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icaremj
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/icaremj
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/icare-massage-and-travel-palm-coast?osq=iCare+Massage+%26+Travel
