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Wellness Center's Approach Aims at Body, Mind, Spirit

Posted on: Monday, 15 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

Aug. 15--Sure, HMH Wellness Center Inc. offers some of the same services as day spas, but owner Deb Keller doesn't use that designation for the business she started in 2000.

"I describe it as a holistic wellness center for body, mind, and spirit," said Ms. Keller.

The business is on the first floor of an office building at 6620 W. Central Ave. It has 15 employees and expects to have revenues this year of nearly $300,000.

There are four rooms for full-body massages and facials, a large exercise room where yoga and other classes are held, a private space for pedicures and manicures, and a separate room with a flotation tank.

Ms. Keller had spent a number of years working in accounting and bookkeeping positions when she became pregnant seven years ago and started thinking of careers in which she could help people.

She settled on massage therapy. She originally focused on offering her services to corporate clients.

"I know the stress of what we used to call '1040 deadline,' and I wanted to teach people how to take care of themselves," she said.

At one point, Ms. Keller had 18 corporate clients and she and other therapists would either go to the companies to offer massages during the workday or have tired workers come to her office.

"I had more work than I could handle…but I was looking for something more when a client offered a floatation tank," she said.

Such tanks, also known as isolation or sensory deprivation tanks, hold 10 inches of water with 800 pounds of Epsom salts that allow a person to float effortlessly, with the aim of relaxing and rejuvenating their mind and body. Two hours spent in a tank are the equivalent of eight hours of deep sleep. One hour in the tank costs $50.

An hour massage typically costs $60.

Terry Johnson, a survey programmer at TNS, the market research firm in Northwood formerly known as NFO, said she has done the tank and now has facials and monthly massages.

"Your muscles get all relaxed and you're happy for multiple days," Ms. Johnson said of her massages.

She said she likes going to HMH because she can get a number of services at one location.

Ms. Keller's own experience when she was pregnant and then with a newborn led her to specialize in prenatal massages, and she now also offers pre-natal yoga classes at her center.

Her primary customer base is women from the age 25 to 55, who are attempting to stay fit and fight the aging process. Most will order two services at a time, such as a massage and a facial or a yoga and a massage.

Luann Canham Kornowa, president of Knight Crockett Miller Insurance Group in Toledo, said she has had Ms. Keller and her employees come into the office for the last nine years to offer chair massages to her associates, with her paying half and the employees paying half.

"Deb is all about wellness and there are many, many people here who are starting to think about how they are stressed, about how they should be treating themselves," the insurance executive said.

Asked about her plans, Ms. Keller said she hopes to open another center, probably in a western state, and would eventually like to offer franchises.

"Most women think of ourselves last, but I want to help educate people as to their health," she said.

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Source: The Blade

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