Simsbury Small Business Spotlight: Healing Melody Therapeutic Massage

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

Business: Healing Melody Therapeutic Massage
Owners: Colleen Melody-Robinson, LMT
Website: healingmelodymassage.com
Address: 1 Grist Mill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070

How did you come up with the name?

I wanted to incorporate my maiden name, Melody, as well as my love of music and massage and represent both their healing properties. However, I wanted it to sound professional as well. After agonizing about it and over analyzing it for way too long the simple “Healing Melody” finally popped into my head and I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it right off. I then just added Therapeutic and Massage and I was good to go.

Why start a business in this town?

I was introduced to the Simsbury location by a former classmate of mine that wanted to share the space. After a few months, she moved on but I decided to stay. Even though it’s a bit of a (very scenic) drive for me, I just love the town as well as all my clients.

What business are you in?

I’m a licensed Massage Therapist, who provides customized therapeutic massage based on a client’s needs and overall health goals.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

Being a solo practitioner, I think my biggest challenge has been balancing my needs and capacities with the needs of my clients. Massage is a physically and mentally challenging job and to do it well I have to limit the number of clients I see in a day/week. Sometimes I have to tell people I’m booked for several weeks and I can’t get them in right away, even though I’d like too. If I do squeeze them in I can sometimes feel drained or stressed which isn’t good for either of us. I’m blessed to have a full book, but sometimes wish I could clone myself.

What’s been your proudest achievement since opening?

I don’t have a specific achievement, but I’m filled with pride and happiness everyday when I see my client’s smiling faces after our sessions. I so enjoy seeing the positive changes in a client’s pain levels and mental outlook. I love that I am able to help them enjoy activities that they couldn’t participate in before because of pain or lack of range of motion. I know that people look forward to seeing me or that their session may be the best part of their day, week or month. I want them to leave feeling better than when they came in and I take that responsibility very seriously.

How does your business give back to the community?

Beside contributing to charitable organizations, I also offer discounts to military, helping professions (like nurses, EMT’s, firefighters, teachers, etc) as well as others on fixed incomes. I believe massage isn’t just a luxury, it’s therapeutic and necessary for many people. I try to keep my prices reasonable or offer shorter more focused sessions so clients can come as often as they need and not as often as they can afford. 

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email tim.jensen@patch.com.