Today we’d like to introduce you to Grazia Commendatore.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The world of holistic medicine has always intrigued me. After going to school to study Exercise Science, I realized that there are a lot of people suffering from physical pain, who have no idea that their pain levels could be significantly decreased without medication or surgical intervention. I decided that I wanted to find a way to help people manage their pain and live better lives, through one-on-one interaction in a safe, calm, welcoming environment. Massage therapy provided the exact career path I was looking for.
I attended Elizabeth Grady School of Massage, and was licensed in January of 2011. After graduation, I was lucky enough to get hired by an amazing woman, who ended up becoming both a teacher and mentor to me. Over the years, I learned about different techniques and modalities through hands on bodywork and live classes, and was able to develop my own personal style of massage.
After working in a few private offices, I figured out how a massage business runs. With a little push, and the help of 2 very kind business advisors, I was able to take Restore Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork from a dream, to a dream come true.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m incredibly lucky that it has been a smooth road the whole way! I had a lot of support from loved ones, and a really strong network of people to reach out to if I had any questions or needed any guidance. I’m very grateful for all their help. Without them, I would have never been able to get Restore up and running in the time that I did.
Honestly, the whole thing happened in the blink of an eye. As soon as I found an office space I liked (which, amazingly, was the first place I looked at), I contact the landlord and got my lease set up and signed. I spent 2 months working on decorating and changing the space to transform it from a boring, beige, realtors office, into the warm, cozy, welcoming space that is now Restore. I’m very happy with the office, and it makes me even happier when my clients come in and comment on how relaxed they feel as soon as they step through the door.
Please tell us about Restore Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.
I decided to name the company Restore Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork because my goal is to restore, inspire, and promote balance into the minds, bodies, and souls of my clients. I know that sounds very “earthy-crunchy”, but in other words, it means that I get to combine my knowledge of anatomy and physiology with holistic medicine to come up with a new approach to help someone live a more comfortable life. That includes communicating with a client about their issues, assessing their body through massage and range of motion, and then using various techniques to help balance out any imbalances. My clients never have the same session twice, because each session is designed to fit the clients’ current state.
In addition to the personalized sessions, I hand-make all of the products used in my office. These products include massage and body oil, roll-on oils, lotion bars, foot scrub, and linen sprays. I create a new massage oil for each season, which I find people really enjoy. I also offer foot treatments as a massage add-on, which include a cooling mint and tea tree foot scrub, hot towel wrap, and a luxurious foot massage. It’s the perfect way to get yourself ready for the nice weather!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I wouldn’t change a thing! I was really happy that I was able to get my business up and running pretty quickly. It’s been a very fun ride. I learn new things all the time, and I try to look at every day as a learning experience.
Pricing:
- 60 minutes – $90
- 75 minutes – $110
- 90 minutes – $130
Contact Info:
- Address: 750 main street Winchester, MA 01801
- Website: grazia.massagetherapy.com
- Phone: 617-460-2754
- Email: ggcommendatore@gmail.com
- Instagram: Restoretherapeuticmassage
- Facebook: Restoremassageandbodywork
- Yelp: Restore Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
- Other: Restore: Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, LLC
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