Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Lajoie.
Alyssa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Allow me to set the scene. I had just moved to Asheville, NC when the pandemic hit. With really only a solid work history in sales and administration, I was scrambling to find a job after moving. I was in my third interview for a sales job that I had been counting on when the lockdown began. This closed the door on my sales job opportunity, so I decided to take a new direction with my career. I have always been passionate about wanting to care for people and holistic health, so I dove head first into the world of Massage Therapy, and quickly realized how much I loved it. I had never had a job before that I was actually passionate about, and for me this was a game changer.
The way that my small business, The Little Haven actually came into fruition all began quite a while ago. I got into Massage Therapy to eventually become an entrepreneur, but once I graduated Massage school, I realized that wasnt as easy as it sounded. So while I worked for many other establishments, I dreamt up what I would want my own business to look like. I sat down and asked myself what my main goal was. The most important detail to me was how I wanted my clients to feel while they were in my space, I knew that would be the inspiration behind my business. The word that I kept coming back to was the word, safe. I want to be able to deliver quality body work of course, but more than anything I want to provide a place of momentary refuge for people. I spent months building up a business plan, a name, a concept, and exactly what I wanted my business to look like, and it sat in my back pocket until I found the right space.
I have now been opened for 11 months, and I pinch myself everyday with how wonderful this experience has been. I have gained many regular clientele who I adore, and I continue to get excited whenever new people enter my space!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a long road to get to where I am today. When I first started working as a Massage Therapist, I took any and every job I could to get by and build up strength and experience. I lugged my table all over Asheville, and adapted to other establishments and environments to learn this trade the best I could. I even took on free jobs while I was waiting for my license to process, just so I could continue building strength. It is also no easy feat to open a business in a new state with zero clients or reputation. It took a lot of effort to bring people in and to have them return, but I genuinely believe I am right where I am supposed to be, because while it did require hard work, some of the success felt effortless. Ive been saying all year, that I just feel very aligned with where I am and what im doing, because the sense of purpose and satisfaction combined with the prosperity of The Little Haven has made this one of the best years of my life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Little Haven Massage Therapy?
At The Little Haven, my goal is to create a safe space. The outside world can be full of noise, and I want to provide a little safe haven where you can take a small break from whatever you need to, to fully focus on yourself. I do my best to create an atmosphere where people can drop their shoulders, sink into the table, and access that parasympathetic state of rest and digest.
When it comes to bodywork, I specialize in Swedish massage to relieve any stress and promote full relaxation, and Neuromuscular Therapy where I use specific targeted treatments including trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and cupping. I would describe my style of bodywork as combining these two types of massage to create a relaxing and effective experience for my clients.
What I personally offer is two worlds of bodywork combined. I provide effective targeted bodywork along with a fully relaxing experience. My belief is when the muscles are relaxed and warmed up, the work is far more effective and tolerated.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
That safe touch is important for the nervous system, and that if we spend too much time disassociated from our bodies, it can lead to long term mental health issues. It is vital to tune in and pay attention to sensation in the body. Massage therapy and bodywork played a major role in healing many mental health issues that stemmed from the years of the pandemic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.massagebook.com/biz/thelittlehavenmassagetherapy
- Instagram: @thelittlehavenmassage
Image Credits
Sean Lajoie
