vernonia’s
voice health and wellness
march
2008
13
A Lesson in Abundance
By Evangeline Doyle
Just what does abundance and massage therapy have in common? On the surface, not too much – other than many of us would
love to have an abundance of massages. Or, if you’ve lived here long, you might think this article is about the abundance of mas-
sage therapists in Vernonia. Then you might get sidetracked and ask yourself, “just how does a small town like Vernonia support
multiple massage therapists?” Then you’d be on the right track. And the lesson in abundance begins…
When Heather Lewis (LMT, LMP, CLT, NT) first visited Vernonia in 1998, it was
on the back of a motorcycle, “We were just out for a ride,” Heather said, “the town
was adorable…I could see myself living here someday.” Several years later, when
she was looking for a small community to move her massage therapy business to,
Vernonia made the short-list. Heather smiles, “When I walked downtown Vernonia,
everyone I met smiled and said hello, some told me their names, others asked if I
was new in town. That sold me. One of the criteria I was looking for was a sense of
community, and I found it.”
Heather spent her first year in Vernonia remodeling her work/home location in down-
town Vernonia, just off Bridge Street on Madison Avenue. During that time, people
she met would ask “what do you do?”
When Heather told them she always
got “oh, well… we already have one of
those [massage therapists], you’ll never
make that work here.”
have greatly benefited the City of Vernonia, recently working on both the flood and
design standards ordinances.
Now enter the other element of this lesson in abundance, Marie Krahn, LMT. Marie
moved to Vernonia from Wisconsin in 1991 -- for all the right reasons; no offense
but it’s bitter cold there and mosquito’s are the size of small birds.
Marie chose to set up shop in her home. She lives with her husband Jim on the beautifully
groomed Krahn Farm, with their donkey, sheep, cows, chickens, and Jack Russell terriers.
They live minutes from downtown Vernonia, out in the country off Mellinger Road.
Marie is another successful massage thera-
pist in Vernonia. Her abundance point-of-
view comes with knowing that people who
come to see her are the people she can help
– the people she needs to be working with.
“It’s a very peaceful, even spiritual way of
thinking about business,” said Marie.
But Heather had done her homework,
and she approached the situation from a
place of abundance -- that there is always
enough…such as income, clients, talent or
time.
This does not mean that Marie sits back and
waits for her doorbell to ring. Marie has also
done her homework – she is very well trained
in areas of massage with over twenty-five-
years of experience. Marie offers rehabili-
tative services that focus on the treatment of
acute injury or trauma as well as traditional
relaxation services, such as Swedish massage,
Aromatherapy, and Reflexology. She is also
trained in Reiki and Craniosacral – energy-
related therapy services.
She took into consideration there were
numerous massage therapists in town
at the time, and factored in the current
population. She purchased an afford-
able live/work business space to re-
model in the downtown zone, calculat-
ed what income she would need to live,
and she also considered that based on
Marie Krahn and Heather Lewis
Like Heather, Marie is also an active member
her location and her licenses, she would
have a different clientele. She would offer other types of treatment and massage, of the community; Marie serves on the Vernonia Health Board. She too has donated
Lymphedema for one, a treatment that benefits breast cancer patients with edema. numerous hours of massage therapy to school functions and local fundraisers. Marie
Heather is one of four massage therapists in Oregon that are licensed in Lmphedema says, “It’s good for the soul and good for business. You have the feeling of giving of
massage. She also provides nutritional counseling and teaches courses in nutri- yourself and there’s the added benefit of getting your face out in the community.”
tion and self-care. This, she thought, would ensure a new clientele. She was right.
People come from as far as Portland and the coast for this specialized treatment.
They say competition’s a good thing…but abundance is better.
You might think if you were one-in-four therapists in the state that had a specific
certification that you might want to hang on to that one thing that sets you apart. But
not so. Heather is now licensed to teach Lymphedema massage therapy and will be
hosting a class at Cedar Ridge in April for twenty-six therapists looking to add breast
cancer patients to their clientele.
This year Heather will again help host the “We Will Because We Can” breast-cancer
bike ride. This year the event will take place the first weekend in August (Jamboree
weekend). All proceeds from the event will go rebuilding a local breas cancer sur-
vivor’s home that was impacted by the recent flood.
Heather approaches everything from a place of abundance, even her views on com-
munity. People who value community also understand that it’s a participatory pro-
cess – you must give of yourself – you must believe that you have the time to give.
Heather is a member of our City Planning Commission; her research capabilities
Heather and Marie met for the first time at a Vernonia Chamber of Commerce event,
but they really started connecting after attending the same “How to build your busi-
ness” seminar. Then Marie injured her back, and needed – yes, a massage therapist.
The old adage “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,” comes to mind. The two
have used each other ever since for massages. Marie emphasized, “You can’t be a
good massage therapist unless you get massages from someone else.”
These women don’t agree that competition is a good thing. They refer to themselves
as colleagues, trusted allies, sharing new ideas with each other, able to consider dif-
ferent perspectives – all in a trusted environment. They feel competition focuses on
outdoing the other – “why does anyone have to loose when there can be an abun-
dance of business for all?” says Heather. By taking a colleague-approach, these
women have grown and expanded their own talents and businesses. They quickly
learned that they have similar intentions around business, clients and community.
Their actions and beliefs have increased both their clientele and their bottom line.
What at once was a business relationship
quickly blossomed into a lasting friend-
ship.
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The benefits of their relationship keep
flowing. Not only have these two pros-
pered from each other in business, con-
sulting on therapy approach and business
ideas, they’ve also been able to guide a
new generation of emerging therapists.
Both women have helped with senior
projects and school testing for students
pursuing this career path.
Computer servicing
Upgrades & repairs
Office supplies
Cell phones & service
Ink & toner refill
866 Bridge Street, Vernonia
While this article has focused on the mas-
sage therapy practices of Heather Lewis and
Marie Krahn, there are even more therapists
who live and work out of Vernonia. I encour-
age you to seek out the one that is right for
you, as one good massage deserves another!