Downtown Camas massage therapist follows her heart - Camas Washougal Post Record

[massage]

Tracey Jenkins, owner of The Heart of Massage, a new business in downtown Camas, knows what it’s like to follow your heart.

The former stay-at-home mother of two had worked as a medical assistant, housecleaner and daycare owner, before pursuing her heart’s desire — a career as a licensed massage practitioner (LMP).

“I love helping to make people feel better,” Jenkins says of her decision to train as an LMP. “They are hurting. That is why they come to me.”

Before moving her Heart of Massage practice into its current location at 418 N.E. Fourth Ave., in January 2017, Jenkins, 47, was familiar with the downtown Camas business community, having already worked as an independent contractor in two other downtown salons: Sass Beauty and Massage and Va Va Voom Waxing.

The January move helped Jenkins expand her business.

“I needed more space,” she explains.

At her new massage studio, Jenkins specializes in deep tissue, Swedish and pregnancy massage, as well as sports therapy massage.

Most clients ask Jenkins to concentrate on their neck, shoulders and lower back or ask her to help them get rid of headaches.

“They just want to relax,” Jenkins says. “They are stressed out.”

The Camas massage practitioner understands. She says her own experiences getting massages are what inspired her to become an LMP.

“I’ve had many wonderful massages,” Jenkins says. “I love getting them.”

Jenkins graduated from the massage program at the Vancouver-based Everest College in July 2015 and opened her Heart of Massage practice shortly thereafter.

The career change has been a gradual one, though, with Jenkins splitting her time between her massage practice and her eight-year-old housecleaning business.

“It’s been a great career change. I was housecleaning to keep afloat until I could figure out what I wanted to do. Then I discovered massage and wanted to get into that,” Jenkins says. “For a while, I’ve been doing both jobs, while growing my (massage) business. I am slowly letting go of the housecleaning business.”

Early on in her professional life, Jenkins worked as a medical assistant for two-and-a half years.

Then she went on what she calls a “hiatus,” became a stay-at-home mom and ran a daycare for seven children (including her own) in her home for about five years. Jenkins’ son and daughter are now in their early 20s.

Although she has enjoyed all of her career choices, Jenkins says being an LMP lets her use her entire self.

When she gives a massage, Jenkins explains, she uses her hands as well as her heart.

“I help my clients relax and bring them back to a world where life is manageable,” she says.

Jenkins business, The Heart of Massage, is located at 418 N.E. Fourth Ave., Ste. 105. For more information, call 360-772-5662 or visit www.theheartofmassagecamas.com.

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