Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Denise Maceluch of LA County

Denise Maceluch shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Denise, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
My mission has been the same since 2006. Share my knowledge on the benefits of massage therapy with the public in hopes of encouraging a change in our society’s perspective on healthcare.

In 2019 I started a blog on my website, to inform and educate clients on self massage techniques, tools and recovery tips, yoga and meditation videos, natural health remedies and other ideas and information. I was so proud and eager to share this information with the masses. But technical difficulties and lack of website traffic barely moved the needle.

While I had been a member on LinkedIn since 2014, shortly after I launched my mobile massage business, I never quite understood the best approach, or felt entirely comfortable posting on a regular basis. Oftentimes intimidation won over self belief.

Over a decade of ups and downs, and the continued struggle of getting my message to the masses, finally propelled me to jump in with both feet. A staunch determination and a confidence in my knowledge and experience has since outweighed the detriment and the fear of not being heard.

Linkedin has provided me an invaluable platform to deliver a multitude of information on the multidisciplinary attributes that surround the topic of health and the benefits of massage therapy, bodywork and wellness to an audience of professionals who consistently mull over the recurring topic of workplace burnout.

A confidence in myself and years of learning from mistakes has called me out of the shadows and into the forefront.

“Experience is the only source of knowledge.” – Albert Einstein 

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Ritual Massage Therapy is proud to support the commercial and residential communities of Los Angeles, providing the best in mobile massage services. Ritual Massage Therapy has been awarded “Best Massage Therapists in Los Angeles” nine years in a row by expertise.com. From 2016-2025 -until they ended their participation in rating wellness companies in February of 2025.

Our practice specializes in mobile massage services across Los Angeles, offering workplace chair massage sessions, employee wellness programs, and in-home deep tissue, Swedish, pre-natal, lymphatic drainage, energy work, and more, to a wide range of clients, including those in the entertainment industry, corporate offices, trade shows, and private events.

Ritual Massage Therapy is dedicated to enhancing well-being and productivity within our community, by providing tailored bodywork solutions to you and your employees at your place of work, on a regular basis.

The primary focus of ritual massage is to incorporate the benefits of massage therapy as a ritual within our work and personal lives. Routine massage sessions are a proven method to alleviate pain, stress, anxiety and depression, boost energy, promote sleep and prevent injury. When utilized on a (minimum) monthly basis, massage therapy is the preventative medicine; the remedy to alleviate workplace burn-out, that society seems to continuously ignore.

We are intent on ensuring the benefits of massage therapy are an accessible and affordable health option for every company and corporation within the Los Angeles area. While Employee Massage Benefits Programs do pay for themselves with a 6 to 1 return on investment, we also offer alternative subsidized employer/employee payment options, as well as provide you with informative details on how your company can add workplace massage as a tax-deductible health and wellness program at your place of work.

Focusing on results-driven services that address the unique needs of each client, with combined expertise in therapeutic techniques and a commitment to client care, we aim to change the perceptions surrounding ‘the norms’ of healthcare to include massage therapy as the predominant ritual for balance and health within the workplace, and our society.

We believe quality massage treatments are just as important as all the other health management rituals we engage in on a regular basis.
Our goal will be accomplished when massage therapy in the workplace is as much of a workplace staple as your lunch break.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Not being valued. Not being recognized. Not feeling heard. Not feeling uplifted. Not feeling a sense of community/moral. Not being rewarded. These are all characteristics that break the bonds between people- especially in the workplace where most Americans will spend 1/3 of their lifetime.

Routine massage sessions in the workplace have been proven to reduce burnout, employee turnover, mistakes, sick days, loneliness and anxiety. Routine massage sessions in the workplace rebuild community, increase morale and create feelings of safety and security.

Massage therapy as part of an employee health benefit program helps to reduce anxiety and improves brain performance, provides an increase in general well-being, less depression and anxiety symptoms, increases emotional stability, prevents injuries, and aids in better sleep.

All of these benefits foster higher job satisfaction and loyalty.

Employees who feel supported and valued by their employer are more loyal and satisfied in their jobs. Massage therapy wellness programs in the workplace restore the bonds between employers and employees. This engagement into employee health shows that your company cares about their employee’s overall wellbeing, while everyone reaps the benefits from improvements in their health and work performance.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were many times I almost gave up. But each setback and each new direction just brought me right back to what I’ve been striving to accomplish. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” – Thomas Edison

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Smart people are getting healthcare totally wrong. Especially in the workplace.

Implementing workplace massage as part of an employee health benefit program offers benefits to employers and employees alike. Studies reveal workplace massage has a proven record in an increase in engagement, retention and productivity.

The average return on investment (ROI) from an employee massage benefits program is six-to-one.
72% of employers saw a reduction in healthcare costs, as well as a drop in absenteeism after implementing an employee wellness program.

Additionally, workplace massage therapy can be a tax-deductible perk. when part of a workplace wellness program.

Massage therapy functions as preventative medicine, by reducing the risks of various conditions, before they fester into problem sickness.

Just 15 minutes of chair massage addresses both physical and mental well-being.
Improves circulation, reduces stress, enhances immune function, reduces anxiety and symptoms of depression, prevents injuries, decreases muscle stiffness/soreness, improves sleep quality and wards off feelings of loneliness and depression. It clears the mind, improves focus, and enhances mental performance. And leads to improved concentration and productivity.

If smart people knew that massage in the workplace, just once a month, delivers physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health benefits to it’s employees, reduces company healthcare costs, increases employee engagement, retention and productivity, we would likely have more than the reported 52% of companies in the U.S. currently participating in workplace employee wellness programs.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they speak of how massage therapy has improved corporate work culture, and ultimately changed humanity. I hope they reminisce about the way it used to be, before the benefits of regular scheduled workplace massage programs became a staple in the workplace. I hope the benefits of massage in the workplace is recognized for what it is, a powerful method that delivers health benefits that lead to improved human behavior, in every aspect of life, at work, at home and throughout society.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ritualmassagetherapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritualmassage/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniseritualmassage/
• Twitter: https://x.com/RitualMassage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RitualMassageTherapy/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ritual-massage-therapy-mobile-massage-los-angeles-3
• Other: Google Business Profile:

  https://share.google/GSiZk71sWip42NXrb

Image Credits
Denise Maceluch