Meet Monica Kenyon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Kenyon.

Hi Monica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a child I was privileged to see strong independent women who ran successful businesses. My Nana owned and ran a supper club, she was a member of the Altrusa Foundation in our small town, she was a dedicated mother, & incredible grandmother. My Mom was also a strong woman who owned and operated a huge restaurant that seated over 210 people, taught Sunday school, ran Bible camp, was a room mother at school, & a sensational Mother. It was these two women who showed me that it was possible to have it all.  However, I had no idea that I would want to own my own business.

I began working in restaurants with my Nana & Mom at the age of twelve. In college I majored in Communications with an emphasis in photography. After college I worked on an independent movie as a Still Photographer and loved it. Shortly after the movie ended my place was broken into and all of my camera equipment was stolen.  I took it as a sign that I was meant to do something different.  That’s when I began exploring different departments on film and television sets. I landed in production working as an Assistant Director. I noticed that organizing a film crew was very similar to operating a restaurant so it was good fit, until it wasn’t.

After working in production for 10 years, I realized that it wasn’t for me. I wanted to have a family and the 16-to-20-hour work days were not conducive for raising a child in the way that I wanted to. I knew first-hand how stressful it was to work in film & television production & I knew that I enjoyed giving neck & shoulder massages to people. This is when I thought that starting a massage business where I would take massage to film and television sets was a good idea. I wanted to help production teams by reducing the amount of stress they were having while working such long hours.

I started UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa in 2003 & I didn’t realize that the producers who I had worked for over my 10 years in production would not be willing to hire me as a massage therapist. This is why I pivoted and made a decision to create something bigger than just myself. I began researching other forms of healing touch & learned that mani/pedis, facials, yoga & meditation were all excellent forms of relaxation. I began interviewing nail specialists, estheticians, yoga instructors & meditation guides. Then, I began marketing toward individuals, corporations and groups who might be interested in spa parties.

Today, UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa offers individual massage services, corporate wellness services, event spa services, & spa parties.  The services that are offered are massage, yoga, mani/pedis, facials, henna art, tarot readings, guided meditation & sound baths.  I feel like I am now able to have it all in the same way that my Nana & Mom did.  I am active in my son’s unschool, I have a spectacular spouse, & I participate in a community of people who mean the world to me.  My life is balanced today because I have a successful Mobile Spa business with a wonderful group of spa specialists.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to my success today was not a smooth one but it was all well worth it. Being a business owner comes with its own set of challenges.  One of the most difficult things is learning to find balance in life. When I was in production, I had zero concept of balance.  When I made the change to work for myself, I again had zero concept of balance as I thought that I needed to control every aspect of my life – which was pretty much 100% work.  The first 9 years of running UNWIND were stressful and I almost gave up.  I took year to work on myself & I finally learned that I needed to trust in the people that I worked with to do the job that they specialize in. Once I was able to let go and have faith in the Universe, I was able to begin the journey to balance. It is a daily practice of pausing to listen to others and tuning into my intuition to know the next right indicated action.  These past 10 years have been a joyous journey of connecting spa specialists to people who they can help feel better. In letting go and allowing the business to flow, I have also been able to allow my personal life with my wife and son to be happy, joyous & free.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
First, I started UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa in 2003 before mobile massage was a well-known thing to do.  Also, I am a connector who listens to what client’s needs are and then I match them with a spa specialist who is the best fit for their individual massage, spa party, corporate wellness / office services or event. At UNWIND we specialize in out-call spa services such as: Massage, Spa Parties, Corporate Wellness & Events.  We are most known for our professionalism and wide variety of services offered. One of my biggest accomplishments, that I am most proud of, is being able to balance work, parenting, marriage, friends, family and self-care.  A close second is actually keeping a mobile spa business alive during a global pandemic. What sets UNWIND apart from other mobile massage service providers is that we have been doing it for over 19 years which is much longer than almost any other mobile spa company out there.

Pricing:

• 60m Massage – $150
• 1hr Sound Bath – $225
• Spa Party Massage – Starting at $300
• Corporate Wellness Meditation – Starting at $175
• Event Manicures – Starting at $350

20% Gratuity & a $25 Minimum Travel Fee per Spa Specialist will be added to all services.

Contact Info:

• Website: UNWINDmobileSpa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unwindmobilemassagespa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNWIND.MobileMassageSpa/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNWINDmobilespa
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/unwind-mobile-massage-and-spa-los-angeles
• Other: https://members.laglcc.org/list/member/unwind-mobile-massage-spa-6637

Image Credits
My Photo – Chad Kenyon 1st Photo – Credit Unknown 2nd – 7th – Monica Kenyon 8th – Katy DeBra