May 15, 2017

Meet Monica Kenyon of UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa

Local Stories

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

Thanks for sharing your story with us Monica. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I initially found my calling when, at the age of ten I experienced the gift of helping family and friends through massage and the healing that comes with human touch. However, this gift wasn’t explored until years later while working as an Assistant Director on film sets in Los Angeles. It was then that I realized my true passion in life is helping others through bodywork. I came to this realization because I found myself giving neck and shoulder massages to fellow crew members (while waiting on lighting set-ups) and it seemed fulfilling.

After 10 years as an Assistant Director working on feature films, commercials, and music videos, I began taking classes at the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing (IPSB) in Culver City where I completed over one thousand hours of education. My plan was to complete school, become a licensed massage therapist and start a mobile massage business that catered to film and television productions. In 2003 I founded Unwind Mobile Massage & Spa and expanded services beyond massage to promote healing on a larger scale and to a larger audience. To me, healing happens with facials, yoga, mani/pedis, guided meditation, joyous dance, psychic reading or even henna art and these are exactly the services that UNWIND provides.

Today, my goal is to help people feel good by pairing them with the proper spa specialist who will help them cultivate physical & spiritual balance through individual & group sessions.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting a new career with zero experience in the industry was a challenge. I am grateful for having the skills of an AD as I knew how to manage a team, problem solve, communicate with people and be persistent. For me, the most difficult part of building a business from the ground up has been…well all of it. I thought that it would be simple because I planned to cater to film and television productions and I’d been working in that world for 10 years so I knew producers & production coordinators who would want these services for their crews. For a year, I was turned down by every producer and coordinator that I contacted. Being turned down by people that I had given my blood, sweat and tears to for 10 years was a huge reality check that allowed me to see other possibilities. I started attending networking groups and chamber of commerce meetings and learned that there is more to Los Angeles than the film industry. In expanding my circle, I have had the honor of working with hospitals, boutique hotels, human resource directors and event planners. I put together a first-class team of spa specialists and opened myself up to receive abundance from the Universe. In 2009, my son was born and this was another learning experience on how to balance life as it happens. Being a mom, partner, business woman & bodyworker creates new challenges daily. Practicing positive thinking, patience, acceptance, love, understanding and being open to new possibilities has allowed me to live a happy and abundant life.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa story. Tell us more about the business.
UNWIND is an out-call spa service committed to helping people feel good. We are composed of an incredible team of licensed and insured spa specialists who provide mobile healing services to many communities throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. Over the past fourteen years, our clients have included TV/ Film celebrities, professional athletes, Doctors, high-powered executives, individuals in comas, the elderly, children and cancer patients. We create unique spa parties & private sessions focused on Physical & Spiritual Balance. Our In-Home & Office Spa Services will have you, guests, loved ones or co-workers feeling better than you thought possible.

Our goal is to help people feel good. The Unwind team combines divine instinct with natural talent so that you may receive bodywork made specifically for you. We believe that receiving regular bodywork in a safe & nurturing environment enhances one’s ability to heal in body, mind, and spirit. When it comes to relaxation, we take it one step further by bringing our services to you. We design each session to your needs whether it be a spa party in your living room, a manicure party at your office, an individual in-home massage or a corporate wellness program. Self-care is important to us – so you name the date & we’ll be there!

We specialize in: Massage Services, Spa Parties, Yoga, Fitness, Facials, Henna Art, Event Chair Massage, Nail Services, Guided Meditation, Psychic Readings & Corporate Wellness.

What sets us apart from other mobile spa providers is that I am a bodyworker & business woman so I actually know what it is like to be out in the field with clients. This insight has allowed me to form a team of wonderful people who truly enjoy what they do and want what is best for our clients.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
My philosophy is more about learning through trial and error than it is about good or bad luck. I have had plenty of learning opportunities in life and business. I moved to Los Angeles (one week after graduating from Bradley University in Peoria, IL) without having a job or a plan. I thought that maybe editing film or commercials was what I wanted to do and became a runner for Bloom Films, which was a post-production trailer company. I quickly learned that sitting in a dark room in front of several monitors was, in so way, what I wanted. Then I sent out resumes for internships on independent films and landed a gig as the Still Photographer and Assistant Props on a film called “Show & Tell”. I actually left “Show & Tell” two days early for a paid position as a 1st Assistant Director and continued on that journey for the next 10 years. While working on “Dodgeball”, I had the realization that being an AD was sucking my soul dry and that I needed a more fulfilling career. I had no idea what to do but I was sharing with a woman from the wardrobe department (Fran Allgood) about making this change and she encouraged me to take some time off and go to massage school. For me, my life and business have been less about luck and more about taking action in one direction and having unexpected opportunities arise that have led me to where I am now: a female small business owner who helps bring healing and happiness to the masses!

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