Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Acebedo, LMT/CMT.
Veronica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Massage was brought into my life as a young girl by my mom’s manicurist. I learned a simple hand massage and immediately fell in love with the healing it brought to others. As a survivor of abuse, massage also became a source of healing for myself. Being able to share the gift of healing with others became a passion for me. About 12 years ago, I became a licensed massage therapist in NY and a few years later started V Spa here in LA. As an athlete and performer my whole life, I also understand the human body very well. We put large amounts of stress on it daily that eventually causes pain and injury. By reducing or eliminating some of these physical and emotional pains, I like to believe I play a part in helping others be the best version of themselves.
We live in a world with so many distractions we forget to tune into our bodies. As cliche as it sounds, it’s true when they say we only get one body so we need to take care of it. Little things like stretching daily and getting regular massages will go a long way in keeping your body at peak performance while some of the larger things like aging or unexpected accidents challenge its ability to perform at its best. Through V Spa, I aim to educate people on self-love and self-care and the little things they can do on a daily basis to take care of themselves physically, mentally and emotionally.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a business owner and entrepreneur always comes with its set of challenges. When starting V Spa, I knew nothing about business so I joined a couple of entrepreneur groups and started educating myself. It’s inspiring to see so many people in all sorts of businesses going through many of the same struggles and challenges. The struggles may be hard but the successes are truly sweet.
I realized early on in my career that one of my greatest challenges as a massage therapist would be surpassing the public’s view of massage as just a luxury service. Massage is so much more than that. The benefits go beyond just being pampered. Yes, it feels good but it’s also stimulating your immune system, improving your blood and oxygen flow, reducing stress levels, treating injuries, among many, many other health benefits.
Considering the countless health benefits, it’s important to consider having a regular massage routine just as much as a workout routine. Weekly massages are ideal but if that’s not within your budget then monthly massages are a good starting point for your massage routine.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about V Spa – what should we know?
V Spa is a mobile massage business serving clients from Santa Monica to Pasadena. Working in-home or on location for businesses, I specialize in prenatal massage and custom therapeutic massages that primarily combine Deep Tissue, Sports and Neuromuscular Therapy techniques to promote healing of the muscular system. I like to take everything into consideration when I work on my clients so I take a very personal approach and try to learn as much as I can about their lifestyle, work, health, emotional state, physical challenges, etc. All of this information helps me tailor my massage to what my client needs not just anyone given day but throughout the lifetime of our work as massage therapist and client. I empathize with my clients’ pains so I feel like a proud mama when I see my clients glowing because they are moving and feeling better.
Every human is born with an innate need for touch. Human interactions (a hug, a pat on the back, mom’s belly rubs that make tummy aches go away) are necessary for our development. Throughout our lifetimes, however, we also have negative encounters with touch that alter our perceptions of it. With so much violence and abuse in the world, I’m proud to be part of an industry that spreads love and uses touch as a gift of healing and nurturing.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I call my clients family because that’s how I like to treat them. They are an extension of my own family. They have been my cheerleaders, mentors and inspiration as I’ve grown my business. Their word of mouth is what keeps V Spa alive. I’m grateful and lucky to have encountered some of the best human beings through my work as a massage therapist. I’ve also been lucky enough to come across people in my life who really get what V Spa is about and are excited to help it grow.
The goal for V Spa is to have a brick and mortar location one day. Right now, I love being a mobile business because it allows a lot of room for growth. As I evolve and my business evolves with me, I want V Spa to be a place of physical and emotional healing for the women, men and also children of LA.
Pricing:
- $120 for a 60-minute massage (includes music, aromatherapy and everything needed for you to relax and not worry about traffic or parking). 75 and 90 minutes massages are also available.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vspaonline.com
- Phone: 323-863-3132
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/vspalosangeles
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/vspalosangeles
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/vspalosangeles
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/v-spa-los-angeles
Image Credit:
V Spa
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