Once I was finished school I wasn’t sure whether I was going to start a practice or work for someone else. I got a call from a previous coworker at the spa asking if I wanted to work there. I said I would if I could have both my weekend days free. She laughed, and said, yeah right, maybe one of the days. I declined the offer since I knew that not only did I want to have time for my family but I remembered how the new practitioners at the spa had very little clients for a long time, and would have to help the spa attendants clean the spa. I didn’t want to do that again.
I did some searching within myself and through out town and decided that I did want to work for myself. The name Shanti Shiatsu came to me during my training. I would have to concentrate for 75-90 mins on a client’s body following the basic shiatsu pattern. We were told to clear our minds, but that’s hard. Some days when I couldn’t stop thinking I chanted SHANTI inside my head to the rhythm of my movement as I pressed. Shanti means peace, as you have read already on my website. When it came to figuring out a name for my business the word just felt right. And they sound nice together too.
I tried finding a room to rent or share with other like minded people but could not find anything. My husband happened to come across an ad on Craigslist for a space listed. The space was located at http://www.evergreenoffices.ca/ . When I went to go see it, I felt very calm and connected to the location. I like the title of the office, evergreen. I love trees, as you can also tell since my symbol for my business is a maple leaf, and the arbutus on the front page of the website. The office managers were very welcoming and supportive to a new business owner. My office faced out on Douglas street, a busy street, and was above Lifestyle Markets, an organic grocery store. I stayed at the location for a year and half before moving to my new space. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to move since I felt so at home there, but it was time for a change.
The new studio is closer to my home and in a pretty heritage house. It is also in the area of town that I had always wanted to work in, fort and cook street, I like this trendy neighborhood. I share the third floor with an aromatherapist and a graphic design company. www.amphoria.ca is Brigette’s website for her business called Amphoria Aromatherapy. I just had a session with her, which was beautiful, relaxing and gentle. http://fiveht.com/#/FiveHT-Media?id=110 is the website for the graphic design company, called FIVEHT. Not only do they make websites but they also do business cards. They made my new cards. I am very pleased and love showing and giving my cards to people.