History

- Article taken from - "Member Profile, Awareness Massage Therapy Clinic."
   Chamber Link from Regina Chamber of Commerce  9.2, February 2007: pg 7

As soon as you walk through the doors of Awareness Massage Therapy Clinic you are greeted by an inviting, warm and relaxing atmosphere and you can feel the stress of the day start to melt away. Located in the heart of downtown Regina, Awareness Massage Therapy Clinic was established in 1995 by Mia Fonkalsrud. With Mia’s vision the Clinic has built a solid reputation for excellence and she says, “You will always be welcomed by a smiling face; we strive to provide a friendly, relaxing and professional atmosphere for our clients.”

Originally from Regina, Mia spent several years living in Edmonton and Toronto and eventually moved back to Saskatchewan eighteen years ago. She worked full-time as a legal secretary for seven years but always wanted to be in the healthcare industry. While working full-time she attended school and became a Registered Massage Therapist through the Western College of Remedial Massage Therapy located in Regina.

Mia started her business next door to where she is currently located by subletting a room from a hair salon. She slowly built her clientele and moved next door to 1856 Scarth Street where she has been for ten years. Mia was the first tenant in the 1928 heritage building so getting the space ready required extra effort and she undertook all of the work herself – painting, cleaning, designing and decorating. Mia is undertaking another renovation and hopes to be completed by March. The Clinic has expanded twice; it started with two treatment rooms and eventually added three more. There are now five therapists – four are registered massage therapists and one is a holistic therapist who specializes in reiki, herbology, reflexology, nutrition and iridology.

Massage therapy provides numerous physical, mental and spiritual benefits including: reduces mental stress and anxiety, promotes proper circulation, relieves muscle tension and stiffness, helps reduces blood pressure, improves muscle tone, helps digestion, eases lower back pain, promotes an overall feeling of wellness and reconnects the body and mind. For those unfamiliar with getting a massage, their website offers a step-by-step process of what to expect and appointments can be booked online

Mia says, “People lead very busy lives and usually take care of themselves last. The repetitive strain of their jobs demands that they do some kind of activity and an hour on a massage table can do wonders for the body and the mind. The Clinic is here to help Regina lead a healthier lifestyle. Massage therapy is no longer being viewed simply as a luxury item but as a very beneficial addition to overall health and well-being.” Mia’s keys to success are creating a happy work environment for staff, hiring great therapists and providing a relaxing, professional atmosphere for her clients. Her advice to those seeking to build a business on his/her own:
“Learn from your mistakes, don’t be too hard on yourself for not knowing all the answers, look out for yourself, dream big and enjoy the challenges along the way.”