Joe Cardinal and his wife, Melissa Cardinal wanted to bring their clients to a deeper state of relaxation. Both trained massage therapists, they wanted to expand Joe’s solo bodywork practice to add more wellness services – and more clients.
With help from Community Loan Fund, the new business, which the couple dubbed Repose Wellness, was able to move from its smaller location on upper Madison Avenue to a new 2,500 square foot studio in Loudon Plaza on Northern Blvd. The Cardinals were joined by another business partner Julie Hladik, another licensed massage therapist with expertise in ashiatsu and cupping, an ancient healing practice that promotes energy circulation. Together, they invested in a float pod and infrared sauna, two of the latest advances in wellness technology.
“We started Repose because we wanted to offer new and different wellness services to the Capital Region that were both affordable and of superior quality. We wanted a place that wellness professionals were proud to work at and a place our clients could feel safe, respected and listened to,” says Melissa Cardinal.
The new expanded practice also allowed them to take on additional practitioners and add new massage modalities, including Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Hot Stone Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage, Lymphatic Facilitation, Medical Massage, Myofascial Massage, Prenatal Massage, Relaxation Massage and Sports Massage. In addition to the massage service, Repose also offers an Infrared Sauna room and a Float Pod. The pod allows clients to float weightless in a still saltwater tank that eliminates light and noise so that clients can fully relax. Having turned off the world outside for a while and melted into their surroundings, clients emerge from these sessions reenergized and euphoric.
“Community Loan Fund treated us with respect and made us feel like they truly wanted to help us realize our dreams, after we had been dismissed or ignored by more traditional lending sources,” says Melissa Cardinal.
The business has continued to grow steadily since these thoughtful investments, and today, the business has grown to six practitioners. “We have assembled a team of passionate massage and wellness professionals, and we are eager to use our skills and knowledge to help our community live longer, healthier, and happier lives.”
