21 March 2016

Christchurch massage therapists join forces

Three Christchurch businesses have teamed up to support Christchurch owners and their dogs – through the benefits of professional massage.

“Dogs and people are creatures of movement,” says Kathleen Crisley, owner of The Balanced Dog, a mobile practice which has supported dogs in Christchurch since 2009. “They have muscles, tendons, ligaments and a skeletal structure that suffers damage for a range of reasons, including old age.”

Kathleen has partnered with Rachel Ah Kit of Bodyworks Massage Therapy in Spreydon and Tess Peek of Body Central in Richmond to create a unique massage referral network. Both human massage practices will refer clients with dogs to Kathleen when their pet is in need of hands-on care; and Kathleen will refer her clients – busy dog owners with their own stresses and strains – to the therapists at Body Central and Bodyworks.

“The location of both practices is ideal because they service different parts of the city,” says Kathleen. “And since I am a mobile practitioner, my service area extends throughout the city.”

Both Tess and Rachel are dog owners as well as professional massage therapists and so they understand how bonded owners and their dogs can be. Rachel’s greyhound, Lucy, is the official clinic dog at Bodyworks.

“If I’m working, then Lucy is in the clinic, too,” says Rachel. “Clients love having a meet and greet with Lucy and she’s especially happy to see them if they have food.”

“Working with a massage client is a position of trust,” adds Tess. “I often hear about a client’s pet when they are on my table. And if their dog is unwell, it’s nice to be able to work from my scope of practice and suggest that they contact Kathleen.”

Each of the three businesses will offer referral clients an extra gift when they use their business for massage; and the businesses have made arrangements with one another to ensure a referral is genuine.

“We see it as a way of professional massage therapists supporting one another as well as offering value to their clients,” says Tess.

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