Local entrepreneur bringing much-needed relief to your weary body

WITH a simple phone call away, you can relax your tired body and get pampered evenly at Body Relaxation, a massage, spa and salon operated by a specialist who is equally qualified and certified to make you relax, rejuvenate and recharge.

Samantha Thuknauth is the owner of Body Relaxation, a massage, spa, and salon located in Huntley, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. She specialises in therapeutic massages, which include hot stones, deep tissue, aromatherapy, and sports injuries.

She also does manicures, pedicures, body waxing, body scrubs, hair and scalp treatments, facials, hair cutting and colouring.
The 42-year-old established her small business 10 years ago when she started doing home service massages for customers.

Thuknauth told the Pepperpot Magazine that she used to work at a home spa business in the city, and during her spare time, she would take up jobs to go to people’s homes and do massages.
She added that she stopped doing home services when she constructed her very own shop, which caters to massages, hair, nails, facials, body scrubs, and waxing.

Thuknauth said that from 2006 to 2008, she worked in Turks and Caicos at a hotel as a massage therapist, and one day, she saw a girl in her van with a massage table doing massages on a client, and that inspired her to establish her own small business in that field.
She added that she returned to Guyana, and when she saw they had massage courses available, she registered for one to become certified.

The married businesswoman explained that she received training at Mercy Hospital from a Swedish massage specialist called Sister Rose from 2009 to 2010, and she underwent three other massage courses.

Thuknauth reported that she was among 40 students at the time, and they had two batches of learners. She was elated to learn that she had topped her class in the course.
Thuknauth pointed out that both her grandparents were gifted as natural masseurs, better known as the ‘rub man and woman.’ Even though they did not attend any formal training, they were the ‘go-to’ persons in the community whenever villagers had pains and other muscle issues, and they would make them better.

“I knew I had it in my genes, a gift, with my hands to help people via massages, and I worked towards becoming qualified and certified in the field so people will not have questions about my practice. I also did three online courses to become marketable,” she said.

Thuknauth specialises in Swedish massages, trigger point therapy, and acupuncture, and she stated that she can fix muscle and tissue pains but cannot do anything for sciatic, nerve and bone issues, which require professional medical intervention.

The massage therapist pointed out that instead of popping pills (medication), she can help people to heal naturally via her different types of massages and recommends a massage once every month or three months to soothe the body.

Thuknauth reported that she does moon baths, massages, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures, facials, and hair services such as cutting, hair treatments and colouring.
“A simple haircut can make a big difference once it is structured to suit the customer’s facial features and styled to match. It can make you feel younger, better, and more confident,” she said.
She stated that for any massages, the customer has to fill out a form with the relevant information and affix their signature to protect them both, and that is the way forward in the event of any issues.

“Sometimes customers come in limping or holding their back with terrible pains, and you can see the difference in them after they walk out of here, and that brings me real joy to see that I can help people feel and look better,” she explained.
Thuknauth isn’t indifferent about medical intervention, but she is certain that massages do have benefits for the body.

“For me, this job isn’t about the money, but yet I keep my prices within affordability so people can come and benefit from the various services offered, and this is what I love doing, helping others,” she said.

Thuknauth added that at times, she knows that some people really need the services but they are short on cash, and she would give them a discount so they can get what they came for and leave happy and relieved, all at the same time.

The massage therapist/beautician told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is her way of contributing to society. Even though she cannot give charity all the time, she would have promotions and give discounts to customers.

It is to be noted that when doing massages, the customers have full privacy, and there are no other customers in the space at the time. She works based on appointments on a daily basis.