The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – After 14 years in the business, massage therapist Christine Richards still loves what she does. And with her recent move here, she's brought her business, Essential Theraputic Massage, along with her.

"I truly love what I do. I love helping people heal," Richards said.

Richards opened her new shop, located at 208 Main Street, just inside the Plaza Theater foyer, in Waitsburg last week. The new location is an extension of the business she has operated in Richland, Wash. since 2013. Richards is now splitting her time between the two locations.

Richards is a licensed massage practitioner who learned her trade at the Ancient Arts Massage School in Richland. She has continued to hone her skills and add to her repertoire with targeted classes and workshops.

Richards says she performs many types of massage bet specializes in a modified deep tissue/Swedish massage combination.

"It's not just a foo-foo massage – though I can do that – but it really works to get the knots out of muscles. It's good for the weekend warrior who is playing basketball with the guys, or someone who overworks their muscles doing yard work in the spring. It's also great for people who build up tension doing the same type of work day after day, such as hunching over a computer screen," she said.

Richards performs hot stone massage, but says she uses the stones as massage tools rather than just placing them on her clients, like some therapists do. She says the heat from the stones (she continually swaps out cool stones for warm ones) allows her to get 1 ½" to 2" into the muscle.

" It loosens muscles you can't get to unless you go to a heavy, deep tissue massage, which most people can't handle. The muscles melt like butter allowing me in further and further," Richards said.

Richards said she has been doing cupping for six or seven years now. The ancient form of alternative medicine uses cups to create suction believed to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation, and well-being. The therapy received worldwide attention during last year's Olympic swim events when several athletes competed with visible cupping marks.

Richards says cupping also goes deep into the muscle tissue and is a good way to pull toxins from the muscle and to release the muscle from the fascia so that the muscles move easier.

"It doesn't always feel that great, but you feel very good afterward. It's a very intense massage. Some love it and others just keep going, even though they say it hurts," she said.

Richards also does Reiki work, a Japanese technique which focuses on channeling energy to activate the healing process.

"It's not a religion, by any means. I don't use it on anyone who doesn't want it and I don't push it on anyone. But I know it works and it's something that can be added to a massage or done alone," Richards said.

For those in need of a quick-fix or on a budget, clients can take a turn in Richards' top-of-the-line massage chair at $10 for a 15 minute session. Clients can also make use of her light therapy machine for $30 for 30 minutes or $20 if used in conjunction with a massage.

Richards says she is charging less for her services in Waitsburg than she does in Richland in order to encourage people to give her a try. A one-hour massage is $65. She also offers a discount "membership" plan where individuals receive two massages a month for $110.

A grand opening is planned for Sat., May 6 and community members are invited to stop in and check out the space, meet Richards, enjoy some treats, and enter a drawing for a free massage.

She is currently accepting appointments and will spend Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Saturdays in Waitsburg while working the rest of the week at her Richland shop. Richards can be reached at (509) 392-1271 or Clrichards.etm@gmail.com.

"I'd love to be able to spend more time over here if demand allows. I'm really excited to be opening a shop here and very pleased with how the space turned out," she said.