Massage by Whitney takes on new hours

Massage therapist Whitney Crawford has recently added more hours to her business at 705 W. Buchanan St. in California.
Massage therapist Whitney Crawford has recently added more hours to her business at 705 W. Buchanan St. in California.

Business has been on the incline for Whitney Crawford, who has operated Massage by Whitney for about a year-and-a-half. Because of this increase in clientele, Crawford has rearranged her schedule, offering California an extra day of her masseuse services.

The California native graduated from Metro Business College in 2014 from a year-long program. Just after graduation, she got her first job to hone her skills at Riversong Spa in Jefferson City. After some time was spent in the field, she decided to answer the call of another sort.

"My boyfriend, at the time, and I picked up and moved to Colorado a little while ago," Crawford said. "It was really just for the adventure of it."

Once the adventure bug was tended to, Crawford moved back home and opened up shop right next to Something Sassy at 705 W. Buchanan St.

The location has proven to be quite fitting for her.

"It's a really quiet place here, and such a good location," she said. "Stephanie (Stokes) has been very helpful and so amazing to me, too."

Right now, Crawford offers Swedish massages, deep tissue, hot stone, prenatal and essential oil massages. However, the list may grow in the future.

"I take continuing education classes once a year where I learn about all the new things that are coming out," she said. "So I do plan to offer more modalities, but for now, I like where I'm at."

Working in California in this type of field has proven beneficial to Crawford by way of advertising.

"It's a small town, as we know, so I get most of my advertising from word-of-mouth," she said. "I'll have a client here and there, and if they like me, they'll tell their friends. I get a lot of new clients that way, and it gives me a chance to know them and grow my business."

In terms of giving massages, there is one thing Crawford enjoys the most.

"I just love the healing aspect of it," she said. "Someone can come in in a lot of pain and leave here feeling completely better."

Massage by Whitney is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays. To schedule an appointment, call Whitney at 573-796-5005.