By Clifford Stanley
The Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a negative impact on businesses across the country, particularly small businesses. However, for a Mahaicony, Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) Massage Therapist, there is no education like adversity.
With COVID-19 emergency measures in place, Samantha Thuknauth wiped her fears aside and continued to open her business, Body Relaxation Massage Spa and Salon, to customers.
As a massage therapist, it is difficult, if not impossible for Thuknauth to practice social distancing but she found creative means to ensure her safety and that of her clientele. She implemented temperature screening, the mandatory use of face masks, hand sanitizers, enhanced sanitation of surfaces around her premises and even reduced the number of appointments she would see on a daily basis.
During the initial stages of the pandemic, Thuknauth had temporarily closed her business but rethought her decision to cater to the needs of her customers. She explained that her service caters to two categories of persons: “those who come to take a break/improve their appearance and those who are in pain.”
“Many of these people in pain would regress badly if they did not receive professional attention,” she told Village Voice News.
The young woman said her main challenge since reopening her business was adequately and safely addressing the needs of her customers.
“The biggest challenge I had was being approached by people in pain and being unable or hesitant to help because I did not want to endanger my health or their health. But there were cases where I had to move past that,” she said.
Thuknauth recalled a case of a middle-aged female who had suffered a stroke and was taken to her for therapy.
“Fortunately her relatives brought her early, about a day or two after. I started working with her. She responded positively and within eight weeks was back on her feet and in relatively good health. Her relatives were extremely happy and extremely grateful and I as well was very happy to have made that positive impact on their lives,” the Massage Therapist shared.
Since the establishment of her business, Thuknauth said that she has assisted many victims of vehicular accidents. “They can’t move their heads and shoulders. No question about it: The massage therapy is badly needed for relief and the return to the use of those muscles,” she said noting that massage therapy caters to persons who want to look or feel good.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the young entrepreneur said she has no regrets for reopening her business.
“I feel safe and very comfortable with my choice to remain open particularly for those in medical need,” Thuknauth told Village Voice News as he anxiously awaits a return to normalcy.
Body Relaxation Massage Spa and Salon is located along the Georgetown/Rosignol Highway, at Lot 5 Huntley, Mahaicony, about a mile east of the Mahaicony River bridge.
