Austin is a bustling place with plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs. It also happens to be populated with strong, smart women who accept nothing less than the best for their families and loved ones. These are women who want to use their gifts to nourish the people around them.
I want to highlight just few of those women who have founded local businesses in the health and wellness industry. I’ve separated them into categories for your convenience, although you’ll find that many of these self-care strategies overlap in one way or another.
Massage
1/ The Massage Studio
The Massage Studio is tucked behind unassuming doors in a hot location on South Congress. Once you get inside, though, the rooms extend back into a soundproofed healing sanctuary, insulated from the busy world outside.
Krystal Kincaid worked in the wellness industry in Austin for six years before opening a massage studio in 2010 called The Natural Way. It eventually grew into The Massage Studio and doubled in size.
Today, it continues to expand with therapists who specialize in a variety of modalities. The Massage Studio even has two types of saunas to help your muscles continue to relax after a massage session.
There’s the full-spectrum Sunlight Infrared sauna and the Solopad Infrared sauna, a pad with a one-person-sized dome where you lay inside and receive far-spectrum infrared rays. I can say the level of heat and sweat is much more intense than the full-spectrum sauna. And it’s very therapeutic!
3801 S. Congress Ave., Suite #101 — Website
2/ Mantis Massage
With two locations in Austin, you can’t use the “it’s too far north/south” excuse to beg off visiting this incredible deep tissue studio. No-frills, deep tissue massage therapy is the standard here, but Mantis therapists also possess a range of specialties, from pre-natal to Ashiatsu and cupping therapy.
Kyra Matos, massage therapist and owner of Mantis, chose the name to capture the balance between the zen-like nature of the praying mantis, and its sharp precision and quick reflexes. The studio’s deep tissue massage is kind of like that.
Multiple locations — Website
Acupuncture
3/ Good Luck Wellness
Audrey Barden Rossetti is the face behind Good Luck Wellness. She provides acupuncture, herbal medicine and essential oil treatments, and tarot card readings.
Audrey worked as a certified nursing assistant before she decided to apply to acupuncture school. She attended AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine here in Austin. Since beginning her practice, she’s had success treating individuals with anxiety and depression, PTSD, and those recovering from addictions.
For anyone who has not received acupuncture and is looking for a gentle introduction, Good Luck Wellness offers community acupuncture on Wednesdays. This is an affordable way to try it and see whether a private session would work for you. Or it can simply be a way to wind down on hump day.
2121 E. Cesar Chavez, Suite #777B — Website
4/ PK Acupuncture & Wellness Center
PK Acupuncture & Wellness Center is located in downtown Austin. In addition to providing traditional acupuncture for a range of imbalances, including anxiety, stress, and pain, it also specializes in acupuncture for facial rejuvenation and fertility issues.
Phyllis Kung, owner of PK Acupuncture & Wellness, also co-founded Essential Qi, which makes essential oil blends to be used on acupressure points to create the most potent effects.
812 W. 11th St., Suite #300D — Website
Chiropractic
5/ Pure Light Chiro
Pure Light is a holistic chiropractic center. This means the team provides chiropractic care in the traditional sense. However, they also provide gentle care, based on cranio-sacral techniques, that work on more subtle levels.
Founder Dr. Laine began her career as a massage therapist and Reiki practitioner, graduated from the Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, then launched Pure Light as the culmination of all the disciplines she had practiced.
Pure Light works with all ages, including children and infants. It also provides pre- and post-natal care. Some of you may know how much the body changes and realigns during pregnancy, and Pure Light provides care to help the body regain balance. Massage therapy is also on offer, which goes hand in hand with chiropractic work.
1711 Fortview Road — Website
Coaching
6/ The Spa in Me
The Spa in Me was founded by Sandra Foreman, a woman of many talents. She provides coaching for women and runs an annual women’s retreat in McKinney Roughs Nature Park, complete with nourishing food, games to connect each other, and a live harpist. This retreat is ideal for the modern woman who lives a hectic life, but it can be for anyone who desires to spend more time in nature and build the bonds of sisterhood.
Foreman had practiced law for many years, but she eventually experienced major burnout. As she began to implement self-care techniques, she discovered her “new purpose in life is to help other women acknowledge their worth in making self-care an ongoing practice as opposed to an occasional indulgence.”
Nutrition
7/ Functional Ayurveda by Nisha Khanna, MD
Dr. Khanna worked as an internal medicine doctor for five years before she decided to take some time off and study Ayurveda. If you haven’t heard of Ayurveda, it’s an ancient system that was developed in India. It’s holistic in the sense that it takes an individual’s entire constitution into account (mind, body, and spirit) before treatment. Then, the patient is prescribed certain changes in lifestyle, particularly eating habits.
With a background in both ancient and modern medical practices, Dr. Khanna provides a range of services, including a guided detox, yoga therapy, and shirodhara massage (which involves pouring a continuous stream of warm oil to the center of the forehead–a deeply relaxing and grounding experience).
Skincare
8/ Potion
Potion is aesthetician-owned and operated, providing what the team refers to as “consciously crafted” facials. They also do waxing, lashes, and microblading.
At Potion, you choose a facial based on the length of time you want, and then your treatment is customized based on your specific needs. Modalities include oxygen therapy, light therapy, and gua sha (a technique that uses a tool to massage your face, reducing tension and improving appearance).
Located in Soma Vida, you can treat yourself to a double whammy and take a yoga class before or after your session at Potion.
Inside Soma Vida at 2324 E. Cesar Chavez, Suite #100 — Website
9/ Austin Skincare Company
Austin Skincare Company is a day spa on South Congress that offers facials, waxing, and lash extensions. Stephanie, the owner, began as a freelance makeup artist in Los Angeles. Because of her background, Austin Skincare Company also offers onsite makeup services for wedding parties.
The female-owned business also hosts makeup classes and has its own product line, including makeup and toiletries.
2900 S. Congress Ave., Suite #102 — Website
10/ Neuskin
Elizabeth Bentley had been dealing with skin problems for years when she decided to take matters into her own hands. She learned how to heal herself from the inside out and is now doing it for others.
During each facial, Bentley assesses internal health factors to see how they may be affecting the skin’s outward health. She is certified in a variety of facial massage techniques and only uses organic, chemical-free products.
2520 Longview St., Suite #310 – Website
Movement
11/ Austin Yoga Tree
Austin Yoga Tree has much more than yoga. This community center holds a variety of events and workshops related to health. The center also offers coaching programs, including one for kids and teens called Kids Life Mastery.
The team also has a 200-hour yoga teacher training for those looking to obtain their certification. Check out the many offerings and drop into the community, because healthy relationships with compassionate people are one of the fundamental aspects of self-care!
10401 Anderson Mill Road, Suite #105 — Website
@theAustinot wants to know:
What have you done to care for yourself lately?
