On Thursday afternoon, The River City News got a sneak peek inside Gateway Community and Technical College’s new massage therapy center on the third floor of the student-run Emerge Hair Studio & Spa on Scott Boulevard.
Located inside the old Abode furniture store at the corner of 5th Street and Scott Boulevard, Emerge Hair Studio & Spa is slated to open this August. The new massage therapy center, however, is already taking appointments.
Massage Therapy Associate Professor Lance Nelson says both he and the students are excited to be moving to the urban core after spending the last several years at the Edgewood campus.
“We are excited to be in Covington,” Nelson said. “Our volume should be much better in our new location. At Edgewood, we were a bit tucked away and no one knew we were there. This is different.”
The larger third floor space on Scott has allowed the program to expand from eight to 12 practice rooms. The new center also has two business lines, one at the front desk and one in the lab, something it did not have previously, which is expected to streamline the scheduling process.
Additionally, the new center features five private rooms on the third floor and a couple’s room on the second. Each room is equipped with deluxe massage tables that are wider than traditional tables and are fully adjustable and can be lowered to the floor to accommodate the elderly and clients with limited mobility.
According to Nelson, the most common complaint from clients at the Edgewood location was that the center was often too noisy. Students and clients in for an appointment often shared the same space and there was little privacy or peace and quiet. Nelson said that’s not an issue in the new space.
“In Edgewood, the biggest issue was the noise. The private rooms, which are secluded and have thick walls, are a huge advantage in the new location.”
One of the most interesting facts about the new center and Emerge as a whole is that the facility will be student-run. Nelson said that he wants his students to have an entrepreneurial mindset and that the program is designed to teach them not only the skills needed to be a massage therapist, but the skills needed to run their own businesses as well.
On average, 16 students enroll in each message therapy class each term. Nelson says that number has been as high as 24. For the fall semester, 12 students have already enrolled in classes. The goal, however, is to double those numbers so the program can expand its offerings.
“Realistically, I think we could hit our goal in the next year or so. Enrolling 40-50 students would allow us to create a day program which could open the door for more students,” said Nelson.
Of those students that graduate from Gateway, many of them continue to see clients at the school. Others find employment at spas, chiropractic offices, at hospitals, on cruise ships, in chronic pain units or in athletics and some start their own businesses. Within a year or so, Nelson says that most students can expect to earn about $36,000 a year as a massage therapist in this area once they build up their clientele base.
One student currently sees clients at the center but plans to partner with a peer to open their own studio after graduation.
“We want to open our own facility in Independence,” said Kelly Campbell who based her board exams on Tuesday. “Our goal is to offer both massage therapy and yoga classes in the same space.”
Campbell, who previously worked for Fidelity Investments in Covington, says that when her job was relocated, she decided to make a career change and enrolled at Gateway.
“Aside from being cheaper than schools across the river, it was nice to be able to learn about the different modalities within the profession. The expanded hours here also allow people who are working to come at night. Over the next few years, it’s going to keep progressing and will continue to be an excellent program,” said Campbell. “Massage therapy fits my personality. It’s a lot better than sitting behind a desk all day.”
Although there will be much focus on preparing students for a career in the field at the center, Nelson says that many of the upgrades at the new location were made with the clients in mind.
In addition to private rooms, the new center will also allow clients to schedule and pay for their appointments at the front desk. Additionally, the school will also be able to accept credit card payments, something it did not do in Edgewood. Nelson says the center is also looking to add online scheduling to make it easier for clients and plans to partner with local businesses such as Hotel Covington, who could market the center as another amenity.
Prices for services range from $15 for paraffin treatments to $50 an hour for a massage by a Licensed Massage Therapist. Massages performed by students are $30 an hour and hot stone treatments are $40 for a half-hour and $60 for a full hour. Heat treatments are also available for $15 for 15 minutes. Throughout the month of June, the center is also offering a “Book One Get One” offer on one-hour sessions.
To schedule your appointment or take a tour of the new space, visit the center’s new location inside the Emerge Hair Studio & Spa at 440 Scott Boulevard.
Written by Jerod Theobald, managing editor
