Meet Kelly Hander, Owner and CEO of Be Well Bodyworks, a massage therapy studio that offers medical-style massage therapy in a relaxing and healing environment.
From being a teenage mom, suffering personal losses to starting her own massage studio, Kelly has built a life for herself. Her parents were divorced, and she lost her father at 14, who was also her primary guardian. She got pregnant at 16, changed schools, and gave birth to a daughter right after receiving her high school diploma. It was a strange combination of deep sorrow and overwhelming joy. She believes that all the difficulties she faced during her initial years shaped who she is today. Kelly was determined to change things and have a different life than what was usually laid out for teenage moms. She found her passion in massage therapy and is celebrating 7 years of her clinic.
She attended Colorado School of Healing Arts to learn massage therapy and has a stellar career in the field for the last 20 years. She has given over 18,000 massages till date, including celebrities while working backstage at local concert events. Kelly emphasizes on the essence of holistic health and healing. She loves the tranquil environment of a massage studio and likes to help people.
Be Well Bodyworks is an outcome-based massage therapy studio. “We specialize in reducing stress, reducing headaches, neck pain, and back pain. We offer medical-style massage therapy in a relaxing, healing environment. We work with insurance and have a monthly massage membership that makes massage affordable”, she says. They consult with doctors to create treatment plans and offer an amazing experience to the clients. Kelly has an incredible staff of experienced massage therapists who have their own style and area of expertise. They try to accommodate the needs of the clients, customize the massages accordingly, and make each session a comfortable experience. They focus on the overall health and wellbeing of the clients.
Hander agrees that being a mom is challenging, especially a teenage one, but she has no regrets. She has always been active in her daughter’s life and took out time for extracurricular activities with her. She continues to maintain a work-life balance even though her daughter is almost 21. When not working, one can find her practicing yoga. It brings her joy, but not as much as spending time with her husband and three children.
Kelly notes that being a woman in a business world, you have to be assertive. You cannot be passive while reaching for your goals. There were times when people told her to sit in the corner and let them handle a certain situation. But she never took a back seat and let others dictate her how to take care of her own business. She believes that a woman can bring up entirely unique perspectives to the forefront.
2020 has undoubtedly been the hardest year for the business due to the pandemic. They had to shut down the studio for a total of 12 weeks. Even though they resumed operation in June, the business is taking time to get on the usual pace with the restrictions in place.
Despite having a difficult childhood and adolescent years, she relied on hard work to make way for herself. It never broke her spirit but only made her stronger. One of the best things she has done in her life to assist in her success is seek the help of mentors and she stresses on the importance of having one to the readers. Leaving a message in this regard, she says, “Seek help from mentors and coaches who can help you become the best version of yourself. You can not fail, you can only learn and grow”.