Cassi Cravens’ career path took a turn when she walked by a sign that said, “Pain is not a lifestyle.”

A Rochester, Mich., native, Cravens had married and moved to Niles, and was working at a fast food restaurant.

Cravens

The sign she saw was in the window at The Holistic Wellness Academy, where she signed up for a nine-month massage therapy course.

“It’s kind of the same thing I’ve always done,” she said of massage. “I’ve kind of been steeped in it.”

Cravens began contemplating her career in massage therapy and decided to locate a business in a salon rather than in her home. She cold-called several Niles salons; Vicki Williams, owner of Tippy Toes Natural Nail Salon, 1002 E. Main St., welcomed her aboard.

In Good Hands opened about three months ago. Cravens offers Swedish, deep tissue, sciatic and pregnancy massage and aromatherapy.

Massages can be scheduled by the minute for a chair massage or as long as 90 minutes for a full-body massage.

“I tend to tailor massages to people’s needs,” Cravens said. “About half the people who come in have pain or want knots worked out.”

She also offers therapy for carpal tunnel pain, trigger-point therapy and even abdominal massage for children.

In Good Hands is building regular clientele as well as a good number of walk-ins who visit Tippy Toes for manicures and pedicures.

“Just the response I’ve gotten from people is so gratifying,” Cravens said. “I feel like I’m doing good work every day.”

In Good Hands is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and Monday by appointment. It can be reached at 684-3394 or visit facebook.com/greenhandmassage.