Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
Incorporating her passion for wellness with knowledge of holistic therapy, Jo Stokes has opened Essential Kneads Wellness Spa and Holistic Gift Shoppe, which offers a variety of services for all walks of life.
Located at 377 S. Nevada St., at the corner of Fourth Street, the 24-year-old building has a feeling of age and comfort that blends in with the west-side neighborhood. Stokes has added her personal touch to the decor with handmade dolls from China, which her mother collected while the family lived there from 1967 to 1970.
"We've been blessed with this venture," Stokes said of the business. "It's seemed every day something would come our way."
Stokes, who opened the business Oct. 31 with her husband, Todd, who is the business manager, said she knew what she had in mind before opening Essential Kneads and after finding the location and seeing the building's interior, found everything she wanted in 1,600-square-feet.
"From the wood floors to the four private rooms and some of the furnishings," she said. "There's not anything like this in Carson City. Not along the wellness end."
Along with Stokes, there are two massage therapists " one for sports and one for pregnancies " a drug and alcohol counselor, hypnotherapy and spiritual counseling.
The therapists and counselors are subcontractors, which gives them the freedom of individual work days without being tied down.
"It (subcontracting) gives them diversity," Stokes said.
She also has a manicurist and an ionic foot bath. The ionic foot bath detoxifies the body through electrolysis, Stokes said, eliminating foreign substances from the body, while the person relaxes in a heated massage chair.
Stokes said she offers services and products to detox and de-stress the body. The bio-mat combines state-of-the-art far infrared light and negative ion technology with the healing power of amethyst quartz.
"It allows the body to reuse what it can, removes wastes and toxins and boosts energy and vitality," she said. "Things to help cleanse the body. Then it helps put the healing in their (clients) hands.
"I also have a passion to work with cancer survivors and with convalescent folks. Just to touch, offer a hand massage. People don't have a lot of touch in their lives, their environment has a lot to do with that. I focus on that."
Stokes' long-term goal is to open spas in Reno and South Lake Tahoe. Her short-term goal is to open the gift store on Feb. 1 and share her products and knowledge.
"There is a saying, 'When the student is ready, the master will appear,'" Stokes said. "I firmly believe in that."
Stokes attended Bhodi Tree for Massage Therapy in Carson City and was certified after completing a 600-hour course and received national certification.
"After participating in the December Wine Walk, I got a good experience of what others felt about the business," she said. "It was good feedback. And for every one person who came in, three more have been in. It's all been word of mouth."
Stokes even offers reiki " pronounced ray-key " which promotes balance to human and animal life.
Humans aren't her only clients.
"I deal with any kind of issue with pets," she said. "Like behavioral, barking, licking, scratching. I really enjoy it so much. Working with animals is very rewarding."
For information, call 461-0325.
- Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.