By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
With the recent opening of Blooming Prairie Healing Arts in downtown Hays, residents now have access to alternative massage services.
“I do offer the therapeutic, the classic therapeutic massage, Swedish massage, but I also do an ayurvedic head massage,” said owner Anne Bryant.
But her main pursuit is vibroacoustic therapy.
“I'm a lover of music,” Bryant said. “So, I wanted to blend my love of music with massage therapy.”
“Vibroacoustic therapy is the combination of sound frequencies being delivered directly to the body through transducers that are embedded in massage furniture, such as a massage table," she said.
“There's no shortage of massage therapists here in town,” Bryant said. “So, I knew that it would be an awesome opportunity for me to specialize in a niche and really combine my love for the healing mental and physical aspects of music with massage therapy.”
After graduating from Fort Hays State University in May, she said she worked at another location downtown, but she desired to own her own business. This summer, everything lined up to make that passion a reality.
“One thing led to the next…it all just kind of lined up for me,” Bryant said. “It all just happened pretty quickly, but I'm really glad it did because I have had so much fun doing the things that I want to do and exploring other worlds like (vibroacoustic therapy) and ayurveda. It's been really fun. I enjoy owning my own business and being my own boss.”
The location opened Aug. 21, and she said feedback so far has been good.
“My first week, I had about 10 clients. The goal is 12 to 15 per week,” Bryant said. “It's been a slow build, but some people have followed me over here, and for that, I'm extremely grateful. I think it's just going to be a matter of time.”
She said as the service is new to Hays and as word spreads, she is excited to be a “pioneer in that area” and become another draw for downtown.
Being a part of the downtown community is important to Bryant, and she plans to be a regular fixture in community events.
“I picked downtown because I knew that this is where some more of the smaller businesses, where creativity is supported down here more so than anywhere in town,” Bryant said. “And I knew I wanted to see an older part of town supported with or supported by similar businesses.”
Blooming Prairie Healing Arts can be found in the basement suite of 1111 Main.
While the location suits her needs for now, Bryant hopes to expand in the future.
I am “very grateful for this space,” she said. “It's wonderful for a startup. It's nice and cool, and it's cozy. The vibe is great.”
“But I do foresee myself in the future, maybe in a bigger space with windows and natural light. Maybe hiring a few more therapists who have the same vision as myself.”
She also hopes to expand awareness of alternative therapies.
“It's a great complementary medicine to Western conventional medicine,” Bryant said, “and I would love to see some more awareness around that.”
She said it's one of those things that once you try it, you love it.
“If you've ever been sat front row at a concert or a music show and you feel that reverberation through your body, it's essentially giving you a massage from the inside out,” Bryant said. “It's a wonderful additive to traditional massage therapy. You're not only getting a massage on the outside but also from within.”
For more information about Blooming Prairie Healing Arts or to book an appointment, visit bloomingprairiehealingarts.com.
The business can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.
“I'm just really excited to join the community and expand the world of massage therapy,” Bryant said.