Five years ago, Massage Envy opened its first spa on White Plains Rd. in Scarsdale, NY. Today there are four locations in Westchester County, and the original one remains the busiest. Natural Awakenings spoke with owner Nataliya Kisseleva about the spa’s success, and the desire to appreciate the members who’ve supported it.

As you celebrate this milestone, what are you most excited about?

We are proud to be acknowledged for our performance in 2014, which resulted in two national awards for excellence in member retention and membership sales. That’s among more than 1,000 locations in 49 states. We’re particularly proud of our member retention award, and honored to have several members who’ve been coming since we opened in 2010. Also, I personally feel very privileged to still have a number of my original employees. Our wonderful, diverse, experienced and knowledgeable therapists and estheticians are our truest assets. Last but not least, we’ve renovated our facility. You can see the photos on our Facebook page, Facebook.com/MassageEnvySpaScarsdale.

How are you marking these achievements? 

To celebrate our five-year anniversary, we will have our traditional Member Appreciation Weekend on September 19 and 20. We’ll offer our members exclusive bookings during this weekend, and there will be giveaways, such as limited edition five-year anniversary t-shirts, samples, and other goodies. We encourage members to call and reserve a spot or just stop by to get your freebies and book your next appointment.

What is the number one reason that people join Massage Envy?

I would say that no matter what the actual reason is, from stress release to pain management, they join to benefit from regular massage therapy. Occasional massages versus massage therapy is what sets Massage Envy Spa apart from others in the industry. You can request the same therapists, have standing appointments with them, pre-book your appointments for a few months out and incorporate massage therapy into your health and wellness routine. Your massage session is customized to your specific needs, and that’s how you get results. Due to the high volume nature of our business, Massage Envy Spa therapists get to work with a lot of people and see a wide variety of cases. I don’t think any other bodyworker in the industry touches as many lives as a Massage Envy Spa therapist. This makes their experience and knowledge very rich, unique and valuable. I received my best massage experience at my own location and haven’t had a better one anywhere else in several years.

Are there other services for members?

We offer facials, and have seen an increase in the number of clients joining Massage Envy Spa for those. Skin care has the potential to be a big part of our business, and we see a huge opportunity here for educating our clients about such basics as washing your face before going to bed and using sunscreen, even during the winter months. People often look for quick results with fancy and expensive skin procedures, but they forget to invest time and money in regular skin care and maintenance. Consistency is key here, and I think Massage Envy Spa is perfect for that with our Murad signature facial services.

How do you like being a woman business owner in Westchester?

I’ve come to realize that I actually love working with people, working for people, and helping them by running a business that provides these amazing healing services. I love working with our employees and giving them a chance to develop professionally and personally. In turn, they educate and challenge me, and I welcome that challenge and continue to grow as a woman and business owner. I work hand in hand with my husband Andrei and we both give 100 percent to what we call “Our “Ultimate Partnership,” business and marriage. It’s not easy sometimes, but having each other’s full support and trust is what makes it work.

What else are you planning for the fall?

In addition to our Member Appreciation Weekend, September is a big fundraising month for us. On September 16,^, we have our annual Healing Hands for Arthritis event, in which we donate $10 to the Arthritis Foundation on behalf of our clients from each service performed that day at our location. We’ll be collecting additional donations for the Arthritis Foundation throughout the month, too, so we hope people will stop by to support this wonderful organization. All locations throughout the country participate in this event each year. Last year, Massage Envy Spa raised more than $1 million for the Arthritis Foundation!

There are four Massage Envy Spas in Westchester. They are located at: 777 White Plains Rd. (Rte. 22), The Shoppes @ Eastchester, Scarsdale, NY (914.902.9200); 365 Central Park Ave., Archway Shopping Center, Scarsdale, NY (914.422.3689); 737 Bedford Rd., Bedford Green Shopping Center, Bedford Hills, NY (914.244.3689); and 158 S. Ridge St., Rye Ridge Shopping Center South, Rye Brook, NY (914.417.6940). To find a Massage Envy Spa near you, visit MassageEnvy.com.