Suffolk News-Herald

A patient of &uot;Just for the Health of It&uot; might walk into 434 N. Main Street, formerly Front Street Restaurant, exhausted from a long day at work, suffering from a stress-induced headache, or just a tense mood.

An hour later, they could walk out fresh, revitalized, and ready to take on the world.

That’s what a massage can do, says business manager Debra Hays, who opened Just for the Health of It on Aug. 9 with owner Kathy Bass.

&uot;It improves the circulator system, and helps remove toxins,&uot; said Hays, who along with Bass is a nationally certified massage therapist.

&uot;It helps a person’s range of motion and flexibility, and it lowers the stress level,&uot; she added. &uot;Most people don’t take the time to relax – they go home after work and sit down and watch TV, and think they’re relaxing. But there’s more to it than that.&uot;

Before a person even gets on the massage table, they’re already in a relaxed environment; the rooms are kept dimly lit with soothing music playing. In the winter, a fire will be burning in the fireplace. Should a patron not be able to attend the facility itself, in-home massages are also offered.

Deep tissue massage, one of Bass’ specialties, is used to release chronic muscle tension with slow strokes and direct deep pressure around the grain of muscles. It detects stiff areas by working into the deep layers of muscle tissue.

Lymph drainage therapy, another offering, aids in the recirculation of the lymphatic flow, helping to reduce swellings in cancer patients. It helps to drain lymph and other body fluids.

Bass soon hopes to soon offer nutrition counseling and yoga classes. &uot;We just want to be a safe haven,&uot; she said. &uot;We’re trying to help a person’s entire health.&uot;

The business will be holding an Open House and blood drive from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25. It’s open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 539-0049.