Massage therapist going strong after 25 years - Winnipeg Free Press

[massage]

A local massage therapist credits his ongoing success after 25 years to serving his community with an open heart.

Steven Hanks started his first business in 1983, opening Steve’s Video on the corner of McLeod Avenue and London Street only a couple years after graduating from Kildonan-East Collegiate.

"The video business was huge back then," Hanks recalled with a laugh. "It was crazy."

An entrepreneur at heart, Hanks started and sold a number of businesses while still in his 20s, experiencing the ups and downs that go hand in hand with taking risks in the business world.

However, after a serious medical emergency in the early 1990s, Hanks was bedridden for two years. It was during that time, he said, that he happened upon an ad in The Herald for a massage therapy school.

After enrolling in the school, Hanks said, he discovered the potential benefits of massage and other "natural and alternative treatments and therapies."

Twenty-five years later, Hanks is still going strong, operating his massage therapy clinic in the heart of downtown Transcona.

"We’ve had tremendous results, especially when we began to introduce emotional release into the treatments," Hanks said. "We’ve seen a lot of change in life. People who couldn’t work are back in the workforce."

Emotional release is important because so many people are suffering from past trauma, Hanks said.

"People need healing," he said. "There’s no judgement here."

Hanks offers a number of natural and alternative practices, including reiki and ear candling, as well practices like instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and technological treatments like the SOQI-spa. He credits the trust he’s earned from his clients in the success the clinic has enjoyed over the past 25 years.

"We’ve attracted so many good people over the years," he said. "It’s serving from the heart first. It’s not about the money. You serve from the heart, you give from the heart, and it just keeps coming back to you. I don’t want to sound corny, but it’s true."

One perk of being a community-minded operation, Hanks said, is watching the kids of clients grow up and become clients themselves.

"That’s really cool," he said. "It’s great to see them flourish."

Personally, Hanks has been sober for 20 years, after decades of heavy drinking in his earlier years. He has written a book on the subject, The 13th Step: The Missing Link to Alcohol, Addictions and Recovery, which he intends to continue as a series.

"I explain it all: what I did, what to do, but most importantly, what one must not do in order to heal and thrive," Hanks said.

Over the years, Hanks has also been involved in community outreach by way of mission work he’s undertaken after his son was born in 2007. In 2010, after taking a tour of Siloam Mission, Hanks began regular mission work among those experiencing homelessness on the streets of Winnipeg.

Hanks recently founded Miracles Health Ministries, which operates the Prayer Warriors of Winnipeg street missions, providing food, clothing, and other essentials to those in need.

"You’ve got to give what you get," he said.

Visit www.facebook.com/steven.hanks.184 for more information.

A local massage therapist credits his ongoing success after 25 years to serving his community with an open heart.

Steven Hanks started his first business in 1983, opening Steve’s Video on the corner of McLeod Avenue and London Street only a couple years after graduating from Kildonan-East Collegiate.

"The video business was huge back then," Hanks recalled with a laugh. "It was crazy."

An entrepreneur at heart, Hanks started and sold a number of businesses while still in his 20s, experiencing the ups and downs that go hand in hand with taking risks in the business world.

However, after a serious medical emergency in the early 1990s, Hanks was bedridden for two years. It was during that time, he said, that he happened upon an ad in The Herald for a massage therapy school.

After enrolling in the school, Hanks said, he discovered the potential benefits of massage and other "natural and alternative treatments and therapies."

Twenty-five years later, Hanks is still going strong, operating his massage therapy clinic in the heart of downtown Transcona.

"We’ve had tremendous results, especially when we began to introduce emotional release into the treatments," Hanks said. "We’ve seen a lot of change in life. People who couldn’t work are back in the workforce."

Emotional release is important because so many people are suffering from past trauma, Hanks said.

"People need healing," he said. "There’s no judgement here."

Hanks offers a number of natural and alternative practices, including reiki and ear candling, as well practices like instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and technological treatments like the SOQI-spa. He credits the trust he’s earned from his clients in the success the clinic has enjoyed over the past 25 years.

"We’ve attracted so many good people over the years," he said. "It’s serving from the heart first. It’s not about the money. You serve from the heart, you give from the heart, and it just keeps coming back to you. I don’t want to sound corny, but it’s true."

One perk of being a community-minded operation, Hanks said, is watching the kids of clients grow up and become clients themselves.

"That’s really cool," he said. "It’s great to see them flourish."

Personally, Hanks has been sober for 20 years, after decades of heavy drinking in his earlier years. He has written a book on the subject, The 13th Step: The Missing Link to Alcohol, Addictions and Recovery, which he intends to continue as a series.

"I explain it all: what I did, what to do, but most importantly, what one must not do in order to heal and thrive," Hanks said.

Over the years, Hanks has also been involved in community outreach by way of mission work he’s undertaken after his son was born in 2007. In 2010, after taking a tour of Siloam Mission, Hanks began regular mission work among those experiencing homelessness on the streets of Winnipeg.

Hanks recently founded Miracles Health Ministries, which operates the Prayer Warriors of Winnipeg street missions, providing food, clothing, and other essentials to those in need.

"You’ve got to give what you get," he said.

Visit www.facebook.com/steven.hanks.184 for more information.

Sheldon Birnie
Community journalist — The Herald

Sheldon Birnie is the community journalist for The Herald Email him at sheldon.birnie@canstarnews.com Call him at 204-697-7112

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