10/11/2006 – News

A native of Sparta, Wisc., she was a librarian there for 13 years before coming to Minnewaukan in the fall of 2002 to be an assistant to Steve Chase, who developed the resort business. After working here a year, she went back to Wisconsin in the fall of 2003 and in January of 2004 began a course in massage therapy there. After graduating in January of 2005 she returned to Minnewaukan with her partners in March of 2005 when they purchased the Spirit Water Inn from Chase.

Among the properties they purchased was the former Minnewaukan Residences along old US 281 and west of the school. The 19-unit complex is now the Spirit Water Inn Red Cottages. The far south apartment facing old US 281 is being used by Lisa for her massage therapy business.

There’s a considerable amount of knowledge necessary to become a massage therapist. Her year of school in Wisconsin consisted of 650 hours of courses. She took the test for national certification and passed that. But upon applying for her state license, she was told the state has more stringent rules than the national certification.

She needed another 100 hours of school. She took 100 hours of anatomy at Lake Region State College and received her state license on May 23. But she didn’t open her massage therapy business until July 10 because she was too busy with the resort business.

That 750 hours of schooling involved lots of anatomy and physiology; kinesiology (study of the movement of the muscles); day spa classes such as facials, body wraps, use of heat and water therapies; massage of pregnant women and infants; deep tissue massage; Swedish relaxation techniques; caring touch techniques for people recovering from surgery, for instance; and special needs massage, such as for residents of nursing homes.

To maintain her certified massage therapy license, she’ll be taking

18 hours of continuing education training in December at a nursing home in Fargo.

Sometimes nursing home patients find it impossible to get to Lisa’s place of business. No problem. She’ll go to them. She has a portable massage chair that she can take to nursing homes. She’ll also make house calls with or without the chair.

Lisa, not surprisingly, is enthusiastic about the benefits of massage therapy. Among the benefits she cites are relaxation; hastening of the healing process; stimulation of the circulation system to nourish cells and the nervous system; increased flow of the lymphatic system, which carries waste from the body; increase in metabolism; increased production of red and white blood cells; and relief from arthritis and muscle and joint pain.

Another service she offers is ear candling, an ancient art that’s been practiced for 3,000 years to remove earwax. A candle is placed in the ear and the opposite end of the candle is lit. Smoke enters the ear and loosens the earwax. "I’ve had people with hearing aids tell me they had to turn their hearing aids down after this treatment," she says. Several clients have tried this and are pleased with the results.

She’s got a clientele of about 25 steady customers for her massage therapy business "from teenagers to a 94-year-old," she says.

The massage business fits well with the resort business. "We can offer massage therapy, which few other resorts offer," Lisa explains.

"Sometimes customers will make appointments for a massage at the same time they make reservations," she explains. Bed and breakfast customers sometimes decide to include massages with their visit.

Hands For Healing Massage Therapy is open Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursdays from 1:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment. She’ll also work emergencies into her schedule as necessary. Gift certificates are available. For appointments call 473-2589, 701-351-4278 (cell phone) or toll-free 1-877-305-1528, which is the resort’s number.

Lisa Wold stands near the massage table in her business, Hands for Healing Massage Therapy. The business is located in one of the apartments of the former Minnewaukan Residences, Inc., which is now owned by Spirit Water Resort. She is also one of the owners of Spirit Water Resort.

Area artist JoAnn Copeland taught a step-by-step lesson on the techniques of Norwegian rosemaling to fifth and sixth graders at the Leeds School, assisted by fifth and sixth grade art teacher Audrey Herman. This unique art opportunity is part of a program sponsored by the Leeds School that brings diversity in art experiences to students. Some of the students are shown with examples of their rosemaling done in the Hallingdal style. Left to right, front row, are Shane Ebertz and Kayla Matlock. In the second row are Audrey Herman, Colton Gillespie, JoAnn Copeland, Kevin Slaubaugh and Meghan Jorgenson.

Leeds Public School announces its 2006 Homecoming royalty. Pictured are Queen Karlee Gronos and King Michael Peterson.