Meet Corey Richason of Vital Kneads Massage in Northwest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Richason.

Corey, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I went into the U.S. Army directly after high school (1 week after). I was in communications in the Gulf War. I continued after I got out. I worked for various communications companies in the valley. It was on one particular job that I decided I had enough of crawling through attics and breathing in asbestos all day.
I went to Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College in 2001 and eventually ended up teaching there. I had started my massage business upon my graduation from PTMC. After Hurricane Katrina, I wanted to start giving back through massage and became the state coordinator of Emergency Response Massage International, a group that was tasked with working on first responders after emergencies. I have worked with multiple professional athletes over the years including the Arizona Hot Shots football team.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It certainly hasn’t been an easy road. I have been a part of franchises that are no longer around. As formerly mentioned, I was happy to be a part of the massage team for the Arizona Hot Shots. It, too, no longer exists, While on this journey, I have worked with multiple chiropractors, for multiple employers, not all of them have had the clients’ best interest in mind. This has been a focus of mine since the time I graduated from massage school. I challenged some of them and lost. While I never left the profession entirely, I did take a position outside of massage after the 2008 recession. I saw the number of people getting massages decline rapidly. I am pleased to say that I recovered from that and now I am entirely self-employed doing the work I love.

Please tell us about your business.
Vital Kneads Massage delivers client-driven, results-focused Corey has specialized in deep tissue, integrated with elements of myofascial, neuromuscular, trigger point and sports therapies with a focus on addressing use-related injuries, chronic pain conditions, and postural problems. For 18 years Massage has been more than just pain relief, for me, massage is about getting people moving again. Whether their goal is to be better able to meet life’s obligations or simply to enjoy being active. I meet the clients where they are at and customize each massage while steering clear of the cookie-cutter mentality of delivering the same massage every time. I don’t merely jump on the latest trend in massage but try to give my clients the facts as best as I can. My clients have told me that they value that I back the advice I give with research instead of pushing the same worn-out myths that are perpetuated by so many massage therapists.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in the valley (Greenway Road didn’t go beyond 7th avenue) and when I used to miss the school bus, my father would take me through the desert to school on his Honda Goldwing.

Pricing:

• Regular rate is $70/hr
• First time clients $50/hr
• Packages available

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vitalkneads.net
• Phone: 6233297175
• Email: vitalkneads@gmail.com
• Instagram: @coreyrichason
• Facebook: fb.com/vitalkneadsmassage
• Twitter: @vitalkneads
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/vital-kneads-massage-surprise

Image Credit:
Corey Richason

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