Mobile massage comes to your doorstep

By Laurie Gordon
NEWTON — How about a massage? Sounds great, but in today's hurry-up-and-go world, carving out time to get to a massage can be quite the challenge. What if the massage came to you? Thanks to some innovative thinking by massage therapist, Kathy Hoyer, now it does. She'll show up at your door step in her massage bus, you step inside and there's a serene, peaceful studio awaiting for you to relax and un-tense those muscles. This is The Wizard of Aaahhz, and with Christmas and Hanukkah around the corner, a gift certificate for a massage to come to someone's doorstep is the perfect present.
For years, Hoyer had a side business going to people's homes to do massage. Over the years, the massage business had built up nicely, and she wanted to transition into doing it full-time. Her main job involved commuting down route 80 during the week, and about the time she knew her corporate position wasn't going to be around much longer, she started noticing various vans and vehicles of the like with large business advertisements on them.
“I kept on seeing this travel pet grooming business,” she said, “And it got me thinking.”
Hoyer loved the idea of a mobile massage business where she could pull up and have the client come into an already-prepared massage setting. “The problem was, a van wouldn't be big enough for me to do a massage,” she said. “Then I thought of a bus. It just sounded out there enough to work.”
Sure enough, Hoyer found a bus on Craig's List the right size to gut and transition into a massage studio. With the help of her husband, Mark Hoyer, the Wizard of Aaahhz massage bus became a reality and Hoyer started hitting the road in July.
The Wizard of Aaahhz name came from an impromptu competition stemming from a birthday party. “We were at a party and I a gift of a gift certificate for a massage,” Hoyer said. “Well, everyone wanted one and started pointing out when their birthday was. I said, 'How about the person who comes up with a name for my business wins a massage?'” Ginny Smith was the winner with Wizard of Aaahhz.
Hoyer does two types of massage. One is Swedish massage where ,massage oil or cream is used with smooth, gliding strokes. Swedish massage uses firm but gentle pressure to promote relaxation, ease muscle tension and create other health benefits. It is a classic massage that will ease stress and allow you to slip into a calm state of relaxation. CranioSacral Therapy is another type of massage Hoyer uses which uses gentle touch manipulation of your head, neck, and the bottom of your spine. Post massage, neck, back, and hips feel looser and freer. Her “Signature Blend” combines both modalities in one 90 minute session customized to your body's specific needs.
“Investing in massage is an investment in your health,” Hoyer said. “I am an experienced practitioner of Massage (Swedish, Therapeutic, Relaxation, Hot Stone) and recently added CranioSacral Therapy. Come in to the studio or have the bus come out to you. Massage is often viewed as a luxury or a treat but it's really a necessity for people who look at their health in a preventative way. It's such an overall immune-boosting, mood-boosting, healthy modality. My clients tell me it helps them feel better, sleep better and feel better overall.”
You'd never know you were in a bus once inside. With the curtain separating the driver's seat and the back closed, soft, melodic music playing and warming heat from the bus' heating system, get ready for a soothing, rejuvenating massage.
The outside of the bus is enchanting featuring a picture of rocks with water trickling over them. The photo is close to home for Hoyer as it was taken by her husband by the Paulins Kill Lake located near their home and where Hoyer grew up. Mark Maruska, of Gravity Designworks, in Newton, worked the photo into a vehicle wrap that adorns the bus.
If you mention this article, Hoyer is offering gift certificates for $60 for an hour and $90 for an hour and a half. The Wizard of Aaahhz will travel to you throughout the area.
Hoyer has everything set up on-line. Go to http://wizardmassage.com/ to book an appointment either with the bus coming to you or at her studio in Stillwater. You can also order gift cards right on the site. The Wizard of Aaahhz, LLC on Facebook and there's even a link to book an appointment right there. Alternatively, for information and/or to book an appointment call (973) 903-6059.