Dennis Hayden, LMT

 I have always felt drawn to the field of massage by giving friends back rubs when asked. Lots of folks would say I should go into this field. After years in the corporate environment I felt the need for a new direction. One sunny Saturday while “bumming around” a buddy and I went into a small bookstore. Where I found "Massage Magazine". Nudging my friend I said, “There is my next profession”. He just laughed and thought nothing more about it. I read the magazine cover to cover and started calling schools for more information. After a few months of research I decided to switch gears and go for this dream.

Training started in the fall of 1990 at the Honolulu School of Massage, Inc. The weather was wonderful. The apartment was on the beach and the schoolwork hard but I missed my son who was still in Kansas City. Of course, hearing "Daddy when are you coming home?" from a 5 year old has its effect. After the first semester of training I decided to continue my studies on the mainland and came back to Kansas City.

I worked out of two locations: Salon Avanti (Olathe, KS) and Anderson Chiropractic Center (Overland Park, KS). I maintained a steadily growing list of companies that allowed me to come to their offices and provide their employees stress relief by means of the Chair Massage technique.

Getting restless with Kansas City metro I found and fell in love with Western Kentucky. July 1996 found me packing and moving to Paducah, Kentucky. February 1997 was the opening of “Relaxation Station”. Joining the Chamber of Commerce gave me an “edge” with the public. I joined the Chamber, which eased the speculation about the “new kid in town”. It also helped give the Massage Therapy occupation the professional image that I felt it deserved. After the first 7 months I had outgrown the 1 room office and moved to a larger location. In 1999 I was scouting for a LARGER location. Paducah was ready for a "day spa" environment that is commonplace in the Kansas City Metro area.

In October of 1999 my son and I were at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival when he asked, "Dad, when are you moving home?" WOW!! Talk about a high. Most 15 year olds don't want their parents in their lives and here was my son asking when I was moving back home. I went back to Paducah to sell my house, sell my business and re-start my life...AGAIN. Coming "home" was on December 31, 1999.

I did find out that my educational training wasn't sufficient for the revamped massage laws that the Kansas City metro had established while I was living out of state. With 10+ years in the profession I found myself back in the classroom to learn how to be a Massage Therapist. I completed the 500-hour program from JCCC in December 2002.

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