Meet Monica & Anastasia | Owners of Yellowhouse Massage & Bodywork

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Olsen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
We have come to find that work life balance is extremely important for us as Massage Therapists. The more in balance we are in our lives and work, the better quality service we can provide. Creating our own business has provided the freedom to design our schedules in a way that suits our own lifestyles and needs. The results were extraordinary for us, and our clients!

“Work life balance is so important and having the freedom to make it as exactly as we like is everything. Working for yourself comes with a lot of different challenges but having the absolute freedom to work as I like, when I like is one of my greatest pleasures. When I first started in the massage therapy industry, I had no idea how to balance my work life and my personal life. Now, I have very strong boundaries around how much I am willing and able to work in a single day or week. This freedom and knowledge allows me to give as much as I can to every client that gets onto my table. It’s part of what makes us different – this is no turn and burn service, we’re dedicated to giving each person the best experience possible and to do that we take care of ourselves first, always.” – Monica

Work life balance is a resounding priority for me. Throughout my 10 year career in massage therapy the balance has varied and I’ve learned many hard lessons through trial and error. I used to be a “Yes” woman and would give until I dropped. Now I find that I like to keep clear days off and limit myself to a specific number of massages that I won’t go over in a day. I make sure that I am taking care of my body outside of work so I can show up at my best for my clients. I prioritize my rest days and evenings as well as my mental health. As Monica said above it is part of what makes us different. We are proud to reject the “turn and burn” mentality and lead by example. We are dedicated to giving each of our clients the best experience possible by making sure our cups are filled and we aren’t drawing from an empty well. – Anastasia

Living and running a business in a mountain ski town means that we are often at the mercy of the weather and the snow. Our local economy depends heavily on tourism and our small business is no exception. As our business grows, so does our client list. At this point, we have a really great mix of locals, second home owners and visitors. We both have a really strong work ethic, so this allows us to work hard in the busy months and take some time off in the slower ones. Like the seasons, this balance is constantly shifting. We love that this balance is tied to mother nature. Our lives, whether we realize it or not, are tied strongly to the seasons, it’s just a bit more obvious at 9,000 feet.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Yellow House Massage and Bodywork we pride ourselves on individualizing each service to best fit our clients needs. We recognize that every day we are different and therefore each treatment should be different depending on what our client needs that day. Between us we have over 16 years of experience and that shows through our practiced hands. Someone might come in looking for a treatment that leaves them feeling relaxed and grounded but also need focused work in their shoulder for example. We know just how to help them achieve each one of those goals during our session. We got to where we are today by seeing in each other those same principles and partnering together to start Yellow House Massage and Bodywork.

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The business first came together in such a fluid and organic way. The way we work isn’t for everyone, we’ve ended up in this unique, hybrid situation where we still work for ourselves and also collaborate to operate and grow the business. Our shared values of a strong work ethic, professionalism and communication have made this venture successful. That, and the fact that we decided early on that we would value our friendship over a working relationship.

When we started Yellow House, we were still working for other spas, but it wasn’t long before the success of our little business wasn’t so little anymore, and we decided to go all in. Soon after, in our first year of operation, we were recognized by our community with a great honor, voted by the public into the top 3 of the “Best of Grand” contest in the massage/spa category. Run by our local newspaper, Ski-Hi News, the Best of Grand competition showed us that we were already providing something on par with the big dogs, the best of the best that our county has to offer!

Our combined training, experience and intuition is a big part of what sets us apart from others. We’re able to effectively treat the athlete, the injured skier and someone who is experiencing muscular pain and soreness. Integrative and deep tissue work is where we thrive and we relish the challenges that come with addressing an unknown source of pain or injury.

The location is has a unique draw as well. We’re housed within a Victorian style building home to 3 other small businesses: Breathe Co (yoga studio), Grand Pearl Wellness (massage and skincare) and Balance Massage and Herbs. Between all of us we’re able to accommodate group bookings and a big variety of offerings!

Of course, massage therapy isn’t just about ironing out those sore muscles. It’s a chance to allow your nervous system the time to rest and heal. We want to address your emotional and spiritual bodies as well as the physical. It’s why we’ve created a luxurious space, equipped with the most comfortable massage table you’ve ever been on, an aesthetic that will make you feel right at home and all the little extras like aromatherapy, electrolytes and chocolates to provide the most nourishing experience possible. We want you to feel restored and nurtured when you visit the Yellow House.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
That entirely depends on what season it is! In any case, Grand County has so many outdoor adventures to choose from. Part of what makes Grand County so unique is that something like 75 percent of it is public land. We also claim the less popular entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park.

If it’s summer, I’m all about the trails and wildflower hunting. This trip would have to include at least one trek to an alpine lake along with its compulsory plunge. The Indian Peaks Wilderness is my favorite for a quick overnight backpacking trip and for spotting moose. Sun bathing and paddle boarding on Shadow Mountain Lake are a must. I love watching the ospreys and pelicans who come back there every summer. The free concerts in Fraser and Winter Park in the summer months are always entertaining and a fun spot to meet up with friends watch the sunset.

In the winter, the trails are a bit different! But who doesn’t love a snowy walk? And the towns of Winter Park and Fraser groom multi use trails throughout the winter months which means we can walk, ski or snowshoe right out the back door. And when it’s time to warm up, we’ll hit the hot springs which is not everyone’s favorite due to the sulphur smell but I believe it to be a necessity.

And in any season, it’s always fun to take visitors up the gondola for the best view of the setting sun.

During any season we would definitely go check out a few of our favorite restaurants. Deno’s Mountain Bistro is the best happy hour in town and has food ranging from fine dining all the way to burgers and chicken wings. We’ll also use any excuse to pop into Durbar – Nepalese & Indian Bistro, they have the best masala chai. For morning coffee before our adventures we would stop into Simple Coffee Co. They not only have the best coffee in town but they are a green coffee shop using glass takeaway jars that you can reuse or bring back for a credit. We’d also bring our bestie to Bake Haus for one of their incredible cinnamon rolls.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents, especially my mom, have always been incredibly supportive of me, my adventures and the multiple ways I have reshaped myself and my career. She has supported me while I trekked across the globe, helped put me through school and has always been in my corner when I needed it most. She’s even paid for flights home when I ran out of money in a foreign country. In the vast uncertainties of life, my mom has always been my constant. I also need to acknowledge the amazing community that I fell into in the Fraser Valley. I’m so grateful for the amazing people who live here and the connections I’ve made. This entire community has helped shape me as the massage therapist, and person, I am today. – Monica

I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents. They have had my back through thick and thin, and supported me while I was in massage therapy school and every moment of my life. I wouldn’t be where I am to today without them. Thanks Mom and Dad, everyday you inspire me to live my life to the fullest and to make it a good day. I’d also like to shoutout my mentor, Meredith Cameron. Without her continued encouragement I wouldn’t be the entrepreneur that I have become. Her help has been life changing and has guided me into my best self. Of course I’d also like to say thanks to my husband, Brian. The foundation we have created as a unified team has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I am the best version of myself because I have you as my teammate. The list of the individuals that have helped me get to where I am today is long and I am deeply grateful for each experience I have had that has brought me to where I am today!
-Anastasia

Website: https://www.yellowhousemassagewp.com

Instagram: @yellowhousemassage