Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
NEW BUSINESS — Vicki Rowe of Houlton is now a licensed massage therapist, offering services in the Shiretown from Main Street Fitness and Beauty and Beyond salon. She is also a licensed physical fitness trainer.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Sometimes ideas really do come from divine inspiration.
That is how Houlton’s Vicki Rowe has found herself on a career path that has taken her from behind a desk to being a licensed massage therapist and certified physical fitness trainer in southern Aroostook County.
“I’ve worked at Main Street Fitness since 2009, working first at the front desk before being offered an opportunity to do personal training,” Rowe said. “I’d taught exercise classes for years at the (Houlton) Rec Center and here at Main Street Fitness. Becoming certified in that field was a nice progression.”
For over 15 years, she has taught a variety of fitness classes, including: interval training, functional fitness, Zumba, “Fitness over Fifty,” youth fitness and cardiac and pulmonary rehab.
“I had thought about massage therapy for a couple of years, but always figured I couldn’t do it because you had to go away to school for nine to 18 months to do it,” she said.
Rowe said she was reading a copy of the Houlton Pioneer Times one day and saw an advertisement for a school in Bangor that offered weekend courses for massage therapy.
“I saw the ad and called the next day and was enrolled at the Therapeutic Bodywork Learning Center in Bangor two weeks later,” she said. “I went two weekends a month for 18 months to get in my 500 hours for certification.”
Balancing her work, school, family and church commitments proved challenging during that 18-month period, she said. She graduated in October, 2013 and is now licensed in the state as a massage therapist.
“It (massage and physical fitness) seemed like a good progression,” Rowe said. “I’ve always been fascinated with the human body and how everything works together. Massage can benefit almost everyone. It’s a stress reduction, it’s relaxing, and it’s also therapeutic for those with sore tired muscles or ones who have had injuries. Massage creates blood flow through the body and that’s the main thing.”
Rowe offers therapeutic Swedish/deep tissue massage in 30-, 60- or 90-minute increments; hot stone massage; pre-workout massage; foot and hand treatments; spa facial massage; and chair massages. She will even come to a place of business and perform chair massages.
With therapeutic massage, she employs various techniques, emphasizing good body mechanics while offering stress reduction to her clients. She believes that all have the potential to benefit from touch, and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge with her patrons in a hands-on approach.
She came up with the name Pro31 Massage Therapy and Fitness while reading scripture.
“Proverbs 31 contains a verse that spoke to me, ‘She works with eager hands. She sets about her work vigorously. Her arms are strong for her tasks.’ Those words inspired me for fitness training and now inspire me with my massage business.
“In addition to combining my massage therapy skills with personal training, my (adult) children both played a part in helping me come up with the name,” Rowe said. “Victoria (my Biblically-minded thinker) reminded how I always liked to apply my choice for staying fit with those verses in Proverbs 31 – thus the name selection,” she explained. “When preparing my business portfolio, I would send my drafts to Tyler (ever the marketer) for his perspective on things. He suggested I omit the space between the Pro and 31, since that gave it a more ‘modern’ look. The rest was original with me.”
She is a member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals and Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
“Both my training sessions and massages can be catered to suit the individual’s needs,” she said. “
Rowe offers massage therapy and physical fitness training at Main Street Fitness on Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment. She also provides massages at Beauty and Beyond on 105 Bangor St. from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Rowe also teaches physical fitness classes at Houlton Southside School on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:15 a.m.
For more information, contact Rowe at 694-6681 or visit her website at www.pro31.abmp.com.
