Bell Massage Therapy

10/18/2022

Hello all! I apologize for not posting regarding the status of Bell Massage Therapy in quite some time! Boy, what a whirlwind life has been for me...time surely does fly by!!
Though I assume many of you have been able to get appointments elsewhere, and for that I am grateful to my fellow colleagues for taking care of you, I have recently been getting more and more inquiries as to my availability for appointments, so I thought it would be timely and appropriate to update my page as well.
I am continuing to experience a very limited and uncertain schedule, so I am still not able to accept any new clients, and to my devoted and much appreciated regular clients, I am regrettably unable to give you a timeline as to if or when I will resume regular, consistent business hours. ☹️
I also want to thank those of you who have checked in on me over the past several months, and those of you who have asked about my availability. It means more to me than you know. Please know that you are missed. ❤️

04/28/2021

Hi everyone!!! What a year+ it has been!! I hope this update finds you all well!! 💕🙌🙏

Time sure has a way of giving a person new perspective on what the future could be, and at the same time leaves a longing for what once was….this time has been a gift to me, though, as I have spent the last more than a year thankful to devote more time to very special people in my life in my roles as wife, daughter, mom and grandma.

As much as my roles in other areas of my life have become busier and so fulfilling, I DO miss my role as your massage therapist!! As that role has diminished, I truly hope our friendships have not, as many of you may have no idea how much your relationship has meant to me, and I miss you!!

I have FINALLY decided I will hopefully be reopening my office in the near future, but in a very limited capacity; likely for only one day a week. 😔
With the limited amount of appointment availability I will have, I feel it will work best if I PERSONALLY CONTACT YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO BEGIN SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS.
I plan to begin reaching out and scheduling within the next couple months.

If you don't hear from me, please understand I'm doing my best to make this change. This will be a challenging transition for me. I realize it is going to be impossible to schedule every one of you. I also know some of you need certain day(s) or hours of the day to make it work in your schedule, and my new schedule unfortunately won't work for you. This is what has made this decision so difficult.

For those of you who have been waiting to hear about my reopening plans, and to those who have been checking in on me from time to time about my reopening status, THANK YOU for your patience with me! It means so much to me!

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your patience during the time my office has been closed, and for your understanding about this decision. ❣️

Take good care!!

03/31/2021

FYI if you haven't yet received your covid vaccine shots :)

Myrtue's Public Health will be receiving 1,170 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This is open to ALL Iowans 16 and older.

You are able to sign up for your vaccination appointment at https://bit.ly/2OtR5cV or follow the directions below.

This vaccination clinic will be offered on Friday, April 9th from 1:30 PM - 6 PM and Saturday, April 10th from 8 AM - 12:00 PM at the Veteran's Auditorium in Harlan. Please bring your insurance card to your appointment. COVID-19 vaccinations are free of charge, but your insurance can be billed for administrating the shot. You will not receive a bill.

02/09/2021

Reposting as a reminder to anyone holding a gift certificate with an expiration of 3/2020 or after. 🙂

11/19/2020

Just a quick note about gift certificates:
As you may already know, since last January (2020), I am no longer selling gift certificates. I have had a couple inquiries recently, though, regarding redeeming gift certificates that were sold prior to January, 2020, and concerns about their expiration dates. Given my office has been temporarily closed due to Covid-19 since March, I have obviously not been able to redeem those gift certificates. To those of you who are still in posession of a gift certificate that has an expiration date of MARCH, 2020 OR AFTER, rest assured, I will account for the time my office has been closed when scheduling your appointments to use them. I will also do my very best to schedule an appointment for you in a timely manner.
In the meantime, thanks to everyone for your patience! 👍🙂
Take good care! (& please keep wearing your masks ♥️😷)

Melanie

10/14/2020

Well, I thought it might be a good time for an update about my reopening plans. I really hope this update finds you all well! 💞
I know this past several months have been difficult and challenging for everyone - ugh! The risks and uncertainties of Covid-19 have definitely changed so much about our daily lives. I know most of you are now back to working in offices and/or with co-workers (though many of you were never able to work in the "protection" of your home at all), kids are now back in school taking the necessary covid precautions like champs, and we are all trying to get on with life as we now have come to know it. Our "new normal" is not normal at all. I truly think of all of you on a daily basis and can only imagine how hard some of this juggling of your lives has been for so many of you. 🙏
During all this time, I have never lost sight of how blessed I am to have the good fortune of being self-employed. There are the obvious downsides, of course, but I also have the upside of this unprecedented option to keep my office closed until I feel comfortable with the decision to reopen. {I also have an incredibly supportive and loving husband who works tremendously hard at what he does to provide us the financial stability so that I can choose this option 💖} These are incredible gifts that I am thankful for every day. I have been able to have peace of mind in knowing that not only can I spend the time I want and need to spend with my elderly parents & my family, I have been able to limit my exposure in general.
That all being said, and in keeping with my commitment that I want to stay safe rather than be sorry, I want you to know that I am planning to hold off reopening until at least after the first of the year. 🥺
While I'm guessing that some of you have found another available massage therapist to help you, or are planning to, I'm sincerely hoping that I will see you all again once I reopen. I will definitely be in touch with you when I am ready to start scheduling!
Thank you, as always, and until I see you, take good care! 🙌

Melanie 🙂

07/19/2020

UPDATE ON REOPENING:
With August 1st around the corner, I've been wanting to update you about my reopening plans...
As of this time, though, unfortunately I have no exact plan & I'm not sure of a reopening date. 😢 😩
Rest assured, I'm struggling to make the best decision for myself and for all of you, and when I do, I will be sure to let you know!!
I'm missing my work & my friends/clients more than you know, and until I see you again, please take good care & stay well! ❤❤❤
Melanie

06/09/2020

As you may already know, my office has not yet reopened.
I want you to know I have made the decision that I will not be reopening for business before August 1.
I will continue to be in contact with my clients individually, but I will also continue to post updates here as we get closer to that date to keep you informed as to when I will begin rescheduling.
Thank you so much for your patience and your understanding during this time.
Until I see you again, take good care of yourself & each other! 💕

05/08/2020

I hope this message finds you and your families healthy and well! 💕 Sorry in advance this is soo long! 😬

With May 15 (the last day of the mandatory closure of massage therapy offices in Iowa) coming soon, I'm guessing you've been wondering about when I plan to reopen.
Obviously, I'm definitely struggling with the need to get back to work, but also with the real concern of staying well and keeping anyone who enters my office safe and worry-free.

With that being said, I want you to know I DO NOT plan to reopen as of May 16. I am really sorry about this news, but I assure you I have taken this decision very seriously, and I'm waiting day-to-day, week-to-week, to decide when it feels like the right time, and I will keep you informed once I do.

I just cannot ethically open up and start giving massages with the safety concerns I still have.
Until the social distancing guidelines loosen, and until testing is more readily available, I personally don't want to take any chances. I feel fairly confident that I could fight and recover from this, but I'm very certain my parents (whom I'm around every week), and my in-laws, would not recover from it. We know from what we've seen, many older and the health-compromised cannot fight this virus.

I REALLY, REALLY miss working and seeing my clients!! I have been giving massages for nearly 23 years, and I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I have been able to do what I love to do! 😢

I would like to hear from you and how you're feeling...
• How do YOU feel about the idea of getting a massage during this "time" with Covid-19 still spreading and no vaccine/cure available? Are you concerned, and what questions do you have for me about the things I would be doing to keep you protected?
• Are you prepared or willing to wear a mask during the time you are in my office as well as during your massage? I'm not. I don't know yet when it will be prudent for myself and my clients to NOT wear a mask, as we are in close contact nearly the entire time we are together for your appointment.
• Would you be willing to complete and sign a Covid-19 "waiver" upon coming for your massage (which would ask questions related to your recent travels, contacts with anyone with Covid-19, if you have been experiencing a cough, fever, etc...) this waiver would also serve to release me from liability if you would happen to contract Covid-19 and it is contact-traced back to my office.

These are concerns I never thought I'd have; I'm guessing no one did.
It is one of my highest priorities to provide a clean, comfortable, and safe place for you to come to receive a massage, and just the thought of trying to create that comfort during this time seems almost impossible.

I really will appreciate hearing from you.
You can comment here, or privately through Messenger or in text, if you prefer.
PLEASE keep your comments considerate and fact-based.
No judgements or political arguments, please. 💗 💗 💗

Thank you so much and stay well!!

04/27/2020

The Iowa governor announced this morning that the mandatory closure of massage therapy establishments in Iowa (previously set to expire April 30) is now extended through May 15.
I want you all to know that I have spending A LOT of time thinking about this and educating myself about COVID-19 and its risks, and how it affects my profession. That being said, when the governor says we can reopen, I will be taking into great consideration at that time the potential risk of exposure to myself and my clients given the nature of massage and the necessary close proximity between us, and whether or not I feel it is safe for you and myself to do so. I also want you to know that when I do reopen, I will be taking every practical precaution necessary to make you feel comfortable and protected (i.e. I don't think you want to wear a mask during a massage, nor do I while giving you one 😷).
I am also personally thinking of the health of my elderly parents. I have been blessed in the past 6 + weeks to be able to spend a great deal of time with them to help care for some serious health issues, and I want to be careful of the risk I could potentially be taking in exposing them to even more complications with a life threatening illness. I ask of you that whatever my decision, you will trust and respect it. 🙌
Like everyone else I'm sure, I am anxious for life to go back to "normal" and get back to work, enjoying our families, etc... I can assure you I would love to see all of my clients soon again, as I miss you all more than you know!
I will continue to keep you updated here as I have more information for you. In the meantime, I hope you all are taking good care of yourselves, and taking the necessary precautions & measures to keep yourself, your families (and all of us) as happy & healthy as possible.

Take care and be well!! 💗

Melanie