Coronavirus in Polk: Pandemic closes doors at massage, spa businesses - The Ledger

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Polk County businesses that offer massage therapy and spa services have been forced to close amid the COVID-19 pandemic

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LAKELAND — Businesses that offer massage therapy and spa services are among those suffering amid the suspension of normal life.

Angie Reynolds Hewett, owner of Massage and Spinal Therapy of Winter Haven Inc., said her 30-year-old business was on track for one of its best years ever before Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that forced her to halt services. Hewett was planning a celebration for customers on March 31, but that will have to be rescheduled.

“We’ve just been phenomenally blessed, phenomenally busy,” Hewett said. “This just came as quite a shock to all of us, but the thing about it — there is absolutely no way you can give a social distance between a patient and a massage therapist. It’s not humanly possible.”

Hewett said she decided to cease operations even before getting the official notice from the Florida Department of Health.

In addition to various forms of massage therapy, the business offers such services as spinal decompression, microdermabrasion and herbal body wraps. Hewett said she has 13 employees.

Hewett is keeping her office open with limited hours to sell products and gift certificates. She said her administrative assistant has been calling patients to cancel all scheduled appointments for the next few weeks.

“We’re trying to make the best of it,” Hewett said. “We are a very strong group of women that are very committed to the welfare of our patients, and that’s one of the reasons we shut down before we were even mandated to.”

The same fate has befallen Bella Visage Medical and Aesthetic Rejuvenation in Lakeland. The 5-year-old business, owned by Jeanna and Mark Parker, offers massage therapy and a range of other services, such as neurotoxin injections and body and tattoo removal, which must be performed by a licensed nurse practitioner or medical doctor.

Mark Parker said he and his wife, following guidance from the American Medical Spa Association, decided to close before getting the order from the state. The business has 11 employees.

“There are so many invasive things we do that could create an opening for a particulate to get into that it just wasn’t advisable to stay open,” he said.

Parker said the business is selling facial products and having employees oversee “virtual facials,” in which they direct clients on how to use the supplies.

“We’ll do the same thing with our massage therapists, which will be interesting — doing some stretching, some yoga,” he said. “Again, just a way to keep our staff and our clients connected.”

Calls to Oriental Massage and Spa, a thriving business across the street from Southgate Shopping Center in Lakeland, yield a recorded message saying the business is closed.

Parker said he has heard that some massage therapists are still doing sessions at spaces they rent in local hair salons. Hewett said she is aware of therapists in Winter Haven who are still working.

“I personally know three therapists in town that are continually doing massage, and it’s a shame,” she said. “From my understanding, if they’re continually doing massage when the governor has a shutdown order, they can lose their license.”

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.