Shop Talk: Still Point Therapeutic Massage

Shop Talk

Discussion

COMMENTING ON STORIES:

Welcome to our story comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including the unpopular ones. We only ask that you keep your conversations clean, civil and on the topic of the story you are commenting on.

Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.

Disqus gives users the ability to log into our story comments feature so that they may be able to track their conversations, receive emails when their comments get a reply or to even have your comments update onto your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

For the time being, our story comments feature will continue to have the ability to post comments anonymously. We reserve the right to require registration in the future using your name and verified email address.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified at the newspaper’s discretion for a number of different reasons. Please follow our Online Rules of Conduct at all times.

RULES OF CONDUCT:

We reserve the right to remove comments that are unacceptable, to wit:

1. False and inacurate statements.
2. Personal attacks. Explicit name-calling.
3. Harassing, harmful, vulgar, obscene and defamatory language.
4. Threatening statements or statements that suggest violence.
5. Hate speech of any kind.
6. Intolerant comments on religion, race, age, gender, sexual preference or disabilities.
7. Accusations of criminal activity.
8. Content that is harmful to children and minors in any way.
9. References to any type of sexual activity and other private matters.
10. Random and inflammatory statements that are off topic.
11. Advertising of any kind.
12. Typing in all caps.

WE ENCOURAGE REASONABLE AND COURTEOUS COMMENTS THAT:

1. Create conversation on issues of interest and concern to fellow readers and local community members.
2. Express opinions and contrarian views.
3. Stimulate debate with respectful language.
4. Stay within the boundaries of these rules.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND OR TERMINATE ACCESS FOR:

1. Violating any of these Online Rules of Conduct.
2. Deliberately disrupting discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or spam.
3. Misrepresentation of identity or impersonating another user.

WE WELCOME:

1. Flagging violations of these rules that you observe to our attention.

MONITORING:

We monitor comments regularly Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approval of comments outside of this time (including weekends) will be sporadic.

comments powered by Disqus

April 30, 2012

Shop Talk: Still Point Therapeutic Massage

Business name: Still Point Therapeutic Massage Owner: Benjamin Burke, LMT Location: Travels, based in Oneonta For information: (607) 643-1087 Employees: Associates Erika S. Jones, LMT, and Elyse M. Doyle, LMT Founded: 2011

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Mon Apr 30, 2012, 09:25 AM EDT

Business name: Still Point Therapeutic Massage

Owner: Benjamin Burke, LMT

Location: Travels, based in Oneonta

For information: (607) 643-1087

Employees: Associates Erika S. Jones, LMT, and Elyse M. Doyle, LMT

Founded: 2011

Shop Talk is a weekly column featuring locally owned and operated businesses. This week, we talk to licensed massage therapist Benjamin Burke.

How long have you lived in the area?

I moved to Oneonta in the fall of 1999 to attend Hartwick College, where I studied theater arts. I've been here ever since.

How did you get started in this line of work?

I first became interested in massage therapy when a friend of mine attending massage school at the time asked if they could practice on me. Soon I was enrolled in massage school myself and studying for the New York state licensing exam.

Describe your business:

I provide massage treatments for clients in the Oneonta and Cooperstown areas. I practice both traditional Swedish massage and Shiatsu. I see clients by appointment only.

What is the most enjoyable part of what you do?

The most enjoyable part of what I do is make people feel good! A client can be tense or stressed out pre-session, and post-session he or she will be feeling relaxed and smiling. Just knowing that I made such a huge difference in someone's day makes a huge difference in my own.

The most challenging?

The most challenging aspect of this job so far has been building a group of clients. Many people see massage therapy as a luxury purchase, and while it does seem luxurious to treat oneself to a massage, it is also much more than that. It can offer many people improved mental and physical health. My client base is slowly growing, though.

How do you differentiate yourself from your competition?

There are several places you can go in the area and you'll get a fabulous massage. What I'm doing differently is eliminating the need for you to go anywhere. I'll come to you! Why get dressed and navigate traffic and parking after your massage when you can simply slip into your bathrobe and go on about your day in the comfort of your own home? I tote my massage table from client to client.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into this line of work?

I would recommend attending a one-day massage exploration seminar at The Center For Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy in Albany. I can't say enough good things about the program there. The faculty is beyond amazing, and the program is expertly designed to prepare you for not only massage but also operating a business.

What's the best part about doing business in this area?

The best part about doing business in this area is the people! I've lived here for nearly 13 years now, and I've been very active in the community making many friends and connections. Oneonta is a great place to call home.

Shop Talk interviews are conducted by Cassandra Miller. For information, call The Daily Star at 432-1000, ext. 255, or email cmiller@thedailystar.com.