We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monica Kenyon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monica below.

Hi Monica , thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Coming up with the company name of UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa was an evolution. Originally the name was Body Mechanix, then simply U N W I N D, and then UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa. Body Mechanix worked because we were both working with spa specialists who use body mechanics in their own bodies to perform services and they are body mechanics for clients and their bodies. However, UNWIND came to me one day when I was receiving body work and it just felt right! It evolved into UNWIND Mobile Massage & Spa so that people would know more about UNWIND.

Monica , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I was a kid (age 6), I was hanging from my knees on my monkey bars and when I dismounted I forgot to put my arm down and landed straight on my head. This led to chiropractor visits and my getting to understand the body in more detail at a young age. I also really enjoyed giving & receiving massages as my brother and I would trade each other for massages quite often as young kids. My life took many detours and then brought me back to massage and bodywork. When I first started UNWIND, I thought of only massage and then realized that ALL touch can be healing and added more services. Today we have a team of Spa Specialists who offer a wide range of services which include: Massage, Manicures, Pedicures, Facials, Henna Art, Tarot Readings, Joyous Dance, Guided Meditation, Yoga, Chair Massage & Sound Baths. We help people create parties with Spa Party Services, events with Event Spa Services, Corporate Wellness with Office Spa Services, and individual in-home Mobile Massage Services. I have been connecting Spa Specialists with people for over 20 years now and still love hearing about how good people feel after receiving spa services!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Starting a new career with zero experience in the industry was a challenge.  I am grateful for having the skills of an AD as I knew how to manage a team, problem solve, communicate with people and be persistent.  I thought that I had a built-in clientele because I planned to cater to film and television productions and, at the time, I’d been working in that world for 10 years so I knew producers & production coordinators who would want these services for their crews.   I quickly learned that my plan was not in alignment with he Universes plan for me when I was turned down be every producer and coordinator that I contacted.  Being turned down by people that I had given my blood, sweat and tears to for a decade was a huge reality check and gave me the opportunity to practice resilience. I started attending networking groups and chamber of commerce meetings and learned that there is more to Los Angeles than the film industry.

When I became truly willing to let go of the film industry and all that came with it, everything fell into place.  I put together a first-class team of spa specialists and opened myself up to explore new avenues. I have had the honor of working with boutique hotels, human resource directors, wedding coordinators, PTA groups, large corporations, small startups, event planners and people from all walks of life!

I’ve learned many lessons along my journey and the one that has been most helpful is that life and business are both about being flexible.  Being able to take action in one direction and having the willingness to see the unexpected opportunities that arise as gifts and new learning experiences.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I had to unlearn was the belief that “Hard Work Is the Key to Success”. I worked hard for many years and it was literally almost the death of me. Ten years into having UNWIND, I attempted suicide and almost succeeded. I was caught up in working hard and my life was passing me by. I was not participating in the journey. After my attempt, I took a full year to reimagine my life. I began to connect with my inner knowing, and I learned new ways to handle life with the highs and lows that are a part of it. Yes, working toward a goal is a process but it does not have to be HARD. So many people in this world are praised for being hard workers and to me, it is more important to work smart and to live a well-balanced life. Practicing positive thinking, patience, acceptance, love, understanding  and being open to new possibilities is allowing me to live a life that is peaceful, happy, fun and filled with love.

Contact Info:

• Website: UNWINDmobileSpa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unwindmobilemassagespa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNWIND.MobileMassageSpa/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNWINDmobilespa
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/unwind-mobile-massage-and-spa-los-angeles
• Other: https://members.laglcc.org/list/member/unwind-mobile-massage-spa-6637