Switching From High Stress Job To Relaxing Massage

Of course, Ralph Epifanio, a lifelong Park Ridge resident, was tranquil in the dimly-lit room with soothing music playing near the front of his Elements Therapeutic Massage business at 33 S. Northwest Highway.

No reason to emulate his former frenetic  job as a trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in these environs.

“I was sort of stressed out,” said Epifanio, who at one time suffered a minor stroke and was carried off the Merc’s trading floor.

He spoke in low-decibel fashion, almost putting a visitor in a relaxed state. After all, the space in which he was talking is his Tranquility Room, soon to be furnished with a couch and other accessories to help his customers peacefully transition back to their faster-paced lives after ungoing a massage.

“What I was noticing sitting up front as people were coming out were they were in a state of relaxation,” said Epifanio.  “More or less, it looks like they’ve had a few drinks. They had to sit down because they were a little unstable.  They’ve fallen asleep on the tables.

“We want to give them a place to relax where it’s not so bright walking out of the (massage) room.  And we want to keep them away from the hustle and bustle of the front lobby. They can stay as long as they like. Usually people just stick around five or 10 minutes to collect their thoughts.”

The Tranquility Room is the latest addition to Elements after Epifanio and Maine South buddy Tom Peters opened the business on June 16.  The partners have since hired 13 therapists, working out of eight massage rooms and serving some 160 members already.

Business achieves goals so far

“We’d like to be around 300 after one year, so we’re ahead of where we want to be,” Epifanio said.

Epifanio and Peters checked into new businesses like health clubs, hair salons and restaurants in recent years. Peters still works as a marketing director for a restaurant chain.  The pair looked at several Park Ridge locations before settling on the Northwest Highway storefront .  Interestingly, they set up next to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, whose sweet concoctions contain caffeine, having the opposite effect on the body as a massage.

“We felt health and wellness, because Baby Boomers are aging, would be a good avenue to take,” Epifanio said.  “We had no experience. We did research, and we didn’t need experience in it. All our therapists are licensed through the state of Illinois. “They’ve graduated from different massage therapy schools.”

Epifanio said walk-by traffic is big for business. Referrals also bring customers.

First-time patrons fill out an intake form and decide what kind of massage they want.

Typical is 55-minute session, including dressing and undressing.  The therapist will periodically ask how the pressure is and whether their expectations are being met.

Those who want regular sessions can pay $59 per month. If they cannot make it that month, the fee transfers to the next month.  Customers can upgrade from a 55-minute session to 80- and 110-minute sessions. They can add hot-stone therapy for minimal cost.

 “They all have their specialties from Swedish massage – which is light touch – to deep-tissue, pre-natal, sports massage, hot-stone massage,” Epifanio said of his therapists. “We try to customize  our massage for each person.”