GIFT OF MASSAGE LEADS TO NEW CAREER

Two years ago at Christmas, Kelly Hartmann's husband, Keith, gave her a gift certificate for a massage.

It was something Kelly had always wanted and admits she might have left hints for Keith, who manages the Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

That first massage hooked Kelly.

In fact, that gift certificate has turned into a career change for Kelly, who later commuted to St. Louis to study massage at Dr. Boyer's School of Massage Therapy.

And last January, she completed the 100-hour program and became a certified massage therapist. A month later she was working part time as a massage therapist at the Universal Health & Fitness Center.

It took Kelly another six months to move from her main job as a child support case investigator for the county prosecutor to do massage therapy full time.

That's where the story starts, because Kelly Hartmann has passed on the gift of massage. In June, she gave a birthday gift certificate for a massage to Linda Hodges, who baby-sits Kelly's 4-year-old daughter, Abby.

Linda had never had a massage and was skeptical. Kelly and Linda talked, and with Kelly's prodding Linda had her first massage.

There aren't many people who, after their first massage, don't come back for more, Kelly says.

"It's a wonderful gift," Linda says, and after the first massage she wanted a massage all the time.

She has become a regular client of Kelly's -- for 30 minutes Wednesday nights at 8. Linda says her massage breaks up her week.

For Linda there are sacrifices to having a massage Wednesday nights. She often comes home so relaxed that she misses her favorite television show, "Law and Order."

It's worth it, she says. It's a time to do something for her and a time to have someone else do something for her.

Following the massage, she goes home, takes a bath to relax more. "And then it's lights out," she says. "It does help you."

Universal offers three lengths of massages. The 15-minute massage is usually done with the client clothed. The therapist massages the back, arms and hands. The 30-minute massage is a quick full-body massage and includes work on the legs, back, arms, scalp and face. The hourlong massage is a longer, full-body massage, with about 20 minutes of work on the back.

Kelly suggests the first massage be an hour one, because it takes about 20 minutes to overcome the initial apprehension and to relax and enjoy the massage.

Clients have different preferences to style of massage. Some like the kneading -- the use of the fingers on the body. Others like the long strokes -- use of the palms. Still others are divided over heavy or light pressure. Heavy pressure involves the use of the forearm, thumbs, palms; light pressure is a lighter stroke with the hands.

Linda likes the deeper pressure.

The massage relieves stress and tension, relaxes muscles and helps circulation. Linda says she needs that relief from the tension of having eight preschoolers to care for each day.

Kelly says some doctors recommend their patients get massages, and some of her clients are doctors.

But Kelly has also had other clients. A woman who had slept wrong one night, had a massage from Kelly and left feeling better.

Another client had been in a motorcycle wreck and was stiff and sore from the accident. He came in for a massage to relieve some of the soreness.

Prior to each massage, Kelly prepares the massage room -- turns on the music, puts clean linen on the table, turns on the heat to the table and dims the lights. It sets the mood. Scented candles are optional.

Linda, who grew up in Robertsdale, Ala., near Mobile and near the Gulf of Mexico, especially likes the music and scented candles. She says the ocean music makes her think of the beach and home.

The time on the massage table for Linda is a time to forget about everything. It's a way to unwind from the day's tensions.

Kelly has about 15 regular -- once a week or once a month -- clients. Between her and Annette Stiff, the other massage therapist at Universal, they have about 50 clients.

Kelly has about as many men clients as women clients. Annette, who has been a therapist for six years, says she has more men clients.

Two benefits of massage are they make people feel good; they make people feel pampered.

Linda has decided to pass along some of that pampering. She has given a massage gift certificate as a birthday present to a friend.

Kelly might be getting some new business.