Nancy McDowell has never been one for the beaten path. The
daughter of two traveling missionaries, it took her awhile to put
down roots. It stands to reason that when she went into business,
McDowell chose not to spend her career sitting behind a desk.
Hollister – Nancy McDowell has never been one for the beaten path. The daughter of two traveling missionaries, it took her awhile to put down roots. It stands to reason that when she went into business, McDowell chose not to spend her career sitting behind a desk.
While the Wellness Clinic and Day Spa today is located on the corner of Sixth and Monterey streets, McDowell began her career performing facial massages at Nancy’s Beauty Salon in 1986. After almost 10 years, her operation was so successful that business required her to move into her own space.
“I was looking for an alternative way to get involved in the healing world,” she said.
McDowell began her training under Charlotte Holmes, a published doctor and nutritionist, and has continued her studies in the 20 years she’s been in business with specialists in alternative healing from around the world.
“To distinguish yourself in this business you need to know more than massage,” she said.
McDowell decided to focus on pain relief as a way to stand out from her competitors. She currently offers Acupressure, Deep Tissue Massage, Acutonics – a healing school that uses sound waves – and Ortho-Bionomy, a method that seeks to use the body’s tendency toward “self correction” to relieve pain.
While McDowell says that many of her customers still come in for more mundane spa treatments, like massage, microdermabrasion or FDA approved electrolysis, a whole new class of clientele is interested in her services.
“Fear of disease has really boosted interest in alternative healing,” she said. “Cancer is rampant. A lot of my clients come to me because they’ve tried every other avenue to manage their pain or sickness.”
McDowell sees an average of six to eight clients a day, though particularly busy spells can find her with up to 12 appointments.
“My work definitely energizes me,” she said. “I can go through a whole day and never realize I’m tired. Knowing that I’m going to help solve somebody’s problems is the greatest part of my job.”
It’s that energizing quality that will keep McDowell in the business for years to come. At 54, she’s still as enthused about her work as she was when she began learning in her twenties.
“You never stop learning bodywork,” she said. “It’s like studying piano. Just because you sit down for a lesson doesn’t mean you can play Mozart. It takes years of practice and experience. My work means I’m always being pushed to get closer to that ‘Mozart’.”
In her spare time, McDowell devotes herself to charity work, drawing on her background as a musician to organize benefit concerts, such as the United Way’s Christmas Show next Saturday.
“It started out as a way to make Christmas special and spiritual after 9/11” she said. “But now I really believe that it’s important to make Christmas special for the entire community, every year.”
McDowell can be reached at 637-6636 for more information either about her spa or the Christmas concert.
