Courtney Freitas, of Sequim, opened Peaceful Kneads Massage & Meditation in Carlsborg on Sept. 13. Sequim Gazette photo by Amanda Winters
The sound of ocean waves and sea gulls, a black-and-white picture of sailboats off a rocky coast, and the sea-colored hues paired with a wooden floor reflect Courtney Freitas’ love of the coast and her quest for serenity.
The name of her massage business, Peaceful Kneads, is an accurate description of the ambiance and action taking place at 22 Mill Road in Carlsborg.
A seventh generation
"Sequimmer" and 2005 graduate of Sequim High School, Freitas was born and raised in Sequim except for two "miserable" years her family lived in northern Michigan, she said. Her roots in the area are deep as a descendant of the Bekkevar and Lotzgezell pioneer families, she said.
"Why would I think I needed to be anywhere else?" she said.
Just down the highway from her parents’ log home business, Freitas opened her first massage business on Sept. 13.
Real estate to relaxation
After attending Peninsula College for two years, Freitas started working in real estate, she said.
The industry was high-stress, especially as the market began its downturn, and she started getting regular massages to help her relax, she said.
She decided to start attending the Port Townsend School of Massage in September 2008. Two months later she was laid off from
her real estate job and began attending the massage school full time.
"I was amazed at how in-depth you needed to go with anatomy and physiology," she said.
Massage is about more than just rubbing people, she said, it has medical benefits and massage therapists must have medical knowledge to make it happen.
She graduated from the school in December 2009.
Medical benefits
All patients must fill out a medical form listing past injuries, conditions, surgeries and medications, she said. She teams up with insurance companies and other medical practitioners to provide treatment to her patients.
"Just because it’s a pampering treatment doesn’t mean it’s not medically effective," she said.
Her goal as a massage therapist is to help people achieve inner peace to promote healing within their bodies.
Freitas specializes in wellness treatment, Swedish relaxation, deep tissue, hot stone and prenatal massage. Also a midwifery student, Freitas said she hopes to combine her massage and midwifery training in the future to provide prenatal care.
For more information, go to www.peacekneads.com or call Freitas at 461-9404.
Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.
