Unbalanced body posture can lead to pain.
Through massage therapy, Ericca Christianson, founder of Balance and Bloom Wellness, uses a holistic approach to help clients alleviate pain while achieving physical balance and mental well-being.
“People come to me unbalanced. I balance them out, and then they bloom afterward,” said Ms. Christianson.
Balance and Bloom Wellness, 5445 Southwyck Blvd., aims to be a premier destination for therapeutic bodywork and holistic health while redefining wellness with a personalized approach to pain relief, stress reduction, and enhanced physical performance, she said.
An experienced licensed massage therapist, Ms. Christianson, 30, took her knowledge and certifications garnered from the massage therapy program at Orion Institute in Perrysburg and combined it with eight years of experience in local spas, to create a space where clients can find balance, relief, restoration and recovery.
“When people are unbalanced, some are shrugged over, or they’re limping because their hip hurts. Or they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, my lower back hurts’ because they’re unproportioned,” she said.
Unbalanced posture can stem from overuse or underuse of muscles, repetitive motions, injuries, genetics, poor ergonomics, and other lifestyle choices, she said.
“Some people wait till the last minute where they’re in dire pain, and go either to a chiropractor or for a massage. And if that helps release some of the pain, they’ll come more consistently,” Ms. Christianson said. “Then, when they leave, they stand up straighter, and just feel a lot better.”
Steve Hartman, a senior technician at Got2BPro, a skilled handyman service in Toledo, became a regular client after receiving deep tissue massage therapy.
“I do some hands-on work as well as a lot of repairs and I run our professional spray division of our company, so my muscles tighten and cramp up to the point where I can hardly move,” he said.
“When I first came, it was bad — my fingers, every day, would go numb. And, finally, after the second treatment, is when I could feel my fingers again,” he said. “I have to come regularly — about every four weeks because if I don’t, I can’t function.”
Over the last four years, the therapy has made a tremendous impact on his pain management, he said.
“I did deep tissue on his arms to release the muscles, because sometimes when you’re that tight, the muscles can block blood flow,” Ms. Christianson said. “So, getting that all released helps the blood flow and the feeling comes back.”
While the business launched in 2020, it recently announced its rebranding from Maluhia Massage to Balance and Bloom Wellness, a name that represents growth, renewal, and a fresh vision while inspiring clients to “find their balance and let themselves bloom,” she said.
The spa offers a range of services for those looking to enhance their mobility, recover from injuries, or simply achieve a deeper state of relaxation.
Massage therapies include Swedish, couples, hot stone, sports, therapeutic, and lymphatic, to name a few. Those looking to improve circulation can opt for cupping massage, a technique that involves placing cups on the skin and creating suction.
The business recently expanded its services to include red light therapy. While research is ongoing, low levels of red light reportedly improves the skin’s appearance, as well as treats other medical conditions like eczema, psoriasis, alopecia and wound healing, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“It helps with a positive attitude. And it gets down to a cellular level and helps increase healing, helps prevent chronic diseases — and helps with anti-aging,” Ms. Christianson said.
Jackelyn Lee, 31, owns and operates a property management and remodeling company. The busy mother of a 1-year-old has participated in prenatal massage and red light therapy, touting how it positively affects her mental health by promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
“Being unbalanced is more of a mental load,” she said. “I’m a younger female, and I work at a desk, so I am hunched over. A lot of the time we get the mental load that we carry not only as business owners, but as mothers, and just as people in society, and it makes us feel unbalanced.”
Ms. Lee said the experience helped her recognize that her physical and mental health are deeply interconnected.
“Sometimes I don’t even know how unbalanced I am until I lay on the table and all this stress kind of just comes out,” Ms. Lee said.
For more information, visit balanceandbloomwell.com.
First Published March 24, 2025, 11:25 a.m.
