Helping, caring and comforting others has been one of Julia Asino’s greatest passions.
After discovering that most people are not well informed about how to take care of their bodies and minds, especially in northern Namibia, she decided to study massage therapy to help her community.
Asino attended several training courses in massage, and she is now a qualified massage therapist and proud owner of Lia’s Relaxations Spa (LRS), situated at Cubita Guesthouse in Oshakati.
The 30-year-old told Youth Corner that massage businesses are very few in the northern areas – and since opening shop in December last year, the business has been blooming.
“Things weren’t easy at the beginning because I didn’t have a stationed place where I could run my business. But this didn’t stop me from moving forward. I started operating but on house calls only. This happened for about two months and later I got a place at Cubita Guesthouse,” she said.
Asino is happy the business is growing, and this gives her more courage to push harder every day. LRS offers, among others, deep tissue full body massages, relaxation massages, scalp massages, hot stone massages, facials and even talk therapy.
The NUST Business Administration graduate, who is also a part-time waitress and former entrepreneurship studies teacher, employs three people: a business marketer, who is also a videographer; a massage therapist assistant and a laundry lady.
She plans to open branches in other towns in the northern regions where there are no massage spas.
“The aim is to take the services closer to the community – mostly pensioners – and to also educate them on how important body massages are, especially those at risk of getting a stroke.”
Moreover, LRS is a dynamic business, and it also offers skin care products, such as facial scrubs, body oils and facial soaps – already out on the market.
For Asino, the most challenging situation is being a business person who is also an employee at the same time.
“This isn’t a walk in the park; the workload is a lot and time is not always enough to get all the work done on time. It requires a lot of hard work and commitment,” she admitted.
Asino is also eager to impart her knowledge to other young Namibians interested to enter the beauty industry, and advised them to not wait for the “right” time to come because it may never come.
“Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can to be where you want to be. Also, keep believing in yourself; it will carry you to greater heights. Let’s keep pushing until we make it.”
She can be reached on her social media at Lia’s Relaxations Spa.
- fhamalwa@nepc.com.na