Healing Hands Hold Down St. Michael Business

For more than a two decades, Kimbery Carlson drove routes for the United States Postal Service in the Twin Cities’ northwest suburbs.

She thought she was happy, working along with her best friend, plugging away in a job that provided financial security and a well-known pension if she reached retirement.

Except, she wasn’t happy.

After getting passed over for a promotion for the second time, Carlson started to look elsewhere.

She found massage.

She took courses, and worked on the side. She kept it up for about 10 years, balancing her newfound specialty and her longtime job.

Until another promotion came, and she was skipped again.

“I quit,” she said with a smile. “People don’t quit those jobs. That’s what they count on. But I was really happiest when I could do therapy. And quitting freed me up to do more of this.”

The U.S. Postal Service’s loss is St. Michael’s gain, as Carlson now runs from her home at 205 County Road 119 in St. Michael.

The house, which she purchased in 2002, is custom-made for this. The basement has its own entrance, and a bedroom has been converted into a therapy room, complete with table, oils and a sound system.

Nearby, there’s a small workout room and a dry sauna, for those who want a bit of extra work.

“I specialize in the relief of muscle-related pain,” she said. “So this is just much more than relaxing. It’s about getting people to feel well again.”

With people sitting in front of computers for 8 to 10 hours per day, or working on construction sites, or even carrying trays in a restaurant, all sorts of work-related injuries and ailments can happen.

That’s where therapeutic massage steps in, Carlson said.

“The majority of people who come to see me are in some sort of pain. They’re here to feel better. I have really strong hands, and I take a lot of training, and I try to get people to feel better than they’ve felt in a long time.”

Some techniques she can use include hot stones, deep tissue massage and, yes, Swedish, if you just need to work out those muscle kinks. 

Another thing that makes Carlson unique? Those one-hour sessions are actually 60 minutes long.

“I never got that,” she said with a laugh. “How does 50 minutes equal an hour? Not here. You pay for 60 minutes and that’s what you get.”

Carlson said St. Michael has been a great city to work with when it comes to setting up her small business, and her neighbors also have been cooperative. It helps, she said, that she’s nearly on a full-acre lot, and there’s ample parking for clients.

“We don’t usually have more than two or three cars here at a time, so it’s not really a big deal,” she said.

Customers have left pleased.

“The quality of massage is hands-down the best. [She does] deep tissue message working in the areas needed, and makes sure others are good as well. You will receive a great message for minimal cost in comparison to others and for a longer amount of time,” said Corey, a patient from Big Lake, in a testimonial to Carlson.

Carlson’s website details her full range of services, and you can even download forms for an appointment.

“I love it here,” she said. “St. Michael’s been a really good community for business.”