The Serene Spot was established in 2013 after I graduated from a two year massage program.
From the moment I enrolled in school, I knew I wanted to work for myself and create a business where a session was designed to the clients needs. Having never set foot in a massage business or spa and never having received a professional massage nor having any business experience, I continued to learn all I could to make this dream possible. I continued to work the night shift full time at the United States Postal Service distribution center alongside with my husband and one night brainstorming we came up with the name. People often think it's ‘The Serene Spa,’ but the fact is I didn't want to use the word “spa” because it sounded too fancy and common so “The Serene Spot” was born.
The minute my massage license and insurance arrived I set out to find a small studio, “if you build it they will come” so I thought, lol. While still working full time at the post office, I slowly built up enough clientele to resign that September and focus on growing The Serene Spot. I figured if I can at least have enough clients to pay the rent, I am good! You know, working for free just like millions of entrepreneurs- that was me. This was by far the hardest thing I had ever decided to do, and here I thought it was hard going to school in the evening, working overnight and sleeping while kids were in school hoping that would be enough. I believe wholeheartedly that God had blessed me with intuitive touch and I needed to keep the faith to see it through.
One year later, I moved to a two room location and two years after that I moved to a three room location. As fate will have it, during the pandemic while mandated to be shut down by the state, I signed a 5 year lease at our current location where we now have 5 treatment rooms, a retail area and employ five Massage Therapists. Coincidentally, this location was in my business plan back in 2016 in my “write it down and make it plain” Habakkuk 2:2-3. Back then, it would have taken around 100k conservatively to get the unit outfitted for the needs of the business. Fast forward to 2020, a unit available in the building had been built out already and we made it our home despite what people thought of the industrial look of the building. The building has a lot of history in New Haven and we love and enjoy having the many other fitness businesses as our neighbors.
There were many sacrifices along the way to get the business to this level, many sleepless nights, lots of sweat, blood and tears for sure, but I would definitely do it all over again. It is very gratifying to work in a field where we serve clients who trust us on an intimate level with services that help them with their wellness goals. Over the last few years we have expanded from massage to esthetics and recovery and look forward to serving the community around us for years to come.
Anaika Ocasio
.png)
.jpg)
