Sep. 10--Think of it as a one-stop shop for holistic healing.
That's what Lisa Vaz envisioned when she decided last year to launch Holistic Xchange, a full-service natural health clinic located in Merced's Bob Hart Square.
"I literally just woke up one day and said to myself, 'I'm going to do this,'" said Vaz, 27, who left a career as a loan officer to start the clinic. "I didn't know how I was going to do it, but I just knew I could."
Now approaching its one-year anniversary, Holistic Xchange employs 14 practitioners who specialize in massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, hypno-therapy and nutrition. The clinic also offers ancient Indian and Japanese treatments and classes in yoga, belly dancing and meditation.
"I'm a true believer in the holistic approach," Vaz said. "We don't do anything that doesn't have a solid, proven background."
Vaz launched the business last October. She started by renting a spacious downtown office overlooking the Bob Hart Square fountain. Then she began looking for holistic practitioners interested in signing on.
In December she added a partner to the business, Eric Benjamin, who also works at the clinic as a massage therapist. "I was in a little over my head with all the business stuff," Vaz acknowledged. "Eric knows that side of things inside and out."
Now Vaz and Benjamin manage the clinic together. Their business model helps all their practitioners keep their overhead costs low, Vaz said, because they all share one office, one receptionist and one computer network.
That helps keep their prices reasonable. An hourlong massage at Holistic Xchange costs $60; an acupuncture treatment is $65; unlimited yoga, belly dancing and meditation classes are $50 a month.
"This is a great place to work," said Barbara Hath, a certified massage therapist who joined the clinic in April. "I love the philosophy of having so many treatments and options available in one place. We can really work together to help people improve their health."
Michelle Galli stopped in to Holistic Xchange on Tuesday for an acupuncture treatment. "I started coming because of the tendinitis in my elbow," she said. "After two treatments, it was taken care of."
Holistic Xchange can help people without specific conditions, too, said James Amato, the clinic's chiropractor. "A lot of people don't know exactly what they need," he said. "We can help them figure that out. Even if it's just relaxation -- that can make a big difference."
Reporter Corinne Reilly can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or creilly@mercedsun-star.com.
Holistic Xchange
LOCATION: 510 W. Main St., Suite E
PHONE: (209) 726-9762
HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; any time, any day by appointment To see more of the Merced Sun-Star or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.mercedsunstar.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Merced Sun-Star, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 Merced Sun-Star, Calif.