Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1493440
S A N TA C R U Z S E N T I N E L . C O M 10 | 2022 READERS CHOICE AWARDS | FEBRUARY 26, 2023 Relax and Enjoy," says owner Melissa Santangelo. "It's not just a massage—it really is an experience. Also, if someone wants to change negative patterns, thoughts or heal from trauma, we can help! We are here for the community." Anji Rose first visited Spa Santangelo in 2016. "Since then, I have been going every month, sometimes even twice a month." She usually gets an 85-minute massage. "Melissa's healing touch has helped me to feel more embodied in general and more grounded and centered when I leave," she says. "She has an accurate sense of intuition when it comes to zeroing in on areas where I carry the most stress and tension in my body. I have called upon her services when I've been in pain where I could not function. She has helped alleviate my discomfort and helped create an energetic reset. The healing body work I receive at Spa Santangelo is part of my self-care regime and a foundational ingredient in my recipe for wellness." The roots of Spa Santangelo go back 20-plus years. In 2000, after leaving an abusive relationship, Melissa and her 5-year-old daughter were homeless. "Many wonderful locals gave us places to sleep," she says. "I was so grateful." Fortunately, she had a stable job as AR Credit and Collection Manager at a Milpitas company. She started taking a lunchtime yoga class offered at her office. "I fell in love with yoga. Meditation was the key element that helped me through that dark period," she says. "I felt deep inside that teaching yoga was calling." A local realtor helped her find a house, which is the site of her business and home today. "The property wasn't in great shape, but we were happy to just have a roof and a place that gave us peace." As a single mom working full-time, she took an online class and became certified for yoga and Pilates. Then she started teaching that same lunch-time class that had inspired her to change her life's path! Melissa soon felt like she wanted to work for herself. "Plus, the locals really took care of me when I was at rock bottom and rebuilding my life. I wanted a job where I could give love and support back to the community." She enrolled at Santa Cruz's Cypress Health Institute and graduated in 2003. She looked for places to teach yoga and do massage. "I didn't have much cash and couldn't find anything I could afford," she says. "One night I walked into my garage and realized it was the perfect space, with 690 square feet and six windows." She started by offering part-time massage and 10 fitness classes each week in her garage under the name Balance Studio (she later renamed it to Spa Santangelo; the name Santangelo means angel). In 2005, she realized her daughter was soon going to age out of after-school daycare. "I needed to start a career where I could be closer to her. Plus, there were rumors at work that layoffs were coming. I had to create a plan to keep our new home." She became the yoga teacher and massage therapist at The Camp Recovery Center in Scotts Valley, remaining there until 2011. "This supplemented my income and helped me get clients. At The Camp I saw clients for 30 days (the typical length of residential rehab). They often said, 'we wish we could take you home with us.' This sparked an idea." She started to record guided meditations, and now has several dozen available. Next, she filmed a yoga video and wrote "The Key to Life is Balance," a book and workbook. "Clients could take me home and stay on the program. I also continued from 8