Ruden's massage therapy flourishing in downtown Le Mars

(Sentinel photo by Amy Erickson) Shel Ruden, owner of Heavenly Healing, moved her massage therapy business, which she started in her home in 2008, into downtown Le Mars late this summer. [Click to enlarge]

Licensed massage therapist Shel Ruden, owner of Heavenly Healing Massage Therapy, said she might be able to help.

Heavenly Healing settled into its new digs in downtown Le Mars at, 109 Plymouth St. N.W., Aug. 1.

(Sentinel photo by Amy Erickson) Shel Ruden, a licensed massage therapist, offers specialized services like Hot Stone Therapy, which involves the use of heated stones laid on the body, in addition to massage at her business Heavenly Healing. She moved her business to downtown Le Mars in August. [Click to enlarge]

Le Mars natives, Ruden and husband, Kyle, have two daughters, Nikki, 19 and Brittani, 17.

Licensed since 1997, Ruden said she wanted to build up her massage clientele, after starting her business at home in October 2008, before moving downtown.

"It's gone quite well down here," Ruden said. "I came down here with 40 (clients) and now I have close to 100."

Ruden offers more services now like Hot Stone Therapy, which involves the use of heated stones laid on the body, and Ionic Cell Detox, which pulls toxins from the body through pores in the feet.

Ruden said specialized therapies like those and massage can be used to treat many health conditions, from helping with anxiety and insomnia to relieving headache pain and sinus pressure.

"Massage is not just a luxury. It is a beneficial therapy for the body," Ruden said. "People lack education on massage therapy."

She also uses aromatherapy and makes her own lotions, bubble baths and bath salts.

Ruden takes detailed medical histories on her clients, charts their sessions, determines individual therapeutic massage treatment plans and follows up after appointments.

Ruden's always had a medical background from when she started nursing school, changed to physical therapy, but decided it took too long to get into that program, and she switched to massage therapy.

"I like my job. I like my clients," Ruden said of being a massage therapist. "I use my medical background to educate my clients."

She also empathizes with many of her clients' problems.

"I know what it's like having headaches and backaches," Ruden said. "It makes you want to help people because you know what they are going through."

Ruden said people should have a massage once a month because it may be the only time they step away from the craziness of life and really relax.

"It's a good way to deal with daily stressors," Ruden said. "It's good for your health in general."