You may have noticed that Fount of Wellness is LGBTQIA+ friendly. But what does that actually mean?

For me, it means something pretty simple: you are welcome here.

It means I want to work with all kinds of people, from all kinds of backgrounds, at all different stages of life. I understand that sometimes we are figuring things out. Sometimes we are changing. Sometimes our bodies, identities, beliefs, relationships, or circumstances don’t look the same as they did a year ago, or even a month ago.

And that’s okay.

I don’t believe you have to have everything figured out before you deserve to feel comfortable in your own body.

I also know that people are different. We have different bodies, different beliefs, different identities, different experiences, and different stories. None of those differences make you less deserving of kindness, respect, or care.

That’s why I want everyone who walks into my massage room to feel welcome on my table.

At Fount of Wellness, you don’t have to worry about being judged for your size, your appearance, your gender, your sexuality, your religion, or simply being yourself. My job is not to decide whether your life makes sense to me. My job is to care for you.

That’s also why you’ll see this message pinned on my Facebook page:

All sizes.
All colors.
All genders.
All religions.
All types.
All people.
Every body.

It’s not just a marketing statement. It’s genuinely how I want to practice massage.

I know that living in a smaller community like Fort Smith, Arkansas can sometimes make it difficult to know where you will truly be accepted for who you are. Finding a business where you can walk through the door without wondering whether you’ll be judged, misunderstood, or treated differently shouldn’t be something you have to stress about.

So I want to make this very clear:

At Fount of Wellness, you will be welcomed.

You will be treated with respect.

You will be cared for.

And you don’t have to change who you are before you come through my door.

We’re all on different journeys. We all carry different things with us. But underneath all of those differences, we’re all human beings who deserve to feel safe, respected, and cared for.

That’s what I want Fount of Wellness to be.

A place where you can take a breath, let your shoulders drop, and simply be yourself for a while.

Exactly as you are.

When was the last time you actually relaxed?

Not sat on the couch while scrolling your phone.

Not watched TV while answering emails.

Not lay in bed while thinking about everything you need to do tomorrow.

I mean actually relaxed.

It seems like we’re surrounded by reasons not to.

Constant notifications. Constant advertising. Constant information. Constant work. Constant demands from other people. Even when nobody is actively asking anything of us, our phones are right there, ready to deliver the next message, headline, email, video, or reminder.

We’re always reachable.

And sometimes, when we finally get a moment to sit down, our bodies may be still but our brains certainly aren’t.

The grocery list.

Tomorrow’s appointments.

The thing you forgot yesterday.

The text you haven’t answered.

The email you need to send.

The notification on your phone.

The thing you saw online five minutes ago.

Did I lock the door?

You know what I mean.

Maybe you’re not bad at relaxing.

Maybe you’re just used to being “on.”

Our bodies have systems designed to respond to stress and perceived threats. When we’re stressed, our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and other physiological processes can change as our bodies prepare to respond.

Relaxation is, in part, about giving the body an opportunity to move in the other direction—to settle.

Massage may be one way to create that opportunity.

Research on massage therapy has found reductions in things like state anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure following massage, and some research has observed physiological changes associated with relaxation.

That doesn’t mean massage is a treatment for anxiety disorders, and it certainly doesn’t mean one massage magically “resets” your nervous system.

But it does suggest something much simpler:

There may be value in giving yourself an hour to stop.

An hour without your phone.

An hour without someone asking you for something.

An hour where you don’t have to accomplish anything.

An hour where you can simply lie down, breathe, and let someone else take care of you for a little while.

And maybe that’s why I don’t think of massage as an indulgence.

We tend to think of self-care as something extra. Something we earn after everything else is finished.

But what if taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be a reward for finally getting everything done?

What if it can simply be part of taking care of yourself?

Massage has been used as a form of therapeutic touch for a very long time. Modern research is still working out exactly why massage can produce the effects people experience, and the evidence isn’t perfect or universal.

But you don’t need a scientific explanation for every moment of your experience to recognize that sometimes it feels really good to stop.

To be quiet.

To be warm.

To be cared for.

To not be needed for an hour.

At Fount of Wellness, my goal isn’t to teach you how to relax.

Maybe you don’t need to get better at relaxing.

Maybe you just need a place where you feel comfortable enough to unplug for an hour.

And if you happen to fall asleep on my table?

I’ll take that as a compliment.

I’m Heather Mondier, a licensed massage therapist and the person behind Fount of Wellness.

I’m also about to turn 40, which feels a little surreal to say. I’m married, I have three beautiful kids, and I grew up right here in Fort Smith. This community has been home for a long time, and I’m really grateful to be building something here.

I’ve also been through some things.

I’ve had major weight loss surgery. I’ve spent time in the hospital for my mental health. I’ve had seasons where life felt really hard and I wasn’t quite sure how to find my way back to myself.

Why tell you that?

Not because any of those things make me a better massage therapist. They don’t.

I tell you because I’m a person, just like you. I know what it feels like to have a lot going on, to feel disconnected from yourself, and to need somewhere you can just be for a little while.

That’s a big part of what I believe massage can offer.

You don’t have to come to me with a perfect reason for being there. You don’t have to be a certain kind of person. You don’t have to have your life together.

You can just show up as yourself.

Everyone is welcome here.

Massage is a vulnerable experience. You’re trusting someone with your body, your personal space, and often a little bit of your vulnerability too.

Because of that, I want Fount of Wellness to be a place where you feel welcome regardless of your background, identity, age, body, or circumstances.

If there’s something I can know that would help you feel more comfortable, please tell me. That might be the name you’d like me to use, your pronouns, how you’d like to be addressed, or simply something that would make your experience feel a little easier.

You don’t owe me an explanation. Just tell me what you’d like me to know, and I’ll do my best to make you feel comfortable and respected.

I’m also actively looking for ways to support my community through massage and make Fount of Wellness a place where more people feel like they belong.

I don’t have everything figured out. I’m still learning, growing, and figuring things out just like everyone else.

But I know this much:

You are welcome here.

Come as you are. I’ll meet you there.

If you’ve never had a massage before, you might have a few questions. What do I wear? Do I have to take everything off? Can I talk? Am I supposed to be quiet? What if I need to use the bathroom? What if I fall asleep?

You’re not the only one wondering. So here’s everything you need to know before you walk through the door.

Arrival

You can arrive 5–10 minutes early for your appointment. Park in the private parking lot outside the building and enter Rejuvenate.

There’s no need to dress up or wear anything special. Just come as you are.

You also have the option to take your shoes off when you come in. Welcome in!

I’ll show you to the treatment room and we’ll talk for a moment about your massage, how you’re feeling that day, and what you need.

What if I don’t know what I need?

That’s okay!

You don’t have to walk in knowing exactly what kind of massage you want or be able to name every muscle that’s bothering you. We’ll talk about how you’re feeling that day, and I’ll help you figure out what makes sense.

You don’t have to have all the answers before you arrive.

Undressing

You’ll be covered with a sheet and blanket throughout your massage. I only uncover the area I’m actively working on, and everything else stays covered.

“Undress to your comfort level” simply means that you can leave your underwear on if you prefer. It’s about half and half what people choose to do, so there’s no right or wrong choice and you definitely don’t need to feel weird about it.

If you’re wearing a bra, please remove it so I can have full access to your back.

I will only uncover the area I’m working on and recover it when I’m finished. At no point will anyone “see you naked.”

And your toes don’t have to be done. Your legs don’t have to be shaved. You don’t need to look a certain way or prepare yourself before you come in.

Just come as you are.

Is the table sturdy enough for me?

Yes.

My massage table has a weight capacity of 550 lbs. If you’ve ever worried about whether the table can accommodate you, you don’t need to.

What happens once I’m ready?

I have a little doorbell on one of the table legs. Once you’re ready for me to enter, simply press the button and I’ll come in.

You’ll start facedown with your forehead resting on the headrest. I’ll apply some of my massage oil and begin the massage. We’ll focus on your back for the first 20 minutes or so.

Can I talk? Can it be silent?

Whatever you need that day, I’m here for it.

If you’re looking for an hour of quiet, it’s simple. We’ll just do the massage and not talk. Silence in this setting is completely normal. You don’t have to keep a conversation going just because we’re in the same room.

But if you’re feeling like socializing during your massage, by all means. I’m here for that too.

You’re allowed to talk. You’re allowed to be quiet. You’re allowed to change your mind halfway through.

What if something doesn’t feel right?

Please say something.

You can always ask for more pressure, less pressure, a different technique, a temperature adjustment, or a change in position. If something doesn’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to just put up with it.

You never need to apologize for asking for what you need.

What happens when I turn over?

When it’s time to flip over and scoot down, I’ll let you know.

I’ll secure the sheet and blanket around you so you can turn over without anything showing. You don’t have to figure out the logistics on your own. I’ll walk you through it.

We’ll start at the head and neck and work our way down the body, again only uncovering the parts that I’m working on at the time.

Once we reach the feet, I’ll grab some hot towels and wrap your feet in them. We’ll end the session with a relaxing foot massage.

What if I need to use the bathroom?

Just let me know!

You can pause the massage and take care of whatever you need. There’s no need to try to hold it for the rest of the appointment.

What if I fall asleep?

Then you fell asleep. 😂

That’s not a problem at all. In fact, I’ll probably take it as a compliment.

When the massage is finished

I’ll let you know the massage is finished and give you some privacy to get dressed.

Once you’re ready, we’ll meet back in the front and you can take care of payment. I accept cash or card.

And that’s it.

There’s no test. No right way to receive a massage. No expectation that you’ll know exactly what to do.

Just come as you are, tell me what you need, and let me take care of the rest.