Golden Bloom Massage Therapy brings healing touch to Orrville

Cassandra McCloud is happy she found Orrville, even if it was almost by accident. Now she hopes Orrville will find her, and on purpose would be just fine.

McCloud, who currently calls Apple Creek home, recently opened Golden Bloom Massage Therapy. The one-woman shop, located inside Concepts Hair Design on South Crown Hill Road, wound up in Orrville because of a recommendation by Dr. Sean Camp, a chiropractor in town whose wife happens to own Concepts Hair Design.

McCloud was cold-calling chiropractic practices when she ran into Camp and told him she was looking to get her business inside a salon.

“I just had this idea that I wanted to be inside a hair salon,” she said. “I don’t know why.”

McCloud has spent the last five-plus years as a massage therapist, all in the Philadelphia area. Her entire family hails from Eastern Pennsylvania. When her sister married someone from the Wayne County area and headed this way, McCloud followed them.

While getting her business off the ground has been a struggle, adjusting to the Midwest speed of life has suited her just fine.

“I never expected to be here,” she said. “I’m actually really loving it. I love all the farmland and all the nature. It’s been nice.”

A graduate of the Academy of Massage Therapy and Body Works in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, McCloud offers Reiki, Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, trigger-point therapy, myofascial therapy and prenatal massage.

Also the owner of a degree in psychology from Messiah University, she worked with children for several years before looking for a new career path.

She said she has honed her craft based on client needs — and that includes herself in the client role.

“The most special thing about my style of massage is I really care about being intentional and being present in every session,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of massages as a client where the person is just trying to get through their shift. My style is like a lot of slower strokes. I like really relaxing massages.”

She also follows the customer’s lead in terms of interaction. Some recipients like to talk. Others prefer quiet relaxation. McCloud won’t be the one breaking that silence.

“I definitely don’t talk first,” she said. “I have some clients who like to talk; you can just never tell. With others I never say anything other than to check the pressure. I will definitely talk back to them if they want me to.”

McCloud has 13 available spots throughout the week, with Thursday, Friday and Sunday off. Those interested in booking can visit www.goldenbloommassage.com. Right now on her website, she is offering a 50% discount for new clients, applicable to any service.