Jennifer Brennan is the owner of Much Kneaded Wellness. She has been a massage therapist and reiki practitioner for 17 years and decided to expand her wellness center in January of 2020. Little did she know that when signed the lease on a larger space for her massage business, it would be a week before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down everything.
Brennan started Much Kneaded Wellness by renting a room from local chiropractor, Dr. Brian Hollander, on Hazel Terrace for five years. She wanted to grow and open a wellness center and she wanted to stay in Woodbridge where she had already built a reputation and felt that there was room for the wellness market to grow. A friend alerted her to 1,000 square feet of available space at 214 Amity Rd.
The pandemic was a scary time for small business owners, let alone investing in and building a new space. “As a single mom trying to start a business, I had a minor meltdown when the pandemic hit,” Brennan said. She took the opportunity to rebrand her business and prepare for the renovations. Thankfully, unemployment checks kept her afloat during the downturn. She was able to invest all of her stimulus checks to pay for her to create four treatment rooms to create the wellness center. Brennan utilizes one treatment room and rents out the other three. There are now 7 other women-owned businesses sharing the space. Most have full-time jobs and having a space at the wellness center makes it easier to start and grow their business. Brennan says she doesn’t want clients to see her because she is their only option but because they are the best fit to the way she practices massage and reiki.
Much Kneaded Wellness’s new space officially opened in September of 2020, while Brennan continued to update the space up until now, which is now close to how she envisioned it. The rooms are relaxing with soft colors, plush rugs, comfortable furniture and bohemian touches. There is also a small space for local vendors who sell through Venmo.
Businesses sharing the space include Tahinee Sanchez, LE Venus Holistic Esthetics; Nicole Sanchez, LMT -Oasis Healing Arts; Kelly King, LMT - Kelly King LMT; Shannon Preuss, LMT, LE - Transitions Massage and Skincare; Amanda Grant, Mandy’s Massage; Solmarie Santiago & Agosto-Polnett, Body Contouring - Solei Body Contouring Spa.
The practitioners all have different schedules, so although there is always activity the space never feels busy.
Brennan is a huge advocate of self-care and self-love. Through her massage and reiki practice she is able to create an environment that encourages such. “Wellness is so needed right now. What better time than during a time when people are struggling? I love working with caregivers as clients” Brennan said. “I enjoy taking care of people who are taking care of others and holding space for them. It's so fulfilling to be able to help people improve their quality of life.”
Much Kneaded Wellness offers deep tissue; Swedish; couples; craniosacral; couples; hot stone and prenatal massage; reiki; cupping; and localized chronic pain care plus waxing and facials. There are complimentary CBD applications with massages for those who want it.
Brennan specializes in deep tissue massage and pain relief, especially relieving neck pain.
Much Kneaded Wellness is currently offering a holiday special: Buy two hours of massage and get a third for free, to be redeemed after New Year’s.
Much Kneaded Wellness is open Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 6 pm and Saturday 10 – 3 pm. Visit https://www.muchkneadedwellness.com/ for more details.
Pictured L to R: Kelly King, Jennifer Brennan, Tahinee Sanchez