HOOD RIVER — Rosy Villegas has always sought to help others. In the past, she’s worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, doula, and childcare provider.
Now, as certified massage therapist and bilingual owner of Serenity Massage Therapy, she’s helping people heal. While she named her business for the calm she brings to every session, getting there was a challenge.
“My first plan, since the very beginning, was to become a counselor for youth and women,” Villegas said.
But when she began taking classes during COVID, the timing was off — her youngest son, Mateo, was a baby and, though she tried to plan coursework around nap time, it never worked out. “I felt like I was paying to fail my class,” she said.
Then, out of nowhere, she began struggling with anxiety. Not wanting to go on medication, she began seeing local Massage Therapist Devery Brodie — now her mentor.
“That literally saved my life,” she said.
The path towards Serenity began once Mateo was ready for kindergarten. Having been a stay-at-home mom for five years — “a huge blessing” and “the hardest job anybody could do” — she felt ready to return to the workforce.
Her husband encouraged her to pick something that made her happy instead of pursuing a typical 9-5 job; during one of her sessions, Brodie suggested massage therapy as a possible career.
Thinking back to times she gave her parents or coworkers massages — and being told she was good at it — she decided to enroll in the six-month program at Gorge Academy of Cosmetology and Massage, located in The Dalles.
“I did it as a gift for myself for my birthday, to do something that I wanted, and also to show my children that anything is possible, at any age,” Villegas said.
She started on Aug. 26, 2024, the same day her children went back to school. The coursework was challenging, as was finding time to study while also tending to her family. She put in long days and late nights and, at times, wondered what she’d gotten herself into.
“But then I would literally look at my kids and be like, ‘Okay, I’m doing it to show them that this is possible, and it doesn’t matter what the challenges are,” she said.
Part of her coursework was creating a business plan. At first, she thought she would work in someone else’s studio to get a feel for it. But deep down, she knew she wanted to open her own place.
Certified Massage Therapist Rosy Villegas at work in her new studio, Serenity Massage Therapy, located on May Street in Hood River.
Víctor Mercado photo
That’s when she connected with Mendy Maccabee, a local ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. Maccabee not only offered Villegas a space in her building but allowed her to set up that space up prior to becoming licensed, free of charge.
“That was a huge blessing,” she said. “Since the beginning, I think [Maccabee] said something to me that was like, when she started here, she didn’t have the support, and she knew that I was able to do it and she wanted to support me, support women. And I was like, okay, she’s my type — I like to help others grow and become who they are meant to be [too].”
Villegas graduated from Gorge Academy in February and received her license in April. Many of her academy clients followed her to Serenity.
“I had already set up Serenity, and I was just waiting for my license to come in the mail,” she said. “The minute that I opened, I booked up that month within the week. And then the next month. And now, everybody knows that I am getting booked pretty fast, so they always try to book an appointment or two ahead.”
That client list has grown to more than 90, mostly thanks to word of mouth.
Someday, she’d like to have her own building and help other massage therapists like Maccabee helped her, as well as offer more services. She’d also like to hold anatomy classes and share stretches that can be done to prevent work injuries, especially to those working in the fruit industry.
“As Hispanics, we have the tendency to go to the sobadores, which are like healers,” she said — something akin to an unlicensed chiropractor and massage therapist. “I grew up going to them, because that’s where my dad would take us when we were playing sports.”
These healers are “super talented,” Villegas said, “but ever since I started seeing a lot of the Latino community, it’s been really nice to educate them that sometimes, just your wrist — that’s where you’re feeling pain, but it could be in your shoulder and it’s radiating down.”
As for her dream of helping other new massage therapists, that will happen sooner rather than later. Her younger sister, Victoria Valle, is currently enrolled in the program.
“The space that I have has two rooms … so I’m really excited that she jumped in and is doing this for herself,” Villegas said. “First of all, she’s a natural. I’m excited that she finishes in August, and then I’ll have my sister at Serenity, too.”
And she’s still not done planning what’s next for herself and Serenity. Next, she’d like to become a certified counselor.
“I’ve learned that during massage therapy, it’s such a vulnerable place for people to open up, and I would love to be licensed and be able to fully give that advice, because people do share so much,” she said.
Incidentally, the name “Serenity” came to her in a dream and got stuck in her head: She loved the idea of being the bringer of serenity to others. Further, the space brings her serenity, too.
“I go into my workplace, and it’s just serenity,” Villegas said.
For more information, Villegas can be reached at 541-399-1335; her office is located at 1784 B May St.
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