Renew Wellness Center is the new business on the block in Winkler after holding their grand opening last weekend.

The business idea came from Crystal Thiessen, a local Remedial Massage Therapist (RMT) that just graduated from the distance education program in June.

For others from the Pembina Valley learning in this program, she saw a need to "have a local option for students to do their clinic practical hours. I wanted to be able to offer that for students."

Thiessen's mother and massage guinea pig, Betty Hiebert says, taking care of your aches and pains makes it easier to concentrate on other important things in life, and helps with mental and physical health.

"I'm very excited for Crystal. She's been wanting this for a long time and waited until her kids were all in school to go back and get her own education and start this business," Hiebert remarks.

Crystal Thiessen.

Jen Clayton and Jessica Hammer are also RMTs working out of Renew and partnered with Thiessen on her mission to open up rural clinic opportunities for students.

Liz Mitchell is one of those students who have a history of working in kitchens, factories, and other jobs that require heavy lifting.

"I felt I needed to come into something that was less difficult for the body. I'm up there in age, I'm not a young chick anymore, so I wanted to take this into retirement . . . Having five grandchildren, the oldest one has kind of journeyed through the anatomy end of massage therapy along with me, so we get to learn together which is really cool."

Mitchell says that growing up she would give massages to her mother who encouraged her to become a massage therapist.

"Growing older I was going to see a massage therapist . . . I booked an appointment with her and told her it wasn't a typical appointment. I wanted her down on the table so that I could give her a massage to tell me whether it was worth my while to come into this profession. When we were done she said 'go for it.'"

She has one more year of school and is excited to work together with people like chiropractors, doctors, and physiotherapists, to take care of people's health.

Thiessen adds that seeing all the pieces fall into place has been very exciting. "It's a dream come true after all the planning and hard work, and all the support that I've had from my family and friends. It's just amazing to see this become a reality."