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Sarah Bonner
Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage

When Sarah Bonner started up the Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage, she relied heavily on two business mentors, and a good measure of faith.

“We ran our first program starting in February 2004 with seven students who I largely financed just to get that first course rolling,” she says. “We weren’t even sure if it was going to go at all in the weeks right before the start date. I would have to say that faith was my greatest challenge. Faith in my instructors, who I barely knew at that point; faith that our students would actually be accepted in the industry and truly employable once they had graduated; faith that the second class would run with a viable number of students; faith that it was a viable business at all.”

Her faith was well-placed. The Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage is a small private institution offering various courses in bodywork and massage techniques. Their main course is the 700-hour Spa Therapist professional training program, offered twice annually in accelerated full-time 18-week sessions, and once annually on a part-time basis. This program fully prepares students to immediately enter a career in therapeutic massage and bodywork.

The School’s Weekend Introductory class is open to everyone, and is highly recommended to anyone considering enrolling in the full Spa Therapist Program. They also offer a one month Shiatsu Intensive every June (which is open to those with no prior experience, but is largely marketed to graduates as advanced studies/continuing education), as well as courses in Hot Stone massage, meditation, advanced Deep Tissue techniques, and an Aromatherapy product-making workshop.

Sarah attributes the success of her school to providing a good experience for staff and students. “I think I have good intentions and that has helped me attract all the right people to the school from instructors to administrators to students,” she says. “Somehow, and I really can’t take all the credit, we have created a really nice ‘culture’. We’re all friends, we care about each other – the atmosphere is open, accepting, nurturing. Our staff wants to stay; they are happy. Our students leave feeling that they have received an invaluable life experience.”

Sarah has advice for those brave souls starting out on their own business journey. “Write a solid business plan, do your research. Don’t try to open on a shoe string. Hire good, reliable people – hire people ‘who you would want to have dinner with’.” 

Oh yes, and find good mentors. Sarah suggests women consider the Women’s Enterprise Center (WEC). “I honestly didn’t maximize my use of the resources offered to me at the WEC only because I have two exceptional business mentors built into my life – my father and my husband. If I didn’t have these guys to help me with all major decision-making I would have been seeking counsel with the people at the WEC,” she says. “My impression of all those whom I came into contact with at WEC was that of friendliness and patience.”

Plans for expansion are currently on hold.  “I am expanding my family, as is my Assistant Director, so expanding the business is definitely on the back burner,” says Sarah, but “…there is definitely room for us to flesh out our advanced studies and continuing education department.”

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