“Without a cohesive team, it is impossible for your business to grow and survive”
Getting a massage can be one of the most incredible things in the world in terms of bodily pleasure. But sometimes, the mere thought of going to a spa or salon where they offer them sparks a little laziness and deters us. Hence, in recent years professional massages services from the comfort of your own home have become popular due to the convenience and benefits.
In Cuba, the Yuma Massage team are pioneers in this type of service. The business is led by Yuneisa Perera Rodríguez, a psychologist by training who through a friend became interested in the world of massages, and from there, there was no turning back.
Yuneisa explains that the origin of the project is a love story. The name: YUMA, was born from the merger between Yuneisa (YU) and Manuel (MA), the founding couple of the business. With effort and dedication, today they have become pioneers of mobile massage on the island, with countless loyal customers.
How did the business start?
“Yuma Massage arose in 2015, when we started as owners of this project, contining the work of Eric Garcí, an experienced therapist, founder of this massage parlor, and with whom I worked four years approximately. So, in the beginning we only offered massages in our own premises. Little by little, we realized that our clients, who came from many different countries, needed to save time. Others didn’t want to interrupt the relaxation process by having to leave the salon and take a cab, etc., so we increasingly noticed that they needed to receive our services from the tranquility of their own homes, hotel or even offices. From the beginning until today we have gradually grown in terms of clients, workers and services.”
The team currently has nine therapists specialized in different types of massages, although the anti-stress massage service is one of the most requested. Their motto is “First self-improvement and then massage.” Hence, the therapists have to constantly improve their work. They take and apply techniques from different massage schools, according to the specifications or needs of each client. Currently, although 90 percent are foreigners, they are working to bring these services closer to Cuban clients.
What distinguishes Yuma Massage?
“First of all, our hallmark is that the client doesn’t feel as if in a massage parlor, but rather among family. We are distinguished by the dynamics with which we carry out our in-home services, a project that we are passionate about. We like the positive stress of having to mobilize several therapists at the same time, call the driver, move to the site and then see the result of the work. We are a team that is committed to its daily improvement, to be in accordance with the demands of our customers, and thus with international standards. The difference is not in what we do, but in how we do it.”
Why opt for home massage?
“I commit daily to this type of massage. I have also been a client and I can perceive and also recommend massage services from the tranquility of your own home. You save time, so you can do it more often. Once the massage is finished you do not interrupt the relaxation by having to go outside, leave the air conditioning, lose the energy, etc., because to achieve 100% effectiveness of the massage it is important to take into account the before (30 minutes) and after (about 1 hour). Our body and mind after the session needs that time to get back into its routine, especially when it is an Comprehensive, Relaxing, Anti-stress and Deep Tissue massage.
“When I talk about that moment before the massage, I mean to prepare the conditions: create the environment where you are not going to be interrupted during that time and your mind can disconnect from your responsibilities and give us permission to work. Massage is corporal, but if the mind is not aware of what is being done and you are attentive to other things, the massage will not achieve its objective.”
How does Yuma Massage work internally and what are the relationships between its professionals like?
“Our team is a big family, a family where we take care of each other on a daily basis. Laughter abounds, and with respect, everyone knows his or her role. Throughout all these years, many have joined us, many have stayed, others have left in search of new opportunities, but all of them in one way or another carry within themselves the concept of family and unity that characterizes us. We promote meetings both to improve ourselves professionally and to enjoy ourselves and socialize. We encourage opinions, we listen to the demands of each team member, and we solve them within the team. Without a cohesive team it is impossible for your business to grow and survive, and that is the work philosophy of Yuma Massage.”
How do you envision the business in the future?
“At first, I would like to see the business grow at a national level, with our services offered in hotels, and of course a superior pool of masseuses. At a second stage, growth on an international scale. To reach that scope, a web app would be sufficient, a project on which we have been working for some years, but for various reasons has not been able to materialize. But it is very possible and feasible.”
