How Mindbody Helps Saya Barkdoll Manage Ohana Wellness

Saya Barkdoll was 15 years old when she knew what career she would have after seeing her mother, who was terminal, be treated by a massage therapist.

“Hospice sent a massage therapist to work with her,” Saya said. “It was the first time that we saw light in her eyes. That’s when I really understood that there was something so incredible about the power of touch.”

How do you know if massage is the right career?

Now, eighteen years later, Saya is the founder of Ohana Wellness, a wellness clinic in Bethesda, Maryland. Ohana’s core offerings include massage, reiki, cranio sacral therapy, acupuncture and reflexology, among other alternative medicine practices, but Ohana also offers its customers something else: the chance to relax, heal and reflect on their lives, something Saya feels is much needed in the Washington, DC, area where her business is located.

“We’re right outside of DC, and the energy level of DC can be really intense at times,” Saya explained. “We see really high politicians and people who need to come somewhere and remove themselves from the stresses of their lives, and we’re able to provide that.”

Massage in Washington DC: “We’re right where we need to be.”

Like many wellness business owners, Saya focuses on healing her customers, and to do that, she needs a powerful, massage therapy software to help her run her business. For that, Saya uses Mindbody.

With massage software, Saya knows that her customers' data is safe, allowing them to book services online—freeing up Saya and her team to focus on treating them, rather than admin work. And the focus on treatment shows in Ohana’s business performance. The wellness studio has consistently grown year over year, both in sales and in online bookings.

“I know Mindbody is safe.”

Beyond knowing that Mindbody is safe, Saya knows that when she needs support or has questions about her software that Mindbody's 24/7 support team and robust support center can give her answers whenever she needs them.

“Ohana means family, and I feel like Mindbody is like a family environment,” Saya said. “I appreciate that. I’m so happy to have a community that I’m part of.”

Visits to Ohana sales grew 61% year-over-year in May 2018

Ohana isn’t just a place where people go to be helped and healed—it’s a workplace for Saya’s staff of practitioners, all of whom love their jobs and look forward to coming to work.

With Mindbody, Saya and her team can all access their schedules, and their clients can book with each of them 24/7, allowing them to focus on treating their customers, rather than scheduling them. As a result, visits to Ohana have consistently improved year over year—including a growth of 61% year-over-year in May 2018.

Getting more customers in her studio helps Saya meet her ultimate goal as a massage therapist: bringing more love into the life of her patients.

“I often finish my sessions with my hands on my customers, just literally sending them love,” Saya said. “I think love is how we’ll change the world.”