by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
With the touch of a hand Josiah Bartholomew can tell if someone has back pain or needs one of his massages through a reflexology hand point.
Bartholomew has spent the last three years of his retirement helping the working community relieve pain and stress at the Farmers’ Market in Hemming Plaza every Friday. But he doesn’t stop there. He also provides in-home, full-table massages to clients and will bring his chair to offices that request massages for the employees.
“It’s just helpful to people,” said Bartholomew, who goes by Si. “I see people walk up to me stressed out and when they get up from the chair, you can see a change in them.”
Bartholomew retired 10 years ago after 27 years of service in the Marines and as the only medical expert on a submarine in the Navy. His medical experience eventually led him to massage therapy school and then to his current business.
Bartholomew offers up to a 20-minute massage in his professional chair, but said the most common request is 10 minutes at $1 per minute. There is a $5 minimum but the benefits outweigh the cost, according to Bartholomew. A massage can reduce stress and increase blood circulation, which increases activation of the immune system, he said.
And business has been good year-round for Bartholomew, who said eight massages is good in a four-hour period, but he has treated as many as 15 customers in that time frame. Though Bartholomew said his greatest enjoyment is just talking to people, his most memorable experience is giving a customer their first massage.
“The ones that have never had a massage before — just the relaxed facial expressions and body expressions when they get out of that chair is rewarding,” he said. “They look at you like, ‘Why didn’t I try this 20 years ago?’”