All in the Family

Ellen Colbrook, her daughter, Amy, and daughter-in-law Nancy took various career paths before putting their hands together in forming a family business. All were looking for career changes, a chance to do something that brought them greater satisfaction and less stress.

Together they formed the Colbrook Massage Office in the Central Illinois town of Taylorville.

 “It’s great working with family because we think the same and have the same philosophy about bodywork,” said Ellen, who previously worked as a nurse and has been in the massage business for 15 years. “For me, it was about helping others, having less stress and the chance to increase my income.”

Ellen, 65, talked Amy and Nancy into the business, but it didn’t take much nudging. They said they try to give the most professional, nurturing massage to their clients, who range in age from two weeks to 88. They speak with powerful energy and enthusiasm about their work.

Ellen said one of her motivations was being able to support her family, since her husband had experienced health problems. She attended the Alexandria School of Scientific Therapeutics in Indiana and is trained in Swedish massage, cranial sacral and neuromuscular therapy.

“I wanted to get more satisfaction out of work,” she said. “I was giving a massage to Amy one day and she asked me what I thought of her going to massage school and I told her it was about time!”

Amy graduated from Eastern Illinois University and went into social work. She worked for several years in the Denver area, but moved back because of her dad’s poor health. Amy worked as a case manager for an adult facility for the mentally ill. After she and her husband had their first child, Sophie, she became a stay-at-home mom before enrolling at the Healthy Connections School of Massage in Bloomington, Illinois.

“I love working with Mom ... we have the same personality and sense of humor,” said Amy, who goes by her married name Wade and is the mother of three girls. “It feels good to finally find my niche, to feel secure in a career that I truly love.”

Her sister-in-law, Nancy, got into the act as she was also looking for a career change. Nancy worked as a graphic designer for a local newspaper before enrolling at Healthy Connections. She recently left the Colbrook business when her husband’s company transferred him to Texas.

What is it like working together as a family?

"A lot of fun, and the work day went by so fast,” Ellen said. “It helped that we were on the same page when it came to what we wanted for our clients.”

All are looking to expand their services. “We’re doing more medical type of massage, focusing on people who don’t walk or move correctly,” Amy said. “We’re working with athletes. Working with family—there isn’t a downside to this job.”

—Bernard Harmon