Owner of Naoko Esthetics Spa & Shiatsu Naoko Vold

Naoko Vold

By Kimberly Van Brunt

Apparently, my kidneys are tired. That’s just one thing that Naoko Vold could tell just by looking at my face. And I trust her: she’s had over 40 years of experience as an esthetician, cosmetologist and Shiatsu massage technician. In all those years in the business of helping people feel good, she’s seen it time and time again: “Your body will warn you if there’s something wrong,” says Vold. So if it seems like she knows the best treatments for you just by looking at you, she probably does. The old with the new As a young woman, Vold was trained in Shiatsu and Anma therapies in Tokyo, Japan. She immigrated to The United States in 1970. After 30 years owning a skin care and Shiatsu spa near Detroit, Mich., Vold and herShiatsu. husband moved to Rochester, and last fall opened Naoko Esthetics Spa &Shiatsu.  The unique facility, located in the skyway level of Bridgestreet Broadway Plaza in Rochester, combines traditional spa services with some elements of Chinese medicine, acupuncture and Shiatsu massage. Each area of the spa is customized for specific therapies, including massage, steam rooms, a Japanese light therapy pool, facial suites and more. Everything is state-ofthe- art. “It’s important to me to have good equipment and good products,” says Vold. The massage and facial areas can be opened up to a larger space to accommodate groups and parties, like bachelorette parties, baby showers and birthdays.

A morning at the spa I experienced just three of Naoko’s specialties on a winter morning. To get there, I parked in the Civic Center ramp and walked through in the heated skyway. “We’re all the way at the end of the skyway, so many people don’t realize we’re down here,” says Vold. First, I hit the steam room, where the air is so thick it’s hard to breathe at first. After my lungs found their way in the dripping air, the steam did its job it relaxed my muscles and prepared them for the next step: massage. According to Vold, Shiatsu massage relieves fatigue and stress by focusing on the body’s pressure points, and manipulating them to release lactic acid and restore normal energy flow in the body. The massage room itself is quiet and restful, with a twinkling star ceiling and a large display screen with soothing photos on the wall. “Clients can bring along personal photos to be displayed during the massage, or to a group,” says Vold. During my massage, I imagined looking at photos of my kids laughing and playing while I relaxed. Is that the picture of happiness or what? Finally, the facial incorporated not only the typical cleansers, masks and creams, but also something called “high frequency” facial equipment. This vibrating pen-like device introduced oxygen and ozone into my skin using an electrical current that also eliminates toxins and improves circulation.

A passion for whole-person health As Vold walked me through the spa’s services, she kept saying, “This is my passion.” At first I thought she was pointing out a favorite therapy, but soon realized that it’s all about passion for her. Acne and problem skin clinics for teens? That’s her passion because she can prevent lifelong scarring with a little education. Shiatsu massage? She has seen the effects of pressure point therapy in helping people get well. Phytobiodermie acupuncture (without needles)? Vold’s passion for Chinese medicine and regulating the body’s energies come through there. And even colon hydrotherapy, a first in Rochester (I promise, it’s not as scary as it seems when she explains it and its results) is all about Vold’s desire to help people feel their best. “As far as the business, I don’t really recommend it to a lot of people. It has very high overhead and it can be difficult,” says Vold. “You have to have a passion about it.” Vold hopes that the combination of the ancient tradition of Shiatsu and the cutting-edge technology of Chinese medicine will continue to resonate with residents of Rochester for a long time to come she’s trained several estheticians and technicians at her spa in these unique therapies. “I’m trying to teach a new generation my passion for helping people.”

Japanese wisdom Although Vold has been living in the U.S. for almost 40 years, she still carries her Japanese culture with her. “In Japan, a woman is responsible for her family’s food intake, and monitoring their energy level, elimination and sleeping,” says Vold. If a woman’s husband or children has low energy or feels sluggish, the woman knows just what to do, using her knowledge of ancient practices and pressure points to provide a pick-me-up. “It’s just like if you walk into a dark room, you know that you need to flip the switch to turn the light on,” says Vold. “It’s the same with these women. They just know where the switches are.”

Kimberly Van Brunt is a freelance writer. She lives in Rochester with her husband and two small children, and certainly deserves a massage now and then. Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles on women of diversity in business.