A Mission to Relax Sussex

There came a point where something needed to change.

Jo Witkowski, now the owner of Jo Hannahs Haven in Sussex, took the leap and enrolled in massage therapy school in her 40s.

“It was a lot of personal stuff, and I had a total cleansing right before deciding,” Witkowski said. “I took a career of selling group health insurance and years of retail management experience, and it just came to me that I had to do massage. I love it.”

After graduating from the Wisconsin School of Massage in 2006, Witkowski wasted no no time opening her own business. In just four months, she was ready to take on customers at her business in Sussex.

Witkowski is now closing in on her fifth year of practice, and it’s obvious she made the right decision. With a solid customer base and the support of Sussex, she’s now hoping to spread the word about the benefits of massage.

“There’s a connection there, and it’s so cool.” said Witkowski. “There’s a lot of energy work in massage, and I know I really help people. I think on a regular basis, massage is such a de-stresser. People just need to learn ways of de-stressing, like deep breathing.”

Witkowski says the Sussex community has been very supportive of her business. So, in honor of the 15th annual National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, she is making her self-owned and operated business open to those who want a consultation.

Jo Hannahs Haven will have hot cider and munchies, and Witkowski will even give a free 10-minute chair massage to each person who comes in to learn more.

“We’ll just sit down and talk about whether massage is an option for them," she said. "If they’ve got some type of ailment, let’s talk about it. There’s so many different ways you can help yourself by just relaxing.”

Witkowski will have open hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday, as well as from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday.