Today we’d like to introduce you to Dara Granados.
Hi Dara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Special circumstances and fate have brought me to where I am today. I was born and raised in beautiful Puerto Rico. As a child, I was drawn towards art. Watching my grandmother paint, sew, sculpt, you name it. It was a dream come true when I was accepted to Escuela Central de Artes Visuales, a middle and high school dedicated to the arts, then to Escuela de Artes Plasticas in Old San Juan for college. Art was life! I worked hard. The full-time school schedule and working the night shift at a book store. I guess, I took after my parents who also worked hard so that my sister and I would have anything we needed.
Shortly after starting college, I made the naive decision to marry. Being married at 19 was not necessarily the issue. It was who I married. This was a marriage of what movies and mini-series are made of. Not the happily ever after kind. By 21, I had a baby and was being shuffled back and forth from different domestic violence shelters but I was determined to make something of myself. To be the parent my son deserved. I would spend hours after lights out planning our future. But first I had to survive.
A year-long journey and nine addresses later, (most of them DV shelters), I landed in Jacksonville, FL. It was me and a 1 year old ready to take on the world. My little buddy. Finally free. Working for a pain management doctor I noticed how his patients slowly decreased pain medications and eventually healed after many years by replacing the medications with alternative treatments. One of them was massage therapy. My mind was blown. I just had to be a part of this.
Graduating from massage school in 2008 has been one of my greatest achievements. I absolutely love what I do! Honestly, massage even feels like art so I wasn’t too far away from my roots. This was also the same year, I married again. This time to my happily ever after. I have three other children now. It was pregnant with my fourth baby that I noticed I couldn’t find a massage therapist who didn’t feel like any amount of pressure would cause me to go into labor. So many misconceptions about massage and pregnancy.
Turns out, I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. I knew what had to be done. I’m going to make it my mission to help as many women as I can to have a comfortable pregnancy and postpartum period. To feel great and healthy. Especially postpartum! We, moms, need so much support and our society unfortunately does not provide that anymore. It has become a thing of the past.
I opened Peace & Quiet Therapeutic Massage 31 weeks pregnant and full of excitement and hope. All three of my kids are an integral part of my business. They were 16, 10, and 7 years old. Shortly after adding our new baby to the mix. I have since given myself fully to my mission by getting to know other birth workers in the community so that we can work together and expand my education in everything motherhood.
From fertility, pregnancy, and after baby. I don’t want any mom to feel alone or be in unnecessary pain. I’ve been there and it’s not pretty. Our babies deserve and need happy healthy mothers. I mean, have you ever REALLY seen how a child looks at their mom? Moms are magic. Moms are love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. It seemed crazy at the time for a lot of people that I would choose to open my business that far along into my pregnancy but I knew for sure it was the perfect time for me. I don’t think many employers would have liked to have a mom of 4 kids. Especially when one of them was a newborn. Plus, I also wanted to be able to manage my time and schedule based on their needs. Flexibility was a must.
Friends were not kind. They were a constant reminder that I should close and try again in a few years. Some even made fun of me. Most turned their backs and went on their way. On top of that, I had my baby 5 weeks earlier than expected and this brought more pressure from them. The teasing became criticism right away. Judging my ability to balance being a good mom and a business owner.
One day someone very close to me told me to give up. That I had reached too high. When someone you love and admire tells you to let your dream go it feels like taking a bullet. I have to admit this was the first time I doubted myself. Did I really reach too high? I was so exhausted that I actually thought for a moment that everybody was right.
It was my oldest child who told me that the only reason I’m feeling such resistance is that I’m on the right path. To keep going no matter what and that I had his full support. That it was going to be great and years later we would laugh about all of this. That was some serious wisdom from a 16-year-old! It was exactly what I needed to hear.
It was intense but we found our groove and made it work. My three kids would keep the baby quiet and later on as he grew older, kept him entertained while I worked. They said they were my first employees. I would see clients in the late afternoon after the kids were out of school. This was the only option we had at the time. It was a TIGHT budget.
The biggest struggle turned out to be the mindset. We had a big hit as a family. My husband was unable to work and I found myself the sole wage of our household for a long time. You feel exhausted from balancing work, home, and keeping your kid’s spirit up. That feeling of overwhelm and being “stuck” creeps up. Somehow I managed to keep the focus on our goals.
There were moments when I would weaken and by a miracle, someone would show up out of the blue and cheer me on. My kids, my mother, certain clients, or my wonderful mentor who always had a way to put me back together again. I have so much to be grateful for when it comes to my new circle.
A positive mindset is everything.
This was 4 years ago and my son was right. Now, we laugh about how everything started. Stories about keeping the baby quiet while I massaged a client, making him laugh, poopie diapers blowing out, recording funny videos so that I could laugh when I felt tired or sad, helping each other with homework, baby’s first steps, moving furniture to a new location while babywearing and under the rain.
Yes, it was chaotic but boy did we have fun. Turns out having a sense of humor is also as important as a positive mindset.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I specialize in pain and stress relief for pregnancy and motherhood. As a busy mom of four children, I get it. Managing a family is a full-time job. I believe moms deserve and need a break. To feel good, sleep well, and hurt less. To receive an amazing massage while you are pregnant and postpartum. Not just for relaxation but to help your body get ready for labor and delivery and later heal after the baby.
I give massage with great care utilizing an advanced orthopedic cushioning system that allows you to lie face down with proper spinal alignment at any time during your pregnancy. You can also choose a “side-lying” position with your body fully supported with pillows.
I’ve been there four times. Four different pregnancies and four different deliveries. All unique experiences. I understand exactly what moms are going through and just love making their lives easier.
Any big plans?
This is only the beginning of my dream. I want to continue serving women as best I can by offering a space where they can come to relax and heal. No judgment or worries about how they look. Just come in as you are with or without your baby.
I am adding more prenatal and postpartum services to complement massage to make your experience even better. It is an exciting time for Peace & Quiet!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.peaceandquietmassage.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/peaceandquietmassage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceandquiettherapeuticmassage
Image Credits
Tara Young Photography and Birth Services
