Massage therapist opens practice at Colfax suite

There is one more avenue to relaxation in Colfax now and it isn’t another bar. Massage therapist Tia Fritzche, who specializes in Swedish and deep tissue massage, has been treating clients since September at her rented suite on Canyon Street in Colfax.

Massage, she said, is known to lower stress, take out muscle knots, lower blood pressure and help with insomnia, among other health remedies.

Fritzche said business at Massage by Tia has been slow since she opened Sept. 15 and she has taken a second job.

The previous business in her suite, which she rents, was also a massage therapy office, Rejuvenate. Fritzche took over the office and bought all the equipment from the owner for a song, she said.

The 22-year-old from Deary, Idaho, moved to Colfax in 2006 to be closer to her fianceé, Josh McBride.

For the past three years, she has worked at Colfax Grange Supply.

“I wanted to do nursing first, but it hurt my heart too much to see people in pain, hurting so bad,” Fritzche said. “This is the next best thing. I just want to help people.”

Fritzche joined the Moscow School of Massage last year and graduated June 4, 2009.

“After I graduated, I had to take the state test in Spokane, the state licensing exam. That was really nerve wracking,” she said.

Two days before Fritzche graduated, the owner of Rejuvenate called the Moscow school to ask if anyone was interested in taking over the suite and buying her equipment in Colfax.

Fritzche agreed.