Acqua Dolce Therapies is a massage therapy startup founded in January 2022 by Martina Mula which offers tailored holistic massage treatments.

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Martina is a solo entrepreneur and trained massage therapist working with customers who are challenged by a busy lifestyle and often suffering from stress, feeling overwhelmed and those with muscular discomfort. She also offers prenatal massages for pregnant women. Martina offers a treatment space where clients can unwind and alleviate tension, allowing them to prioritise well-being and feel better in their own body and mind.

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She was first introduced to the concept of self-care and massage therapy after beginning her career in high-stress job roles with long working hours, which caused her both mental and physical discomfort. A few years ago, she decided to make a change and embarked on a well-being journey which saw her discover massage therapy.

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She fell in love with the practice and decided to train to become a professional massage therapist so that she could support others in their own personal self-care journey. 

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Martina said: “Helping people in this way has been hugely rewarding and it’s fantastic to be making a living from my passion. My biggest marker for success is when clients return after their first session and refer family and friends - it’s a great feeling knowing that they have had the same experience as I did when I first discovered massage therapy.”

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Martina ran her practice as a side project until August 2023, when she decided to pursue massage therapy as a full-time career. Struggling to view Acqua Dolce Therapies as a business and not her hobby, she turned to business mentoring initiatives to support her in all of the necessary steps to transforming her passion into a legitimate enterprise.

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She was introduced to Shell Store’s Startup Club when she met the hub’s Community Assistant Julia Lowther at a ‘netwalking’ event. She went on to attend the 6-week business course and, in February 2024, decided that Shell Store was where she wanted her business to be based and became a member.

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Being at the space has helped Martina to collaborate with other local wellbeing practitioners, given her confidence to work on her website and online presence, and secured her a partnership deal with another Shell Store-based company which gifted its employees a chair massage session as a reward for their hard work over the Christmas period.

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Martina said: “Joining the community at Shell Store has given me the boost I needed to take my business more seriously and realise my full potential as a massage therapist and entrepreneur. I’ve been made to feel very welcome and supported by the team and fellow members alike, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my venture and supporting people’s journeys towards mental health and wellbeing here.”

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