As a young man, Richard Laurie was recognized as a true athlete and received a full scholarship for football to West Virginia University. While in school, his other interests took him away from football and he graduated Suma Cum Laude with a degree in Business and Economics and a concentration in Marketing.
After college he became an Assistant Buyer for Woodward and Lothrop Department Store in Washington, D.C. Following that Mr. Laurie went on to become the Assistant to the Divisional V.P. for Wedgewood China and Crystal, Inc. This brought him to New York City, where his career took an immediate turn.
Richard began to hear from friends and acquaintances that he should give modeling a try. He took their advice and was quickly introduced to top beauty and fashion model photographer Palma Kolansky. Palma loved Richard’s look and proceeded to create his entire portfolio for him. This launched Richard’s modeling career and he spent the next 6 years traveling in and around the United States and Europe. He became a very successful print and commercial model.
Eventually, Richard decided that it was time for him to close that chapter and move on. He was offered the Division Sales Manager position for Wedgewood in Manhattan. Richard took the job, but knew that it wasn’t his dream. Feeling unfulfilled, he contacted his old photographer friend Palma, and their reconnection prompted him to found Richard Laurie, Inc. Essentially, Richard started a business as a representative for fashion and still life photographers. He enjoyed creating and developing wonderful relationships as well as supporting photographers in fulfilling their dreams.
Then Richard made a shift that ended up changing his life forever. Having been in the modeling industry for years, Richard was familiar with massage therapy. He had the luxury of receiving massages while waiting for photo shoots and would always feel so grateful and thankful to have been able to receive such wonderful healing bodywork. Richard decided he would go to The Swedish Institute and become licensed as a massage therapist. He went and loved it! While in school, Mr. Laurie took a trip with a friend to New Mexico. It was to Santa Fe, Galisteo and other surrounding cities including a visit to a well-known spa called ‘Ten Thousand Waves’ where his vision for Carapan first appeared.
Richard visited many sacred and healing places and traveled to discreet Native American villages and the Carapan concept gradually came into view. He had learned of the word Carapan from a friend in New Mexico and was told that this word meant “__A beautiful place of tranquility where one comes to restore ones spirit__.” As soon as Richard heard this word and it’s meaning, he saw his dream could become a reality in New York.
Upon completion of his massage studies, Richard was inspired to begin practicing massage right away. He was living downtown on 5th Avenue and began seeing clients in his apartment. He took all of the visions and ideas he had gathered from his travels out west and infused them all into his 15th street apartment. Mr Laurie created his very own special Urban Spa. He wanted to bring his experiences out west back to an urban setting. He called it Carapan and created the Carapan logo of a sun rising over a mountaintop. The logo symbolizes rebirth and renewal. It was Richard’s intention that his mini-spa be a place where people could come for a true healing experience and where one could come to restore their spirit. He was tired of himself and others complaining about getting massage work done at the typical sixth floor walk-up in those dusty apartment buildings. He created a beautiful space that promoted health and well-being. His massage practice flourished quickly and he desperately needed more room!
Mr Laurie found a space to rent on 16th street right around the corner from his apartment. In 1988 he officially founded Carapan Urban Spa. The spa had 3 massage rooms and a small reception desk. In four months, the spa had blossomed and they could not handle the heavy requests. Two months later, New York Magazine did a feature on this cedar and brick lined spa and fortunately Richard was then forced to expand. Fast Track came along and did a story on Carapan and on Richard. That was the turning point for the spa. The business went on to become the place where New Yorkers would come and receive the highest quality massage and bodywork therapies. Richard’s intention was to change the reputation of Massage Therapy. At that time, massage was considered a pampering of the rich or it was something that was used in Adult Entertainment. It was not considered a therapeutic healing art. The massage reputation was quickly destroyed by Richard Laurie and by his amazing creation of Carapan. Richard was a pioneer. His commitment was to inform and educate the public about the benefits of Therapeutic Massage and other Healing Arts. How they can and in most cases should be used as part of one’s daily health care regime. Richard wanted people to know that these wonderful therapies played an essential role in stress management and in assisting with the reduction of most short and long-term physical and emotional ailments.
In 1995, Richard took over the jewelry store next door to his spa and added a retail store. This Carapan store provided clients the opportunity to bring home the healing products that were used on them in their sessions. Carapan had created it’s own signature massage oil made of the highest quality essential oils. This oil was used in every session. Many clients would take this blend home for their own use.
In 1997, Richard added more therapeutic work rooms, additional personal lockers and shower rooms and a private sauna. This brought Carapan to a place where it could function at a high level of professionalism. It began to grow and expand even more and receive a lot of attention.
In 2000, Carapan opened a retail store in West Virginia. Then in 2001, a spa was added. The spa and store in West Virginia is just like the Carapan in New York City. The same feel, the same tranquil place. Highest quality Massage and Bodywork Therapies.
July 2002 began the celebration of Carapan’s 15th anniversary. In the 15 years of operation, this boutique like spa has been featured in every major spa magazine, including the most established New York periodicals and publications.
Richard Laurie is responsible for raising the level of professionalism of massage therapy and of massage therapists. He has spearheaded the spa industry and was the person accountable for the creation of the Urban Spa concept. Carapan is a place where “__the healing art becomes life in New York__.�? This motto is something that Carapan employees are very proud of. Carapan is indeed such a place. It is a strong, viable business because everyone at Carapan believes in the concept and truly agrees that there is something magical and special here. Carapan is continuing to expand it’s services and will soon be introducing advanced Aromatherapy and therapeutic body care treatments that will provide optimum benefits for it’s valued clients. Richard Laurie’s goal is to give as many people as he can the opportunity to have the ‘Carapan Experience’. He would like to have a Carapan Urban Spa and Store in every major city in the US and Europe.
For further information please email: carapan@aol.com
THIS PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THIS MONTH’S SPA PERSON AND IS BEING PRESENTED AS GIVEN TO THE DSA. STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DAY SPA ASSOCIATION AND WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENTS.
