Mother and son operate separate businesses that help people feel better
By Corinne Scott, Living Stones News Publisher

Jim Hoeffling admits to a bit of hesitancy in 1999 when he and his mother, Sandee Hepburn, discussed sharing office space in the Blaine Business Center on Belknap Street in Superior, Wis.

Hoeffling, 39 years old, owns Twin Ports Chiropractic, and Hepburn, 60, owns Hidden Oasis Massage Therapy. The businesses are separate except for location.

Hoeffling said that massage therapy is a good complement to chiropractic care. So, after praying about it, mother and son made the move in October 2004. They agree that it has worked out well and that there have been no issues in sharing the office space.

Jim Hoeffling (left) and his mother, Sandee Hepburn, own separate but complementary ventures in the Blaine Business Center in Superior, Wis. - a chiropractic care center and a massage therapy business. Hoeffling and Hepburn teach others that God created the body with the ability to heal itself.

Hepburn and Hoeffling, who are both Christians, believe that God has given the body the ability to heal itself and that people should take responsibility for their own health. Both the masseuse and the chiropractor get great satisfaction from helping people become healthier as well as educating them on what they can do to maintain that health from within themselves.

A native of Superior now living in Maple, Wis., Hepburn received her certifications as a massage therapist from the Eagle's Nest in 1998 and from Lake Superior College in 2002. Types of therapy available at Hidden Oasis Massage Therapy include relaxation, deep-tissue massage, lymphatic drainage (which involves getting the lymphatic system
flowing) rain drop therapy (which uses pure essential oils to kill bacteria and fungus on spine area), European Rose Mud foot therapy and hot stone treatments.

A Christian since 1967, Hepburn said she tries to give customers her absolute best and to work with their problems.

"I do not discriminate among people and I treat them fairly," she said. "Sometimes I can incorporate the Lord into my work."

Hoeffling is a native of Superior now living in Carlton, Minn. He graduated from Superior High School in 1986 and from the Northwestern College of Chiropractic in Bloomington, Minn., in November 1999.
After practicing in Carlton with a partner for four years, he opened Twin Ports Chiropractic in Superior.

Hoeffling said that when people come to him he tries to find out where they are at health-wise and what they want.

"Some come in out of pain," he said. "Some want increased health nutrition. I give ideas on what they can incorporate for a healthier body."

A Christian for 30 years, Hoeffling seeks to give quality treatment to his patients.

"I pray for them even though they don't know it," he said. "I don't push Christianity down anyone's throat, but if it comes up, I talk about it.
I'm amazed how many Christian patients I have. It's a blessing."

Both Hepburn and Hoeffling agree that...

...their business challenges are no different from other businesses. Some weeks are slow, and some weeks it is hard to fit everyone in. Hepburn said it is a challenge getting people to realize the health benefits of a regular massage. She said that getting a regular massage helps keep you from getting sick when all kinds of "stuff"
is going around. And, Hoeffling said, dealing with insurance companies can be difficult.

But both agree there are many blessings in doing the kind of work they do.

"Just making people feel better and helping with their problems is a great reward," Hepburn said.

"To be able to help people who previously have been told that they'd have to live with (their health problems) is a blessing," Hoeffling said.
"We help people do things they didn't do to show them that health comes from within."

Their future goal is to expand the two businesses into a health center in its own building. Hepburn said she would like to add more holistic therapy.

"Reduction of stress increases circulation," she said. "It also boosts the immune system, boosts the red and white cell production and lowers blood pressure. Massage can relieve a lot of anxiety, which is wonderful for cancer patients. I love my job. I love what I do. For the most part, people go out feeling better than when they came in."

Hepburn lives in Maple, Wis., with her husband, Lloyd. She has three children and 13 grandchildren. The Hepburns attend the Hawthorne Assembly of God.

Hoeffling and his wife, Marcy, live in Carlton and have two girls and one boy ages 11, 7 and 5. They attend Grace Baptist Church in Cloquet.