‘If you could do anything you wanted, what would it be?’ For me, when asked, the answer has always started with ideas of dogs, music and beer. To create a business that doesn’t feel like work has always been a dream of mine. aKneadforPaws allows me to continue to use my biological, medical and psychology knowledge while using a holistic approach to healing through massage and energy work (and I get to meet amazing dogs and cool people all day). I understand how human and small animal bodies function and how emotional and behavioral issues can effect a healthy biological system. Massage and energy work allows me the opportunity to not only address physical and emotional issues as they manifest but to also provide holistic preventative care before health and well being is compromised.

Growing up with and around dogs, I always thought I knew what they bring into our lives. It wasn’t until the first pup that I raised on my own did I fully understand just how meaningful a dog can be and how much energy can be shared between human and animal. Since then I have wanted to find a way to work with animals but felt the need to continue my previous career path, so my animal studies became more of a hobby and something that I would perform on my own pets. Canine massage was something I wanted to do in order to provide my own dog with comfort, relief and healing whenever they may need it. As a way to promote their health and well being and to hopefully ensure a long life. Energy work has been something following me for around 20 years now in various forms and I have been freely letting it into my life so that I may use it to aid myself and others in health and healing. I believe that if your dog is happy and relaxed, then you in turn will be happy and relaxed. During a recent year full of (positive) life changes, I decided to pursue these dreams and focus on my ideas full time in order to make them a reality by creating aKneadforPaws.

I live and work in West Ashley and am excited to be giving back to the Charleston community. My wife, Ashlee, and I have a beautiful baby boy, Euston, and love to take our weimaraner Liebe(the German word for Love) out for walks around our neighborhood, to play at the beaches and to run around the parks. If you see us, stop and say hi!

Steve Manos, CCMT, completed the Brandenburg Massage Therapy program in Canine/Small Animal Massage, is a Level II Usui Reiki Practitioner certified by Charleston Holistic Center and holds a B.S. in Biological Science and Psychology from Marshall University.