After being in two car accidents, area businessman Bobby Padda sought relief through massage therapy.

“I was rear-ended both times,” Padda said. “Massage therapy was the only way I was able to recover. I still seek treatment. I get a massage at least once, if not twice, each month myself. I see the benefits of it. It is basically hitting a reset button. Once you get a good deep down massage, I think it really resets your mind, your body, your soul.”

That mindset led Padda, of Renton, to open LaVida Massage at 1414 S. 324th St. Suite B213, in Federal Way. The business opened on Oct. 3.

The Federal Way location is the second in Washington – the other is in West Seattle – but is Padda’s first in the franchise. His family owns several retail gas stations in the area, including Renton and Mountlake Terrace.

Before his accidents, Padda said he led an active lifestyle, regularly working out and doing martial arts and Cross Fit.

“I didn’t realize how much massage therapy is needed to really open a lot of your pores in your body, a lot of the muscle tension, tightness,” he said. “I think as I am getting older, I think as we are all getting older, it is so necessary to maintain and take care of your body. I took care of my body in the sense of maintaining a good lifestyle, but you need to have massage therapy because we are so busy with our lives with our computers and our phones and just work in general.”

LaVida offers a variety of customized massage services, including Swedish deep tissue, prenatal, sports and couple’s massage, as well as cupping – an ancient treatment using special cups and heat to create suction on the skin. The practice was recently made popular by its use among Olympic athletes.

“All of our therapists are highly trained and certified,” Padda said of the seven therapists LaVida employs. “Most of them have a little more than three to five years’ experience. That is the key that really sets us apart. We are still hiring therapists, but we are very picky as to who we hire. We want make sure that people have training and experience.”

For Padda, the business is about more than just relaxation.

“Almost all of our therapists come from a treatment background,” he said. “They have worked at chiropractor offices. They have worked in a medical background. They have worked in medical field, so they know exactly where the problem area is. We are not just your regular relaxation massage. I would say that we are more treatment based. We really want to make sure that if you have a problem, what is the solution. That is why we are here.”

Padda said he looks forward to serving the community through his business.

“Federal Way is growing,” he said. “It is diverse. I think there is a lot of opportunity here.”

For more information, call 253-210-0511 or visit LaVidaMassageFederalWayWA.com.