Escape to Paradise Reopens With 14 Rooms and a Post-Op Care Focus
Escape to Paradise LLC, founded by licensed massage therapist Shantel Seraaj, is celebrating a grand reopening in South Minneapolis with 14 treatment rooms and an expanded recovery menu. The practice is best known for post-operative lymphatic drainage massage that helps reduce complications like fibrosis, speeds healing, and supports emotional well-being after surgery. Inspired by Seraaj’s own recovery journey, the clinic now partners with Twin Cities surgeons and adds services like body sculpting, deep tissue, relaxation massage, and an on-site seamstress to tailor compression garments. As a Black-owned business, Seraaj’s team is building a one-stop destination for post-op support and wellness.
A guide on the journey to wellness
For Shantel Seraaj, founder of Escape to Paradise LLC, bodywork is more than a profession, it’s a calling rooted in both personal experience and years of training. A licensed massage therapist for 15 years, Seraaj launched her South Minneapolis practice in 2017. Since then the business has steadily expanded, and this fall marks its much-anticipated grand reopening in a newly renovated space with 14 treatment rooms.
Escape to Paradise is best known for specializing in post-operative lymphatic drainage massage, a service that has become increasingly sought after by surgeons and patients alike. These treatments support faster recovery, reduce complications like fibrosis, and offer much-needed comfort during the healing process.
“After surgery, emotions are all over the place,” Shantel explained. “We help guide clients through that journey so they feel supported both physically and emotionally.”
The idea to focus on post-op care came after Shantel’s own surgery experience in Miami, where lymphatic drainage was emphasized as essential. Wanting to bring the same standard of care back to Minnesota, she pursued additional training and built it into her business. Today, doctors across the Twin Cities refer patients to her practice.
In addition to post-op services, Escape to Paradise offers body sculpting, deep tissue, and relaxation massage, creating a holistic menu for clients at all stages of their wellness journeys. With the reopening, Shantel is introducing new features like an on-site seamstress to help patients alter their compression garments (fajas), making her practice a true one-stop shop for recovery needs.
Reflecting on her growth as a business owner, Shantel calls starting her company “the best decision I ever made.” What began as a single rented room in a chiropractor’s office has blossomed into a thriving business with multiple suites and a large dedicated space.
“I love being a Black business owner,” she said. “It’s been amazing to see the support and to create something that’s growing and helping people every day.”
The grand-reopening takes place on September 20, 4-8 pm, at 3255 Hennepin Avenue in South Minneapolis. Clients can learn more and stay updated by visiting the business on social media and through its website at www.escapetoparadisellc.com.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.