Jan 22, 2018 By Jacob Calvin Meyer staff Writer jmeyer@thealmanac.Net 4 min read

About 13 years ago, Lauren Lega’s mother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Lega, a Southpointe resident, said it was one of the most difficult times of her life.

“It was very tough,” she said. “I had caregivers around the clock, and I had to take care of her. She was like my best friend, so that was a very difficult time period of my life.”

To help her get through the tough time, as she had many times in the past when she was stressed, Lega turned to massage.

“I would just melt in the table just to take away the stress and the tension of that situation,” Lega said. “I believe in massage, and it’s helped me through my life.”

That belief is what led Lega and her husband, Mark, a critical care physician at Allegheny General Hospital, to become owners of the soon-to-be new Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Upper St. Clair, a nationwide franchise which debuts in the Siena at St. Clair shopping center Jan. 29.

“There are many times in my life where I have back pain or stress or tension, and massage was my go-to,” Lega said. “It makes you lose all that tension. It just makes you feel so much better to give you that extra bit of energy to keep that drive. I think it’s important for people to take some time to care for themselves.”

Lega, who grew up in Pittsburgh, has always dreamed of owning her own business. Over the years, she’s brought countless ideas to Mark, who, to his credit Lega says looking back, shot them all down.

“Since we’ve been married, I’ve always brought businesses to him. I’ve looked at homecare businesses, pizza shops, I’ve looked at so many businesses. Everyone I discuss with him he wasn’t excited about it, and it wasn’t a good fit. He’s on my side, and we’re on the same team, and he would tell me, ‘It doesn’t sound like you.'”

She started as a nurse before moving to home infusion sales and marketing and then most recently pharmaceutical sales. Last April, she took a buyout from her pharmaceutical company, and she thought now would “be the perfect time” for her and Mark to own a business.

The couple hired a consultant, who brought up Hand & Stone as an option, and they decided that was a great fit.

“When he brought up Hand & Stone, we fell in love with it. We just thought it was an amazing franchise. We believe in health and wellness and massage. We just felt like we really understood the business and we understood the concept of it.”

Lega also said her and Mark believed Pittsburgh would be a perfect spot for a Hand & Stone, which will be the only location in the Pittsburgh region.

“We have a beautiful community here in Upper St. Clair,” she said. “We’re very fortunate to be in this area. The township has been extremely positive about having the spa.”

As health professionals, the couple both believe there are many different ways to heal the body, with massage being one of them.

“My husband is a physician, and he would agree in so many ways that there are ways to feel better. It’s not always a medication,” Lega said. “Sometimes coming to a place like this for a nice facial or a massage and a professional service and an hour of relaxation can really make a difference.”

Lega said the goal of Hand & Stone is to improve the lives of people in the community.

“We want people to walk in the door and feel like this is a great place,” she said. “When they’re stressed, they come here for an hour of their time, and when they leave, we want them to feel like that hour was worth everything.”

The store, which opens Jan. 29, will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, with shorter hours on the weekend.

For more information, call 412-604-9700 or visit www.handandstoneupperstclair.com.