Unsighted Massage

Have you been waiting for that reminder to book your massage?

Here it is!

I have scattered openings for 60 and 90 minute massages throughout the week, every day except Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you’ve been saying, “I really need to book a massage,” this is your sign. Take a little time for yourself and get it on the calendar.

Reach out to book your appointment!

What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and why should it be on your fall priority list?

MLD is a gentle, intentional massage technique designed to encourage the movement of lymph fluid through the body. Unlike traditional massage, it uses very light pressure and specific, repetitive movements following the body’s lymphatic pathways.

So why fall?

As the weather gets colder, we tend to move less, spend more time sitting indoors, and deal with seasonal allergies and congestion. Your lymphatic system is working year round, so giving it a little attention can be a great way to support your body as the seasons change.

And no, MLD is not supposed to feel like deep tissue. If someone is digging into you, that’s not the technique I’m talking about.

I’m certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and I’d love to introduce you to this incredibly gentle but intentional form of massage.

This fall, don’t just take care of the muscles you can feel. Give some attention to the system that quietly works behind the scenes, too.

I have an opening for a massage tomorrow for either 60 minutes or 90 minutes at 2:30 PM or 3:00 PM. Leave a comment here or send a message to snag the spot!

Fall is here, and for a lot of people that means more than pumpkin spice and cooler weather.

September, October and even November can bring seasonal allergies, especially ragweed pollen and outdoor mold. For some people, that can mean congestion, coughing, sinus pressure and just feeling like breathing isn’t quite as comfortable as it normally is.

Something I like to incorporate into certain massages is focused work around the rib cage and intercostal muscles.

The intercostals are the muscles between your ribs, and they play an important role in how your rib cage moves when you breathe. When those muscles and the surrounding tissues are tight or overworked, working with them can help encourage more comfortable movement through the chest and rib cage.

This isn’t about treating the allergy itself. It’s about working with the muscles involved in breathing and helping your body feel a little less restricted.

So if fall allergies have you feeling congested, tight or just plain uncomfortable, your next massage might be a good time to talk to me about adding some focused rib cage and intercostal work.

Sometimes a little more attention to the muscles we don’t think about can make a pretty big difference in how we feel.

Massage availability for the week is limited, so don’t procrastinate! I have a combination of 60 minutes or 90 minutes on Wednesday, September 23 in the morning and early afternoon starting at 11 o’clock. Thursday evening availability starting at 4:30. Feel free to leave a comment, text, or leave a message for your spot! First come, first serve!

🎉 SAVE THE DATE! 🎉

Our Nicole Richards Salon and Spa Open House is almost here, and there’s a lot to look forward to!

Come enjoy food, drinks, goodies, coupons, and a FREE raffle ticket for your chance to win one of our many gift baskets. You’ll even get to choose which basket you want to enter!

You’ll also get to see everything Nicole Richards Salon and Spa has to offer, from hair, facials, waxing, nails, lashes, spray tans and massage to what’s NEW and coming later this fall.

And that includes Unsighted Massage! I have some new services and offerings in the works that I’m really excited to share with you.

Come grab your goodies, meet the salon family, and find out what we’re all about and what’s coming next!

📅 October 17

Have openings for massage today for 60 or 90 minutes starting at 1 o’clock. Call the salon directly to book! First come first serve as always… 708-532-4247 

Have you ever had a headache and thought, “My neck and shoulders are so tight. That has to be why.”

Maybe. But it might not be that simple.

There are a lot of muscles that can play a role in headaches. The muscles at the base of your skull, upper traps, SCM, levator scapulae, muscles around your shoulder blades, and even your jaw muscles can all contribute to pain that you may actually feel in your head, temples, forehead or behind your eyes.

And sometimes the muscle that is contributing to the pain isn’t even where you feel the pain.

But there is something else I think is really important to understand.

Not every headache or migraine is caused by tight muscles.

Migraines are much more complicated than that. Things like stress, sleep, hydration, food, caffeine, hormones and your nervous system can all play a role. Neck pain can even be part of a migraine instead of being what caused it.

So when someone comes in to see me because they have headaches, I don’t want to just say, “Your neck is tight. Let’s loosen it up.”

I want to understand what is actually going on with you.

Where are you feeling the pain?
How often does it happen?
What does it feel like?
Are you clenching your jaw?
How much time do you spend sitting or looking down?
Are your shoulders constantly tense?
Are there muscles that are referring pain somewhere else?

Massage isn’t a cure for migraines, and some headaches absolutely need to be evaluated by your doctor.

But when muscular tension, stress, posture or other soft tissue issues are part of the picture, massage can be one helpful piece of the puzzle.

That’s why education is important to me.

I don’t want you to book a massage just because you have pain and expect me to magically make it disappear.

I want you to understand your body better and understand why I’m doing what I’m doing.

Your best interest comes first. Always.

Sometimes I look at what I’m doing today and have a hard time believing it’s actually my life.

Losing my eyesight changed everything. There was a point where it was very easy to look at my future and wonder what I was going to be able to do, what kind of life I could build, and whether I would ever feel independent in the same way again.

I’d be lying if I said I never felt like something had been taken away from me.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped focusing on what I had lost and started figuring out what I could still build.

That’s where Unsighted Massage came from.

Today, I get to make a living doing something I genuinely love. I get to put my hands to work, help people feel better, listen to their stories, build real relationships, and create an experience that is completely my own.

And there’s something incredibly meaningful about being able to say that I built this.

As a solo practitioner, I’m able to keep my prices fair and competitive without relying on memberships or contracts. I can take the time to listen to each person who walks through my door and customize their session based on what they actually need.

But the biggest thing I’ve gained isn’t just a business.

It’s a sense of purpose.

I don’t feel like I’m simply working because I have to. I don’t feel underappreciated or like I’m giving everything I have to something that doesn’t give anything back.

I feel fulfilled.

I feel proud.

And I feel incredibly fortunate.

Every appointment, referral, review, share, recommendation, and kind word has helped me get here. You may see it as supporting a small business, but I see something much bigger.

You’re supporting a blind man who decided that losing his sight wasn’t going to mean losing his dreams.

And for that, I will always be grateful.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me.

If your “lymphatic drainage massage” feels like deep tissue…STOP. That should raise a red flag.

I’ve read one too many stories from people who were told they were receiving Manual Lymphatic Drainage, only to describe the experience as something comparable to a deep tissue massage.

That is NOT what MLD is about.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is incredibly intentional. The repetition, the extremely light and superficial pressure, the direction of the movements, the stimulation of specific lymphatic pathways, and even the order in which different areas of the body are addressed all have a purpose.

This isn’t about digging into your muscles or using as much pressure as possible to “push the fluid out.”

It’s a specialized technique that requires proper education and training. And while there are different approaches and methods to MLD, the underlying principles matter.

That’s why I strongly encourage you to make sure the person performing your MLD is actually trained and certified in the technique.

I’m incredibly proud to have received my MLD certification from the wonderful Misty at SoderWorld Wellness Center & Academy. My training gave me an even greater appreciation for just how precise, gentle, and purposeful this work really is.

Your body deserves more than someone simply adding the words “lymphatic drainage” to their service menu.

Do your homework. Ask about their training. Ask about their certification. And make sure the person working on you actually understands the work they’re performing.

When it comes to your personal care, don’t settle for someone who just says they can do it.

Find someone who actually knows how.