BY EVA MAYS
Nikole Grace is a licensed massage therapist based in the Morgantown-area. She offers a wide range of holistic therapeutic services, including cupping, Reiki and a traditional Hawaiian massage technique called lomilomi.
A full menu of services can be found at https://www.massagebook.com/morgantown~Massage~forwomen
Initially, Grace began to pursue a career as an acupuncturist, but the school she wanted to apply to desired candidates who had experience in other holistic wellness fields. So, in 2005, she registered for massage therapy classes at Morgantown Beauty College.
“I had always liked massage, it just wasn’t in the forefront of my mind for a career. But after I started doing it, I really fell in love with it, and I never considered being an acupuncturist again.”
While she does have a small room in her home dedicated to her business, Grace most often travels to her clients’ locations. She encourages potential clients to call 304-376-8662 to make an appointment. Returning clients can text, call, or email to be added to the schedule.
Grace specializes in using massage therapy to treat women’s abdominal pain and gynecologic issues, such as menstrual pain, abdominal scars and endometriosis. She customizes her massages to meet a client’s particular health and relaxation needs.
“Massage can help with lymphatic drainage, help scar tissue heal and keep inflammation and swelling down,” said Grace.
Her services are also trauma-informed.
“Every human being in the world has been through some sort of trauma,” Grace said. “Trauma-informed massage is an integrating technique, depending on the trauma, that can make clients feel more comfortable while also working with the vagus nerve to help calm that central nervous system. This gives them the space to be able to let that trauma go.”
Jesalyn Kamaka of Monongah discovered Grace after sharing a post on Facebook about her difficulty finding appropriate treatment for chronic pain due to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
“I felt like my doctors were only wanting me to take birth control or get pregnant to treat it, and I didn’t want either of those options,” Kamaka said.
After four sessions of massage with Grace, Kamaka noticed a remarkable lessening of pain and was able to reduce the amount of medication she needed to control it.
“Nikole has always given me a reason to laugh and relax. She helped me to love myself and to know there is hope and help for me.”
After the birth of her first child three years ago, Grace decided to pursue a long-held interest in midwifery.
She began a midwifery program in September. In December, Grace earned a holistic doula certification through the Matrona Foundation, which included 30 hours of studies in anatomy, physiology, prenatal care, holistic birth and placenta medicine. In addition to massage, she is now proud to offer doula services, where her role is to nurture mothers and families before, during and after home or hospital births.
She sees a natural progression from massage therapy to birth attendant.
“Who doesn’t want a massage therapist to support them through the pain that can come from pregnancy and childbirth?”
