Nicola Hogan Massage

12/04/2026

I’ve quietly been building something alongside my massage work… and it’s time to share it.

After 20+ years in this industry, I’ve seen how many incredible massage therapists and bodyworkers struggle—not with their hands-on skills, but with communication, boundaries, and building a business that actually feels sustainable.

A few years ago, I was a mentor in the pilot mentoring program with the Association of Massage Therapists. What started as a formal mentoring role turned into a 4-year professional relationship with my mentee—something that really showed me the value of this work beyond structured programs.

During my time away from full-time clinic work, I also created Clary Sage Consulting, where I worked with bodyworkers and holistic practitioners to get clear on their communication, messaging, and how they show up in their business. This included my role as a Digital Advisor through the ASBAS government-funded program, supporting small business owners with their online presence and communication.

What I kept seeing, over and over, was this: it’s not a lack of skill that holds therapists back—it’s how they communicate what they do, the boundaries they hold, and the relationships they build.

So alongside my clinic work, I’m now offering mentoring for therapists who want to:
• feel more confident in how they talk about what they do
• build stronger relationships with clients and referrers
• create clear boundaries without second-guessing
• attract the kind of clients they genuinely want to work with

This work feels like sitting at a kitchen table together—real conversations, practical support, and space to find your own way of doing things.

If this is something you’ve been looking for, send me a message or email to start the conversation. Mentoring rates start from the equivalent of a 1-hour massage session with me.

Nicola x

11/04/2026

"When you take things at face value, you miss the bigger picture.
The surface never tells the whole story. Touch taught me that — so has 20+ years of listening to bodies".

8 months ago, I started a Substack to help me reflect upon and share some of my experiences as a massage therapist.

Read my first article:

Beneath the Touch - Tale 1

10/04/2026

I did a thing.
Actually… I did two things.

Today, I got out of my own way and applied to be a guest on the Folding Towels Podcast

AND

I submitted an application to be a presenter at the 2026 Conference for the Association of Massage Therapists, it’s their 60 year anniversary.

I figured it might be time to start sharing some of the knowledge — and the stories — I’ve been quietly writing about on my Substack, Beneath the Touch and in the book I’ve been slowly piecing together.

Maybe it’s time those stories found their way off the page and into the world.

12/02/2026

AMT Media Release
AMT calls for Remedial Massage Therapists to be recognised as NDIS providers

The Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) is urging the Federal Government to include qualified remedial massage therapists and myotherapists in reforms to the definition of NDIS providers, as part of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's current consultation closing 28 February 2026.

"NDIS participants are currently forced to access massage through registered allied health practitioners, when qualified remedial massage therapists could provide the same service more accessibly and affordably," said Rebecca Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of AMT. " It’s galling that the very practitioners most qualified to provide remedial massage are unable to provide the service to NDIS participants. This policy doesn't make sense and limits participant choice and access to care."

Perth NDIS participant John Lynes said he was "gutted" to discover that his regular remedial massage is not covered within the scheme. "Remedial massage is the only effective therapy that keeps me mobile. It's saving me from amputation of my foot," he said. "I can't find an allied health practitioner who can provide the treatment that works for me."

Youjung Suh, a remedial massage therapist who has worked with disabled clients, shared the impact of this restriction. “Many of my clients rely on remedial massage to manage pain, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life. It is frustrating that they can’t use their NDIS funding to access my services. This reform is an opportunity to give people with disabilities the freedom to choose the best qualified provider for their needs.”

AMT is making a comprehensive submission and has created resources to help NDIS participants share their stories with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

https://www.amt.org.au/media-centre/NDIS-2026.html

10/02/2026

📣 Are you, or someone you care for, living with disability — and would benefit from Remedial Massage Therapy?

If your answer is yes, this is important.

Did you know qualified Remedial Massage Therapists are excluded from providing NDIS-funded services?

This means many NDIS participants pay out of pocket or miss out on treatment altogether — even when massage therapy helps reduce pain, improve movement, manage stress, and support daily functioning.

Today, we have a real opportunity to change this.

All I’m asking is 15–20 minutes of your time (perhaps your good deed for the day 💛).

By adding your voice, you can help remove barriers and improve access to essential care for people who truly need it.

Click the link below to access the Association of Massage Therapists Fact Sheet, which explains:

✅ What this is about
✅ Why this matters to you
✅ How you can help

https://mobile.amt.org.au/downloads/NDIS/AMT-NDIS-consultation-fact-sheet.pdf

Submission closes on 11:30 pm AEST on 28 February 2026.

Thank you so much for your support to create a meaningful change where it needs

02/02/2026

👉🏻 The solution to the majority of back pain is to just keep moving, experts say. In terms of specific exercises for the spine, O’Sullivan says yoga can help. “We encourage people to move the spine in all directions … flex, extension, rotate and side-bend.”👈🏻

Look, I get it…when things hurt, when your back is in pain, your instinct may be to do as little as possible.

But, movement really does help. Even if it’s a gentle 15 minute walk everyday.

An estimated 80% of the population will suffer from lower back pain at some point. The good news is that preventing it is a lot easier than treating it

26/01/2026

In 2016 I ran a busy massage clinic called Stress Less Bodyworks. Deep tissue, trigger points, “go deeper.”
In 2026, Solo practice, the work looks gentler — myofascial, lymphatic, slow flow — and reaches further than ever. Here’s what changed.

https://open.substack.com/pub/beneaththetouch/p/2016-vs-2026-why-massage-looks-gentler?r=2ly740&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

13/01/2026

For years we were taught that hands-on work was about fixing structures.

Realigning.
Releasing.
Putting things back where they belong.

But the research keeps pointing somewhere else.

When we place our hands on a body, we’re not just working on tissue, we’re speaking to the nervous system.

To pain pathways.
To safety.
To chemistry, circulation, tone, and trust.

This new review shows that manual therapy works through many systems at once, with the strongest effects happening in the brain and nervous system, not because something was “out of place,” but because the body felt supported enough to change.

This is why my work is unhurried.

Why I listen as much as I touch.
Why technique matters, but context, pacing, and presence matter more.

Your body isn’t a problem to be solved.

It’s a system waiting for the right conditions to soften, reorganise, and respond.

And sometimes, that begins with simply being met — safely, respectfully, and without force.

Home » Blog » What Really Happens When We Use Manual Therapy? A Fresh Look at the Mechanisms Behind Hands-On Approaches

02/01/2026

Happy 2026 everybody 🥳
I hope you’re all having a great summer 🌞

I’m enjoying my festive break, with plenty of beach action, pottering in my veggie patch, reading fiction and spending time with family.

I’ll be back in the massage room from Monday 12 January 💆🏻‍♀️💆🏼

Until then, keep moving, keep hydrated and stay well.

Nic 😊

20/12/2025

Forever unwinding and unfurling 🫶🏻🪽

Today I have heard the news of the passing of John F. Barnes, aka the Grandfather of Myofascial Release.

I was first introduced to his work in 2000, when I completed MFR1 as part of my massage diploma.

I was blown away by this approach - so gentle, yet very effective and unlike any other massage technique I’d felt or received before.

Considered to be a therapeutic icon and teacher, his Myofascial Release work has been pioneering, changing many lives for over 50 years.

26/11/2025

Fascia is getting a lot of air time this year, it’s a bit of a buzz word.

But it is real, and we can do many things to support and maintain our body’s fascia - movement is key.

Motion is lotion.

And fascia focused bodywork treatments help too 😉

Our muscles, bones and organs are held together by a network of tissue that influences our every move. Is there a way we can use it to our advantage?

17/11/2025

Massages aren’t just a luxury – they’re legit healthcare. But we all knew that already 😉

New research shows massage can calm the nervous system, ease chronic pain, improve sleep and even help cancer patients reduce long-term pain.

Experts say its benefits are holistic, working on the physical, emotional and neurological levels.

From reconnecting with your body to managing ongoing pain, massage supports wellbeing for anyone, no matter their health status.

While they can be seen as a luxury, massages are often part of healthcare – here’s how they affect physical and mental health