Shea McKibben, LMBT

11/25/2025

💌Small Business Saturday Sale!

Gift certificates are 15% off from now until 11/30/25

✨Use code UNWIND15 at checkout✨

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/catalog/283df413

11/18/2025

“Why do massage therapists charge so much per hour?”

A question we hear often — and a great one.

The hour you spend on the table is only a fraction of the work your therapist does. Massage is incredibly physically demanding, so we’re limited in how many clients we can safely and effectively treat each day.

Behind the scenes, there’s a lot more happening: endless loads of laundry (yes, every client gets fresh, clean sheets), marketing, scheduling, cleaning, client notes, and bookkeeping. Add to that the overhead no one sees — rent, taxes, insurance, continuing education, and the steady supply of oils, tools, and linens that keep a practice running.

And unlike traditional jobs, massage therapists don’t get paid vacation or paid sick days. When we’re sick or recovering from an injury, we simply can’t work. Our rates help us save for those unavoidable days so we can continue caring for you long-term.

But here’s the real heart of it: regular massage isn’t just a service — it’s an investment in your body’s long-term well-being.

For many clients, consistent treatment reduces chronic pain, improves mobility, calms the nervous system, and restores a quality of life they thought they’d lost. The value of waking up without that constant ache, moving without fear of a flare-up, or finally sleeping through the night is priceless.

When you book a session, you’re not paying for just an hour of massage; you’re supporting skilled, thoughtful care that helps you feel and function better every day.

Thank you for supporting the work that supports you. 💛”

11/10/2025

Let’s help support people facing food insecurity this month by bringing in unused canned goods! 💌 All donations go to MANNA FoodBank.

🗓️ 🖊️ Book for November & bring in 5 cans = receive +10 free minutes added to your appointment.

〰️ View remaining November availability and book through our online calendar.

www.bloodrootholistics.com

06/23/2025

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to nominate my business, Bloodroot Holistics. We’re officially in the voting stage for “Best of Asheville 2025”!

If you feel inclined, please visit the link below and vote for Bloodroot Holistics under category Health and Beauty, then choose Massage. You can vote once per day until July 2nd. Thanks again! This made my day! 😌

https://bestofavl.com/vote/

05/28/2025

I’m taking a chance and entering my business into Best of Asheville 2025! ✨

To nominate us visit the link below, enter Bloodroot Holistics into the business name (the rest of the information should automatically fill in) then select “Health & Beauty” and “Massage” as the category. Thank you so much!

https://bestofavl.com/nominate/

07/31/2024

“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's August already, can you believe it? I am so thankful for these long sunny days spent gardening, eating copious amounts of blueberries and cooling off in wild water to escape the Summer heat. I hope you've been having a lovely Summer, too!

In this months newsletter I'm going to give you a breath work exercise I've been enjoying lately. Life can feel like A LOT sometimes, and it's so important to have some tools in your pocket you can go to when needed to calm the nervous system and return to your body. Oftentimes with the intensity of Summer heat you can also experience heightened emotions - so this is going to be good for down regulating and "cooling off" your system!

At the end of this months newsletter you'll also see a new client referral program I'm offering and a link to book your next appointment. A gentle reminder that massage therapy is best received when incorporated into a wellness routine - think once a month or every six weeks. Massage therapy is wonderful for pain relief, preventing injury, helping speed up the recovery process, increasing flexibility, boosting the immune system, regulating the nervous system and more. You can always come in more or less frequently depending on your needs.

Take good care & savor the sunny days,
Shea McKibben LMBT

Breathwork Technique:
Box Breath

Another name for this breath technique is called four-square breathing. It's great for calming overwhelm from stress or anxiety and helps to navigate through tough times. Set aside 5 minutes in your day to try this breathing exercise.

Step 1: Find a comfortable seated position
Use bolsters, pillows, a yoga mat or a comfortable chair to create a space where you can sit upright and relaxed. Other things you may want to include in your space are calming scents, a candle or soothing sounds.

Step 2: Exhale to Prepare
To begin, exhale through the mouth while counting slowly to four and allowing all of your breath to leave the body.

Step 3: Inhale
Begin to inhale through the nose and slowly count to four, allowing the lungs to fill with fresh breath. Once you feel the fullness in your lungs, bring this down into your belly and feel the abdomen expand. Once you've reached the top of your inhale hold the breath and slowly count to four.

Step 4: Exhale
Exhale all of your breath through the mouth and slowly count to four. Invite your attention to the breath leaving the body and making room for new, fresh air. Continue this breathing practice for five minutes.

Step 5: Self check-in
Check in and see how your body feels after this practice. Do you feel relief? Any shifts?

This breathwork practice came from an amazing book that I highly recommend: The Power of Breathwork - Simple Practices to Promote Wellbeing by Jennifer Patterson

Refer someone + receive a discounted treatment!

Thank you so much for your referrals, they never go unnoticed. If you refer a new client who successfully books an appointment you will receive a 15% discount the next time you come in for a bodywork session!

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Now booking for August & September, secure a time on my schedule through the link below. Friendly reminder that I oftentimes don't have the availability for same day appointments but will try to accommodate if possible.

Thai Massage & Integrative Massage
Specializing in deep tissue, assisted stretching and creating customized relaxing + therapeutic bodywork sessions to suit your individual needs.

Click here for an update from Bloodroot Holistics!

07/10/2024

“What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of my clients who have chosen to prioritize their health and wellness by continuing to invest in massage therapy services at Bloodroot Holistics during these challenging times. Your commitment to self-care is truly admirable, and I am honored to be a part of your wellness journey. Thank you for your trust and ongoing support.

Book during the month of July + save $13 on a session

July appointments are filling up but there are still openings left for Thai Massage & Integrative Massage! Use the discount code JULY13 to apply a $13 discount. Please check the online calendar for current availability and to schedule your next appointment:

Click here for an update from Bloodroot Holistics!

06/17/2024

Changes to our service menu coming July 1st:

Hello, I hope you are having a beautiful start to the Summer!

I wanted to inform you of a few updates taking place soon - ones that will help me continue to offer my work as a massage therapist and thrive, as well as provide for our family and adjust to the change in available hours I've had to make after becoming a mother.

Starting July 1st I will only be offering 60 & 90 minute sessions, and discontinuing 30, 75 and 120 minute sessions. Existing packages and gift certificates for 60, 75 or 120 minute sessions can be redeemed by contacting directly for the booking link. 60 and 90 minute sessions are by far the most popular!

*Rates for Thai Massage & Integrative Massage beginning July 1st:
60 minute - $110
90 minute - $150

*Note that rates are all inclusive!

Book a session with me through the end of June at my current rate before the change takes place, I'd love to see you! All existing appointments will be honored at my current rates as well.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to your wellness by seeing me for massage and bodywork therapy. I am grateful for the opportunity to help people feel relaxed, pain free and able to live their best lives.

Warmly, Shea McKibben LMBT

Click here for an update from Bloodroot Holistics!

06/05/2024

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”

- Chinese Proverb

I can feel Summer fast approaching and I've been reminding myself how important it is to carve out time for rest and relaxation amid the buzz of the busy Summer season, it can be hard to prioritize your own well-being when there's so much to be done! But the truth is, setting time aside for yourself to slow down and let your nervous system regulate is an important piece to staying grounded, feeling rested and claiming radical self-love. A healthy nervous system is a flexible and adaptable one - of course it's common to go through ups and downs! I've been thinking a lot about how in our culture we tend to normalize stress and we often don’t prioritize rest, joy and play in our lives.

That being said, I want to briefly tell you about Cortisol - because it's an incredibly important thing to understand about your Body when it comes to stress.

👉Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It often gets the nickname the "stress hormone" because it increases to help your Body respond to stress and challenges. It also helps regulate metabolism, control blood sugar, and assist the immune system. It’s also involved in the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, and helps manage inflammation. It’s quite the powerhouse!
It’s a normal and natural thing for Cortisol to kick in when needed - (example) your alarm doesn’t go off, and your Body needs to do something to get you out of bed and into the shower NOW - that’s Cortisol. However, so many of us are experiencing high levels for prolonged periods of time due to a busy lifestyle, and our Bodies never get the chance to downshift and regulate.

As the world pushes us to be busier and busier, it's clear that taking care of our body and mind is more important than ever.

What would it look like to tackle daily stress with routine massage - a direct route to regulating your nervous system and lowering those Cortisol levels?

Thank you for including massage therapy appointments with me as a part of your Summer self-care plans. I look forward to working with you!

See you soon,
Shea

June Special

Take an additional 5% off of packages from now until June 21st for a total of 15% off when you purchase 3 sessions. Packages are non-refundable and must be booked within 1 year from purchase date.

Packages can be scheduled as either Thai Massage or Integrative Massage and include hot towels, aromatherapy, magnesium lotion and thai herbal muscle balm.

Use code: SUMMER5 to apply the extra 5% off!

New Client Review

“Shea provides the best massage therapy I’ve ever experienced. Yesterday’s massage was deeply therapeutic but somehow unbelievably relaxing — how she accomplishes both at once is a mystery to me! She’s always on time, very pleasant to converse with, and again — highly skilled! It’s a drive for me to get there, but I’ll keep buying my packages and making the drive as long as Shea is providing massage therapy services. Love her!”

Click here for an update from Bloodroot Holistics!

05/07/2024

Let’s talk about the magic of routine bodywork and how it looks to shift from a "nice-to-have-treat'' once in a while to a “treatment.” If you’re restricted by time and/or money around self care - bodywork addresses physical and mental stress - giving you more bang for your well-being buck!

If you already know the benefits of routine massage therapy and need to schedule an appointment, please check my calendar and book here.

👇👇If you’re curious about the benefits of regular massage, read on! 👇👇

Stress Be Gone!: Let’s send your stress on a summer vacation. Regular massages can help regulate the nervous system and give your very busy brain a moment of peace.

Headache’s Arch Nemesis: If you’re prone to chronic headaches or migraines, regular massage might be the superhero you’ve been waiting for.

A Dose of "Me Time": In the hustle and bustle of life, massage is your guilt-free pass to a well-deserved time out.

Not to mention all of the other amazing benefits of routine bodywork! You might book a Thai Massage if you're looking to increase flexibility, manage aches + pains and be stretched out, all while you relax! Or you can book an Integrative Massage and let your tension melt away on the massage table.

If any of these sounds realllllly nice, I’d love to see you. We can talk more about creating a session that checks all the boxes.

May Special Offer:

10% off 90min sessions
Use code MAY10 to apply during booking

Mother's Day Gift Card Sale

Give someone in your life the gift of massage therapy for Mother's Day and they will thank you endlessly!

10% off gift certificates using code MOTHERSDAY

Expires 5/12/24

By appointment only.

Office Hours:
Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays 9am-5pm

Click here for an update from Bloodroot Holistics!

04/02/2024

“To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.” ―Jill Bolte Taylor

April special offer:

10% off 75min sessions

Use code APR10 while booking to apply!

Choose between Thai Massage & Integrative Massage and Bodywork

Includes hot towels + aromatherapy

Available add-ons include:
Herbal Foot Soak, Hot Stones, Magnesium Muscle Recovery, Face & Jaw Focus, Bay & Rosemary Scalp Massage, Abdominal Massage

Recent 5 Star Reviews:

"Shea is fantastic! I've worked with her for both the Thai massage and her integrative massage and they're each exactly what I need them to be. She works with your specific needs, always has such a calming energy and space, and is so considerate. I highly recommend her to my friends and coworkers all the time!"

"Shea was fantastic! Had a 30 minute session and she was able to hit a surprisingly large number of areas in that time. Also had a nice/comfortable space. Would recommend."

By appointment only.

Office Hours:
Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays 9am-5pm

Click here for an update from Bloodroot Holistics!

02/29/2024

"You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep Spring from coming." —Pablo Neruda

March special offer:

10% off 120min sessions

Use code MAR10 while booking to apply!

- Choose between Thai Massage & Integrative Massage and Bodywork -

Prenatal can be booked as either, just include a note in your booking please.

Recent 5 Star Reviews:

"Fantastic massage, relaxing space, Shea was so kind and accommodating. Already looking forward to my next appointment!"

"Shea is easily among the more gifted practitioners of this healing art !"

By appointment only.

Current Hours:

Mondays 9:30am-7:30pm
Thursdays & Fridays 9:30am-6:00pm
Every other Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm

Click here for an update from Bloodroot Holistics!