Meg Donnelly, Nova Weekend Warriors

11/17/2025

Update: Some compromises were made. But we have a new ordinance that we can live with. I’m thankful many including my fellow members of the Fairfax County Licensed Massage Therapist Business Owners, as well as the Fairfax County Health Department, Rachel Rozner, Fairfax County Small Business Commissioner-Dranesville and the entire Small Business Commission, additional Fairfax County Government staff, the majority of our Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that met with us including my district Supervisor Dranesville District - Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, my former district Supervisor Supervisor Walter Alcorn and Vice Chair Sully Supervisor Kathy Smith, Fairfax County Police Department including special units, county fire marshall and Deputy County Executive for Safety and Security.

While we didn’t agree on everything, all took time for appointments with us… and in many cases multiple appointments… to hear our safety and business concerns as small business owners.

I believe the end result is a good compromise and will allow us to keep our businesses in Fairfax County while keeping ourselves and our clients safe as we continue provide much needed health and wellness care to our community.

If you have any questions about the newly adopted ordinance, please feel free to reach out. My belief is the transition will be so seamless that clients should not see any relevant changes to how we work together and the safe environment we already provide.

Thank you all for your support over the past 5+ months. It tryly made a difference!
*******

Original Post:
Quick urgent request. Fairfax County is voting on the new massage ordinance tomorrow (Tuesday), and public comments are due by 12 noon on Tuesday 11/18.

If you can, please send a quick email to ClerktotheBOS@fairfaxcounty.gov to support.

You can copy and paste the wording from my email in link in bio or here (just ignore the dates 11/17 and 11/19 which I mistyped):
https://mailchi.mp/efe793d59af2/supportmassagetherapy

Thank you so much!!!!!

10/24/2025

🎥 Following up on our last post for Massage Therapy Awareness Week… here’s the video! 🎥

Earlier this week, we shared that Mayor Keven LeBlanc Mayor Keven LeBlanc on behalf of he and the entire town council presented a Town of Herndon Government Proclamation recognizing National Massage Therapy Awareness Week (Oct 19–25, 2025) to the Fairfax County Licensed Massage Therapist Business Owners… and now the Herndon Community Television (HCTV) footage is ready to view! View the reels here or check it out on the HCTV YouTube page at https://youtu.be/GWXuZmoVBTs?si=FDHQ7V_4PIMLzfDl

Massage therapy is an evidence-informed, client-centered practice that supports pain relief, reduces stress, and promotes overall wellness. I’m so proud to stand with other licensed massage therapists who bring compassionate, skilled care to our community every day. 💙

Here’s to raising awareness of the value of massage therapy for everybody and every body.

10/21/2025

✨ Massage Therapy Awareness Week ✨

This morning, Mayor Keven LeBlanc presented a Town of Herndon Proclamation recognizing National Massage Therapy Awareness Week (Oct 19–25, 2025) the Fairfax County Licensed Massage Therapist Business Owners. In front of the Old Town Hall, a small group of us here accepted on behalf of the 50+ licensed massage therapist business owners and supporters in our group.

Our proclamation was also recorded by . The recording will be shown between programs in the coming weeks and available on the HCTV YouTube channel later this week as well.

Massage therapy is an evidence-informed, client-centered practice that helps ease pain, reduce stress, support emotional balance, and aid recovery.

I’m proud to stand alongside other small business owners and licensed professionals who bring compassionate, skilled care to our community every day. 💕

Here’s to raising awareness of the impact massage therapy has on health, wellness, and quality of life fir for everybody and every body.

Thank you Mayor Keven, Herndon Town Council Members, and for supporting licensed massage therapists and health professionals in our local community!

09/30/2025

Congrats!

The 2025 list is out! We're honored to have GLMA Executive Director, Alex Sheldon, be a part of this year's incredible list.

Endorsed by PFLAG National CEO Brian Bond, who shared:

“I first met Alex Sheldon in an Austin courtroom. They had just become executive director of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, and here we were, voices of resistance against Texas’ cruel effort to ban transgender health care for youth by threatening health care providers’ licenses. Alex is the kind of leader who, in the face of unimaginable vitriol, brings the facts. They rise to the occasion time and again, leading GLMA to support providers dedicated to improving health for LGBTQ+ people, from challenging grant terminations that gutted their research to being our co-­plaintiff in PFLAG v. Trump to fight the Executive Order banning trans health care for youth. Trans and nonbinary people deserve the freedom to thrive. Yet attacks on trans health care threaten that truth and could affect all parents’ decision­making rights—and all providers’ ability to offer best-practice medical care. It’s why we need folks like Alex, who fight for all of us.”

GLMA celebrates this recognition as a reflection of the strength and dedication of our members, partners, and allies who work every day to advance health equity for LGBTQ+ communities.

Explore the full list: time.com/next or in our bio!

09/30/2025

09/26/2025

💉 Staying Up To Date

At my annual exam this week, my awesome primary care team reminded me of an important update: in late 2024, the recommendation for the pneumonia vaccine (Pneumococcal Vaccination – PCV) shifted from age 65+ to 50+. Since I turned 51 this year, I rolled up my sleeve!

Other than some redness at the injection site, a little soreness, and an afternoon nap today, I’ve felt great… no big side effects.

I stay current on vaccines not only for my own health, but to help protect the people around me. I’m grateful to have a healthcare team I can talk with openly and honestly. A team that listens to me. A team where we make decisions TOGETHER in an evidence-informed way. That matters so much, especially in a time when misinformation is everywhere.

Here’s to science, community care, health care advocates that guide by your side and those who listen and provide the conversations that keep us safer. 🌟

09/23/2025

Oncology massage is about comfort and more. Licensed massage therapists with training in oncology informed massage can provide safe, adaptive touch therapy for people diagnosed with cancer. 💙

In my latest blog post, I share what oncology massage is and how it may ease pain, reduce stress, and support healing before, during, and after treatment.

👉 Read the full post here: https://www.novaweekendwarriors.com/oncology-massage-and-cancer-care/ or link in bio

09/13/2025

Are you following Mayor Keven’s spotlights this month! I’ve been following and already added some great book picks from other community members so far.

And while my selection might be a little specific (always more to learn and review as a LMT), my reading posture tip is for everyone! 💕

Thanks Mayor and our Town of Herndon community members for bringing the us together through reading, connection and care!

💆♀️📚 Herndon Reads Spotlight: Meg Donnelly,

When she’s not helping clients heal through her work as a licensed massage therapist and owner of NOVA Weekend Warriors or leading regional therapeutic wellness groups, Meg Donnelly is diving deep into Traumatic Scar Tissue Management.

Meg reminds us that knowledge is power especially when it comes to recovery, resilience, and helping others feel whole again. And she offers one more piece of wisdom for readers everywhere: “The perfect reading posture is the one you’re comfortable in.” 🙌

Thank you, Meg, for bringing healing hands, leadership, and a love of learning to our community.

08/29/2025

My next blog post was intended to be something else. Additionally, I hadn’t planned on publishing another post so soon after my last one, which hasn’t been promoted yet… but these are wild times. Hopefully, you will find some comfort in these resources. Now is a time for strength, courage and wisdom. 💕 https://www.novaweekendwarriors.com/trusted-sources-for-evidence-based-health-information/ or link in bio.

08/14/2025

Looking to mitigate swelling after surgery? Living with lymphedema or lipedema?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) isn’t “just light massage”. It’s an evidence-informed approach backed by updated science, including the latest ICG imaging research from the ALERT program.
Learn what MLD is, how it works, and the new techniques making a difference in client outcomes.
📖 Read the full post: https://www.novaweekendwarriors.com/evidence-informed-approach-to-manual-lymphatic-drainage/ (link in bio)

08/10/2025

👟 Training for a marathon? Your long runs aren’t the only thing that need a plan… your recovery does too.

Massage during marathon training can help address soreness, maintain mobility, and keep you performing at your best… but timing is everything.
From base building to taper week, each training phase calls for a different approach.

✅ When to book after a long run
✅ How often to schedule in peak weeks
✅ Why you might skip massage right before race day

I break it all down here so you can find the massage schedule that works for your body and your goals:
🔗 https://www.novaweekendwarriors.com/massage-schedule-for-marathon-training/
[link in bio]



📸 credit:

07/21/2025

This was such a unique, awesome experience. Different from other podcasts I’ve been on. Kirby is a great interviewer and it’s been a long time since I shared my journey to how I’ve become the massage therapist I am today. Honored to be featured and grateful that I was also able to share our current challenges with the proposed Fairfax County massage ordinance changes.

I hope you can give it a listen and share your thoughts!

Thanks for a great conversation Kirby Clark Ellis and SOMA: Society Of Massage Archives Hands of History podcast!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7sf5XhW5Bp3Otja8dEGVbQ?si=kr1sXkTtTcmYOsIKEpw4SA&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A0fD6QYtU7VsAaYVSB5Yixz

The Hands Of History Podcast: a production of the Society Of Massage Archives · Episode