Unsighted Massage

01/04/2026

Valentine’s Day has a way of putting gifts on everyone’s mind, and if we’re being honest, flowers fade and chocolates disappear pretty quickly. This year, don’t be shy about it. Tell your partner, spouse, or secret admirer that what you really want is a massage. A hands-on session with Unsighted Massage is the kind of gift that actually lasts long after the holiday is over.

And since the new year is all about fresh starts and taking better care of ourselves, I’m making it even easier to say yes to that self-care. New clients who book a 90-minute massage will receive $20 off, bringing the session to just $105. More time on the table, more focused work, and a deal that’s hard to pass up.

Just be sure to mention this promotion at the time of booking to claim the offer. Contact me directly for more information, or better yet, start dropping hints to your Valentine now.

01/02/2026

As we head into the new year, I just want to take a moment to say that I’m here for you. Whether your goal is to manage stress, work through pain or tension, or simply make more time for yourself, massage can be a powerful part of your self-care routine, and I’m grateful to be part of that journey with you. I’m looking forward to helping you stay relaxed, balanced, and feeling your best in the year ahead.

One quick but important reminder as we move forward together. If you’re feeling sick, please stay home and reschedule your appointment. Coming in while sick doesn’t just affect you. It puts other clients at risk, and if I get sick, I’m forced to be out of commission for a few days, which impacts everyone who is scheduled. I’m always happy to work with you on rescheduling so we can keep the space safe and healthy for all of us.

Thank you for your understanding, your respect, and your continued support. Here’s to a healthier, calmer year ahead.

12/26/2025

As Christmas passes us, I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas. And whether you celebrate something else or nothing at all, this season is still meant to represent togetherness, warmth, and connection. I just want to take a moment to say thank you for such an amazing year. Four months down inside Nicole Richards Salon and Spa, and I truly could not be more grateful. Whether your support has come from sharing my posts, referring friends and family, or coming in and getting a massage yourself, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because of all of you, I get to do something I genuinely love, help others feel their best, and fully represent myself while doing so. 2026 won’t be any different, and I hope you all remember how deserving you are of time set aside just for yourselves. I can’t wait to hear all of your holiday stories as we see each other in the new year.

12/24/2025

I find the lymphatic system to be so interesting!

💚🔥 Inflammation vs Lymph Stagnation: Understanding the Difference

By Bianca Botha, CLT | RLD | MLDT & CDS – Lymphatica

Most women feel swelling, heaviness, puffiness, tightness or discomfort and assume it is “inflammation.” But inflammation and lymph stagnation are not the same thing — although they love to appear together and confuse the entire picture.

Understanding the difference is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward real, lasting healing. Because when you know what your body is doing, you finally know how to support it.

Let’s gently unpack this in a way that feels empowering, not overwhelming.

🔥 What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is your body’s built-in protection system. It is an immune response that activates when something needs to be repaired, defended or cleared.

Acute inflammation can show up as:
• warmth
• redness
• pain
• heat
• swelling

Chronic inflammation is quieter and looks like:
• fatigue
• joint stiffness
• brain fog
• hormonal imbalance
• gut irritation
• headaches
• autoimmune flares

Inflammation says:
“Something here needs attention.”

But inflammation is not the problem —
the inability to clear it is.

💧 What Is Lymph Stagnation?

Your lymphatic system is responsible for clearing inflammation, toxins, cellular debris, excess fluid and immune byproducts from your tissues.

When lymph stagnates, your body struggles to remove this waste — creating a feeling of heaviness, swelling and fullness.

Lymph stagnation looks like:
• puffy face and eyes
• swollen hands or feet
• heaviness in legs
• bloating
• fluid retention
• tight rings
• cellulite or dimpling
• a “thick” or congested feeling

Lymph stagnation says:
“I can’t drain what you’re asking me to clear.”

🌿 Inflammation and Lymph Stagnation Are Partners

They are deeply connected.
One triggers the other.
One worsens the other.
One calms when the other flows.

Here’s how:

🔥 Inflammation without lymph flow

causes fluid buildup, pain, swelling and chronic symptoms because the waste isn’t being removed.

💧 Lymph stagnation without inflammation

creates congestion, puffiness, heaviness and toxicity — which then leads to inflammation.

It’s a cycle.
Not a mistake.
Not your body failing you.

A cycle asking for softer support.

🧘‍♀️ How to Tell the Difference

Here is a simple way to recognise what your body is experiencing:

💧 Lymph Stagnation (fluid-driven)

• Swelling improves with movement
• Massaging the area feels relieving
• Warm showers help
• Puffiness fluctuates during the day
• Morning swelling is common
• Clothes feel tight but not painful

This is fluid that isn’t draining.

🔥 Inflammation (immune-driven)

• Area feels warm or hot
• Pain or sensitivity is present
• Symptoms worsen with pressure
• Rest helps more than movement
• Pain lasts even when swelling goes down
• May accompany fatigue or joint pain

This is your immune system actively working.

Your body often shows both at the same time — and that is where the magic happens, because lymphatic work becomes transformative.

💚 So What Does Your Body Actually Need?

Support looks different depending on the message.

For Lymph Stagnation:

• warm foods
• movement
• hydration
• gentle lymph drainage
• deep breathing
• diaphragm activation
• magnesium
• open neck and collarbone pathways

Your body wants movement and flow.

For Inflammation:

• lowering inflammatory load
• calming the gut
• supporting the liver
• reducing stress
• anti-inflammatory foods
• nervous system regulation
• rest

Your body wants calm and stability.

When you combine both?
Your whole system opens.
Healing accelerates.
Symptoms soften.
You feel lighter.

🌼 A Beautiful Truth

You are not “too sensitive.”
You are not “inflamed for no reason.”
You are not “swelling randomly.”

Your body is speaking.

Inflammation is the message.
Lymph stagnation is the traffic jam.
Healing is restoring flow.

When you support your lymphatic system, inflammation finally has a way out.
When you calm inflammation, your lymphatic system can do its job again.

Your body is not working against you.
It is fighting FOR you.
Let’s give it the flow it needs. 🌿💛

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, lifestyle or health regimen.

12/19/2025

As we head into the holiday season, I want to give everyone a quick heads-up about my upcoming availability. The next couple of weeks will include some closings and more limited hours as the holidays approach.

I do have last-minute availability on Monday and Tuesday of next week, then I will be closed on Wednesday. I’ll be resuming normal hours starting Monday, December 29.

The holidays are all about giving to others, but they’re also a good reminder of how important it is to take care of ourselves too. Between the stress, the busy schedules, and everything that comes with this time of year, a little time to slow down can go a long way.

If you’ve been thinking about getting in before the holidays or planning something to look forward to after, now is a great time to book. I appreciate all of you and wish everyone a calm, healthy, and restorative holiday season.

12/14/2025

I’m willing to bet that right now, as you’re reading this, your head is tilted downward and your neck is drifting forward. Take a second and notice it. Do you think that position is actually good for your neck and shoulders?

The average human head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. When it sits directly over your shoulders, your neck muscles can support it efficiently. But for every inch your head moves forward, the strain on your neck increases dramatically. At just a few inches forward, those muscles are dealing with the equivalent of several times that weight. Over time, this constant load leads to tightness, fatigue, headaches, and shoulder pain.

What’s really happening is a muscle imbalance. The muscles in the front of the neck and chest shorten and tighten, while the muscles in the upper back and the deep neck stabilizers become overstretched and weak. Your body is working harder just to hold your head up.

Massage helps by addressing both sides of that problem. It releases the shortened, overworked muscles that are pulling your head forward, and it improves circulation and tissue quality in the lengthened muscles that are constantly under strain. By restoring balance, massage allows your neck and shoulders to move more freely and with less effort, reducing tension and discomfort over time.

If your neck and shoulders have been feeling tight, heavy, or sore lately, there’s a good chance your daily posture is playing a role. Giving those muscles some attention can make a bigger difference than most people realize.

12/10/2025

The holidays are right around the corner, and I’m happy to share that gift certificates will be available starting this Friday inside Nicole Richards Salon and Spa. A massage is a great way to give someone relaxation and self care, but if massage isn’t quite their thing, consider a Nicole Richards gift card for any of the amazing services they offer and turn it into a win for yourself too. Any gift card purchase of $100 or more comes with a $20 off coupon to come and see me for a session. Take care of someone you love and give yourself something to look forward to as well.

12/08/2025

When I talk to clients about manual lymphatic drainage, the first thing I explain is that it’s very different from a typical massage. This work is slow, light, and intentional. There’s no deep pressure and no chasing muscle knots. Instead, it focuses on supporting the lymphatic system, which plays a huge role in immune health, inflammation, fluid balance, and how the body clears waste. Because of how gentle it is, I always let people know they may not leave feeling sore or “worked,” and that is completely normal.

What I try to tell clients is that with manual lymphatic drainage, a lot of the benefits happen behind the scenes. Even if you don’t feel something dramatic right away, your body is still responding. This work can help reduce swelling, improve circulation, calm inflammation, support recovery, and regulate the nervous system. Over time, many people notice better sleep, less heaviness or puffiness, improved energy, and an overall sense of balance. Even if there isn’t a specific issue you’re trying to fix, supporting the lymphatic system is something nearly everyone can benefit from. Sometimes the most effective treatments are not the ones you feel immediately, but the ones that help your body function better long term.

12/05/2025

How are you feeling lately? Not the polite answer we give in passing, but the real one. If you’ve been carrying more stress than usual, feeling tension building in your shoulders or low back, or noticing that you’re running on empty this time of year, your body is trying to tell you something. You don’t have to push through it. If you need a reset, some relief, or just an hour where everything finally slows down, come see me. Book your appointment and let’s take care of what your body has been holding onto.

11/29/2025

Small Business Saturday hits different when you’re someone whose life was completely turned around by taking a chance on a dream. Owning Unsighted Massage hasn’t just given me a career. It’s given me purpose, independence, and a way to connect with people in a way I never expected. Every time someone books with me, refers me, or even just shares my name with a friend, it reminds me that this path was worth fighting for.

The truth is that without all of you, I would be stuck, burnt out, and still trying to figure out what direction my life was supposed to go. Instead, I get to wake up every day and do something I’m passionate about. I get to help people feel better in their bodies. I get to meet some of the kindest people I’ve ever known. That is because of you.

So thank you. Thank you for supporting a small business. Thank you for supporting a fully blind therapist who is just trying to build something real and meaningful. And as always, there is nothing I want more than to help everyone who walks through my door. So remember to book your appointments and come see me. I’d love the chance to thank you in person.

11/27/2025

Unsighted massage turns a year old! I am so thankful for getting to help everyone that comes across my table. Make sure to take a little bit of extra time to enjoy the holiday with others, take an extra breath, relax where you can get it, And eat a little bit more than you usually would! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

11/14/2025

Thanksgiving week is coming up, and it’s the perfect time for a little reset before things get hectic. For first-time clients, all massage sessions are just $60 per hour for Thanksgiving week, Monday through Saturday. Spots are limited and they fill quickly.

Between kids being home from school, teachers finally getting a break, family visiting, and in-laws settling in, this time of year can get overwhelming fast. Giving yourself an hour to breathe, decompress, and feel human again can make all the difference.

If you’re ready for a much-needed escape before the holiday chaos hits, call or direct message to book your session.