Nicola Hogan Massage & Mentor

18/06/2026

I slept through my alarm this morning. And as lovely as it was to be rugged up in bed at 7.30am, naturally waking to the light peeking through the curtains and the sound of birds outside, a 90-minute sleep in definitely threw me off a little.

My daughter missed the school bus, so I drove her to school instead. There was no usual bowl of porridge this morning, just half a coffee before heading to Blue Ginger next to my clinic.

I dropped off my clean massage linen, turned on the table warmer and heater, and joined the queue. Today was definitely a two coffee day. This morning was cold and damp. My body felt tired and, to quote my 12-year-old, I was feeling a bit “CBB’s” (can’t be bothered 😜).

While waiting, I bumped into a massage client I hadn’t seen in ages. We chatted about life, my new location, and how we’re somehow already halfway through the year. Where does the time go?

Then it clicked.

Winter solstice is this weekend. The shortest day of the year, arriving after what feels like one of the coldest June weeks we’ve had in a long time here in the South West.

No wonder so many of us are feeling tired.

As humans, we’re not separate from nature. We are part of it. And maybe our bodies are asking for the same things the season is asking for. A little more rest. A little more slowness. A few earlier nights. Maybe even the occasional sleep in.

We live in a world that encourages us to push through, stay productive and keep going. Winter has always invited something different.
Less doing. More being.

Something to ponder as we head towards the solstice this weekend. 🤍

16/06/2026

My latest blog post contribution for Association of Massage Therapists is now live.

The pressure to push through: the cost of “Don’t work, don’t get paid”, is a thoughtful reflection of the sometimes precarious nature of employment, contracting or being a self employed massage therapist, versus the cost of therapist self care.

Have a read:

NIcola Hogan explores the hidden costs of “pushing through” and precarious employment in this edition of the AMT blog.

16/06/2026

It’s a big season of change for me right now, and that means glasses too. After 2 years of the fab green square frames, I needed a stronger prescription and chose these funky pair…what do you think! 🤓

15/06/2026

I’ve been playing around in my new space all morning and I’m totally loving these windows!

Yesterday I shifted everything out and did a deep clean, perfect timing with the new moon energy.

Today I’ve set up my portable table to get a better feel of the space for the layout.

As I type this, I’m sitting in the client chair with the glorious view of clouds, cows, trees and birds out of two windows…which is a mega upgrade from my current massage room which has none!

Creating this space has been an intentional heart felt process and I can’t wait to welcome you all here in July 💚

13/06/2026

One of my regular monthly clients said something to me during his session on Friday that stopped me in my tracks.

We were working through some stubborn neck tension, combining breathwork with gentle passive movements, slowly allowing deeper muscles to let go.

Partway through the session he said, “ I don't really come here for relaxation."

Then he paused.

"No, that's not right. I do feel relaxed. You don't do light and fluffy… I guess that's what I mean."

He took another breath and I could see him searching for the right words. I waited.

"Trust," he finally said.

"It's trust. I trust that you're not going to hurt me and that you know how to help me. You listen and feel my feedback loops and I feel safe."

The biggest smile came over my face, because THAT is it.

Trust. Safety. Connection.

For me, massage has never just been about relaxation, nor is it about forcing bodies to change.

It's about listening.

It's a conversation without words.

It's creating enough safety that the body can soften, breathe and remember its own resilience.

That’s communication. That is the real work happening beneath the touch.

And to have a client describe that experience, unprompted, in his own words… well, that's everything 💚

11/06/2026

I’ll always be your biggest cheerleader… 📣

After many years of practice, I’ve learned that massage therapy often comes with a little unexpected life coaching too 😉.

As your massage therapist, I help you ease pain and tension, improve mobility and keep doing the things you love…and maybe cheer you for that big decision.

As your mentor, I listen to your challenges, ask thoughtful questions and help you find the words, confidence and clarity that have often been there all along.

And for myself?

I've learned to trust my intuition.

To listen when my body asks for rest.

To let go of the idea that I have to do everything the hard way.

To make decisions that align with my values, not other people's expectations.

I've come to realise that whether I'm working with clients on the table or therapists inside a mentoring session, my role is often the same.

To encourage.�To support.�To remind people of their strengths.

Because sometimes we all need someone in our corner cheering us on.

10/06/2026

I love getting text feedback from my clients. This one made me feel all the feels 😀💚

After 2 hip replacements and a lot of rehabbing, Mr 78 (very active 🏊 🏄‍♂️) is back on his board, which means plenty of surfing on his Indo trip.

🥬 He also brings me the best produce from his garden every visit.

09/06/2026

Sharing this from the people at Self Seen because, men's mental health matters. 💚 Sometimes a walk and a chat can make all the difference.

09/06/2026

One of the things I'm most looking forward to about moving my massage studio home is creating a slower, more spacious experience.

I've intentionally built longer buffer times between clients, so there'll be no rushing from one appointment to the next.

Bring your keep cup and enjoy a takeaway coffee, tea or hot chocolate after your session.

If your partner drives you or you come together as a couple, a cuppa will be waiting for them too.

Many years ago, I worked as a barista and I still love making good coffee. I have my own machine, grinder and, if I do say so myself, still make a pretty decent cup.

And on some days, there might even be a freshly baked muffin or friand waiting for you. 💚

08/06/2026

I bought my first massage table with the insurance proceeds from my car.

My parked car was written off by a truck while I was visiting my boyfriend.

At the time, it felt inconvenient and frustrating.

What I didn’t know was that the insurance payout would end up funding something far more important — my first massage table.

It was a teal portable table from Firm n Fold and I was ridiculously proud of it. That table gave me a way to practice, build confidence and start my first little mobile massage business while I was still studying.

Most of my clients were friends, hospitality colleagues and anyone willing to let a student massage therapist work on them.

That table served me well for 12 years before I finally retired it when I leased my first treatment room inside a chiropractic clinic.

Lately I’ve been reflecting on this because I’m in the process of choosing a new treatment table for my home studio.

It’s funny how some of the most important things in our lives arrive through circumstances we’d never have chosen for ourselves.

Looking back, that old Ford Es**rt ended up playing a small but important role in the beginning of my massage career.