Hi, I am nicole nichols
I began my professional journey as a teenager, unsure of my path. Discovering massage through a workshop, I found it intriguing and discovered a natural talent for the craft. Pursuing this interest, I enrolled at the Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle (now Cortiva) and embarked on a transformative adventure. Little did I know then, massage would become a vital tool for caring not only for my family and myself but also for shaping my outlook on life, enriching me in ways I hadn't imagined.
Since those early days, my career has taken diverse paths—I've served as a soldier, educator, and mother. Each role has profoundly influenced my identity and perspective. Today, I am passionate about expanding my skills and techniques to better serve my clients and community, while nurturing my own growth and fulfillment along the way.
About five years ago, transformative changes in my life led me back to a renewed sense of home within my massage practice. I've always known that practicing massage heightened my awareness of my own body, making me more mindful of both its physical and emotional needs. Recently, however, I've discovered that my practice also brings me a profound sense of peace and joy in connecting with others.
If my day starts with some anxiety or frustration, it often gives way to a grounded, calm feeling after immersing myself in the physical and healing work with my clients. This sense of care and tranquility is something I strive to impart to every client and eventually, to my broader community.
My life is filled with so many gifts. These include my grown children, my natural and chosen family which encompasses my partners and numerous friends. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and someone who identifies as polyamorous, I am committed to creating safe, supportive spaces for my clients. My dream is to establish environments where healing touch is inclusive and accepting for all.
A long term goal is to collaborate with artists, mental health professionals, and fellow estheticians and bodyworkers to host events that promote body positivity and ensure inclusivity and safety for everyone involved. I have listened to family and friends who experience feeling excluded due to mindsets about differences in gender, bodies and identity. I hope to lovingly challenge these mindsets in my small way.
OUR Mission Statement and vision
Our mission is to offer bodywork, creative experiences, and services that nurture wellness and promote exploration of our whole selves in a healing, inclusive, and creative environment.
We aspire to become a trusted resource for self-care and self-exploration within our community.
Values:
Connection: We strive to create safe spaces where individuals can connect deeply, embracing their authentic selves and care for each other with empathy, compassion, and inclusivity.
Integrity: We are committed to transparency and honesty in our intentions, ensuring safe and trustworthy care for clients and ourselves.
Creativity: We embrace the joy of creation! We want to share ideas, skills, and personal experiences with courage and love. We are all artists in some way.
Compassion: We humbly endeavor to demonstrate empathy in action while serving and caring for one another.
YOU MATTER
Self-care is a vital component in reducing stress, enhancing well-being, and achieving personal goals. Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, we often neglect dedicated time for ourselves.
At Raven’s Refuge, each session revolves around you. Our sole aim is to assist you in managing life with reduced stress and increased vitality.
We want to push against the social belief that we must persist at all cost to personal wellbeing. We believe that you can not care for others without first tending to the needs of self.
We can help
For those new to massage therapy, the profound physical and emotional benefits of regular, caring touch may come as a pleasant surprise!
For an experienced massage practitioner, part of the job is to meet clients were they are in their wellness journey. Recognizing individual client experience is important. We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the transformative effects of our services. So, be open and honest about your concerns and questions. We will take time to listen.
We also recognize that many people have had traumatic experiences with touch. We strive to provide a trauma informed service. Welcoming dialog with clients about how to assist in creating a safe experience is part of the service.