Knead to Relax

You don’t have to wait until your body is screaming at you.
You don’t need to be in pain.
You don’t need to have an injury.
You don’t even need to know exactly what you need.
Sometimes you’re just tired. Your shoulders are sitting somewhere near your ears, your brain hasn’t switched off in days and your whole body feels like it’s been holding onto a little too much.
That’s enough of a reason.
Come in. Get warm. Let me figure out the rest. 🤎

Hi, I’m Missy 👋
It’s probably time for a little reintroduction, especially now that Knead to Relax has a new home.
I’m a remedial massage therapist, mum of four, chronic overthinker, lover of warm lamps and firmly against using the big light 😆
My approach to massage is a little different. I love the remedial side of what I do, but I don’t believe effective treatment has to mean gritting your teeth through an hour of pain.
I work slowly, intuitively and with your nervous system in mind. Sometimes that means focused remedial work, sometimes it means hot stones, long flowing movements and letting your whole body exhale for a while. Usually it’s a bit of both.
Knead to Relax has always been about creating a soft place to land — somewhere you can feel heard, cared for and safe enough to actually let go.
And now, after a few years of working from other beautiful spaces, I finally have a little place of my own in Nelson Bay. ❤️
If you’ve been with me for years, thank you for following me around town 😂
And if you’re new here — hi. I’m really glad you found me.
I’m Missy, and this is Knead to Relax. 🌿

A little clinic housekeeping 🏡❤️

Now that I’m settling into the new space, there are a couple of little updates I wanted to share.

💳 **Cards on file**

You’ll now be asked to have a card securely on file when booking an appointment.

With tourist season approaching (which unfortunately also tends to bring an increase in last-minute cancellations and no-shows), this gives my little business some protection. Working independently in my own space now, it also gives me an added layer of security.

**Your card will NOT automatically be charged for your appointment.**

You can still pay however you normally would when you come in, or I’m more than happy to charge the card on file on the day if that’s easier.

The card will only be charged in accordance with my cancellation policy if you no-show or cancel within 12 hours of your appointment.

Basically: book normally, come to your appointment normally, pay normally. 😆 The card is just hanging out securely in the background.

🩺 **HICAPS**

My poor HICAPS machine is currently having a little identity crisis after the move. 😂

Between waiting on new provider numbers and some internet issues at the new clinic, I’m still waiting for everything to come together so I can process health fund claims on the spot again.

I’m working on it and hoping to have it sorted ASAP. In the meantime, I can provide everything you need to claim directly with your health fund.

Thank you for being patient with all the little behind-the-scenes bits that come with moving into a brand new home for Knead to Relax.

The important stuff hasn’t changed — **you, a warm table, my hands and a soft place to land. ❤️**

Father’s Day is coming up ❤️

And while socks, un**es and another mug are always solid contenders… maybe Dad needs an hour where absolutely nobody needs anything from him. 😆

No jobs to do.
No questions to answer.
No notifications.
No “while you’re up…”

Just a warm table, quiet room and 60 (or maybe 90 👀) minutes to completely switch off.

Massage gift vouchers are available for Father’s Day — because sometimes the best gift is giving someone permission to stop for a little while. ❤️

I have a confession…

I think I’ve been underestimating how short 60 minutes actually is. 😅

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to receive two 90-minute treatments myself and BOTH times I’ve gotten off the table thinking… *wait, that was 90 minutes?!*

And then I remembered that most of you book 60 with me.

How?! 😂

It’s actually given me a bit of a different perspective from the other side of the table.

In a 60-minute treatment, we can absolutely do beautiful, effective work. But there’s still a clock ticking. There’s only so much time to let your nervous system settle, work through the areas that need attention, and give your body a chance to really soften.

With 90 minutes, there’s room.

Room to spend longer where your body needs it without sacrificing everything else.
Room to slow down.
Room for your nervous system to realise it doesn’t have to be anywhere else.
Room for me to listen to what I’m feeling under my hands instead of thinking, *okay, I need to move on.*

And honestly? After being on the receiving end again, I think I understand the value of that extra time more than ever.

So if you’ve always automatically clicked “60 minutes” when you book, maybe give yourself the 90 sometime.

Not because you *need more massage*.

Because sometimes your body deserves not to be rushed. ❤️

This is the face of someone who is actually taking her own advice for once. 😂

The last month has been A LOT.

Getting the clinic ready, moving in, opening the doors, treating my first full week in my own space, then heading straight to Sydney for a weekend of learning… my brain is full, my heart is very happy and my body is saying **enough now, thanks.** 😂

So I’m listening.

I’m working reduced days and hours this week and giving myself a little more space to recover, settle and actually process everything that’s happened over the last few weeks.

I talk to my clients all the time about listening to their bodies. About rest. About nervous systems. About not waiting until your body is screaming before you finally pay attention to the whispers.

Turns out that advice applies to the massage therapist too. 😆

There will be plenty of time to tell you about what I learned at the conference (once my brain has actually unpacked it 😂), but for now I’m practising what I preach.

Rest isn’t something we have to earn. ❤️

**One day has turned into day one. 🥰**

Today is my first day treating in my very own clinic.

I know there will be glitches. I know there will be plenty of wandering around wondering where the hell I put that thing 😆 and I already know I’ll keep moving things around until the space feels just right.

But this morning, sitting here looking around, I’m realizing that a lifelong dream is taking shape right in front of my eyes.

Knead to Relax has a home. 🥹❤️

And today, I get to welcome my first clients into it.

Day one. Let’s do this. 🥰