Mended Souls Massage Clinic

I don’t often share my personal stories here on the Mended Souls Massage page, but today I thought, why not? There’s a person behind the hands that care for you, and a lifetime of experiences behind the heart I bring to this work. This little photograph reminded me of some of them, and I wanted to share.

I Still Know That Girl

The photograph caught me off guard.

There I was, sitting on a stone ledge with my youngest brother on my lap and the turquoise Pontiac station wagon behind us. I’m guessing I was about sixteen.

Ah, yes. The family beast.

Five kids, two parents, and one turquoise Pontiac station wagon. I was the oldest of the five, with the youngest sitting on my lap in this photograph. The whole clan piled into that car, and off we went.

At sixteen, I would have preferred to arrive somewhere discreetly, but there was nothing discreet about unloading that many people from a turquoise beast.

You simply waited your turn to emerge and hoped your hair and little barrette would salvage your dignity.

Looking at it now, I have considerably more affection for it. That car carried the whole bunch of us through a chapter of our lives.

But let the record show: affection took a few decades.

Our family didn’t take many pictures; they cost too much. That makes this little photograph especially precious. An ordinary moment, saved long enough for me to find it all these years later.

We lived on campus at what was then called School of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. My mom worked in the campus print shop, and her husband was an airplane mechanic at the campus airport.

I worked summers at Dog n Suds, starting as a carhop for twenty-five cents an hour plus tips. Those tips were usually a nickel or a dime. If somebody left a quarter, you practically wanted to nominate them for a humanitarian award.

I learned early how much work could go into earning a little money—and how satisfying it felt to earn something of my own.

We were a family of seven, and money was scarce. You learned to appreciate the little things.

Which brings me to the barrette.

It’s barely noticeable in the photograph, but I loved that thing. I wore the same barrette in the same place every morning for all of high school. Same section of hair. Same angle. Somehow, it made the whole arrangement feel finished.

I simply reached for it, clipped it into place, and went on with the day. Looking back, I feel such affection for that small ritual. Something didn’t have to cost much to mean a great deal.

Apparently, my appreciation for familiar old things was already well established. These days, I just require more shelves.

My hairstyle hasn’t changed much, either. Eventually, I even grew into the color I once spent money trying to create. There ought to be some financial compensation for that.

I loved the beautiful sanctuary on campus, where I would later have my first wedding. I walked to church by myself and wondered why the college students had to be required to attend. I wanted to be there.

That beautiful chapel fed my young soul.

And that little brother sitting on my lap? I had no idea that in just a few short years, he would be toddling down the aisle as my ring bearer in that very chapel at School of the Ozarks.

The beautiful place that fed my young soul would become the setting for my first wedding, with that same little boy taking part.

There’s something sweet about looking at this photograph and knowing what was still ahead of us. On that ordinary day, he was simply my baby brother sitting on my lap. We had another precious memory waiting to be made.

I was only about sixteen—a girl with plenty of growing up left to do—and there I was with my arms around someone smaller.

Looking at us now, I think about how often caring for someone has been part of my life. Raising children, tending to clients, finding just the right little gift. The years have changed the ways I do it, but that instinct feels familiar.

Of course, I wasn’t pondering any of this when the picture was taken. I was probably hoping my hair looked good and wondering when I could get up.

That’s what I love about an old photograph. It saves an ordinary moment, and years later, you notice something about yourself you couldn’t have named back then.

Looking at the photograph now, I recognize that girl.

My face carries more years these days: lines around my eyes, softness where things used to be firmer, and evidence that gravity remains faithful to its assignment.

Life has left its handwriting on me.

But I still know her.

She was curious. Willing to work. Eager to discover what life might hold beyond the places she already knew.

At sixteen, I couldn’t have imagined all the things I would eventually do. The children I would raise. The businesses I would own. The people I would meet. The things I would make with my hands—or the stories I would finally put into words.

I was still becoming.

Come to think of it, I still am.

There were hardships in those early years, but they helped me understand the value of an encouraging word, a thoughtful gesture, and someone taking the time to listen. I know how much a small kindness can matter.

Even shoes have a special place in that understanding.

Having only one pair when I was young—and feeling embarrassed by their condition—stayed with me. Over the years, I’ve quietly made it a little mission of mine to see that the people I love have nice shoes.

Sometimes love looks like finding out somebody’s shoe size and doing something about it.

I can’t spare the people I love every difficulty. But when I can make their day a little easier, or help them walk into a room feeling more comfortable, I’m happy to do it.

Maybe that’s part of what growing older gives us: opportunities to turn something we remember into something kind.

I wish I could sit beside that girl for a while.

I wouldn’t give her the entire itinerary. She’d probably wonder how one person could possibly accumulate that many projects.

Fair question. I’m still wondering myself.

But I would tell her:

You’re going to work hard, create things, and love deeply. You’ll discover that you have something to say, and eventually, you’ll write it down.

Keep your curiosity. Keep noticing the little things. There will be people whose kindness you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Let yourself receive it, too.

You won’t have everything figured out before you take the next step. That’s all right. You’ll learn as you go.

And God will meet you in places you never expected to find yourself. Sometimes you’ll recognize His care immediately. Other times, you’ll understand it years later, holding an old photograph beside an open drawer.

Looking at her now, I’m proud of her.

She could treasure a barrette, find comfort in a chapel, and imagine a life she hadn’t seen yet.

I’m grateful she kept going.

Maybe remembering her is part of why it matters so much to me that other people feel seen. When someone sits across from me, lies on my massage table, or shares a story, I want to give them my attention. I want them to feel welcome and cared for.

There is such joy in being able to offer that.

And these days, I’m learning to offer a little of it to myself.

I’m still a doer. Still curious. Still imagining another chapter when I probably ought to be finishing the project already in front of me.

That girl is still here.

She’s had quite a life since somebody took this picture. And she still has ideas.

I started by sorting a drawer and ended up spending time with my sixteen-year-old self.

Apparently, she’d been waiting for me to slow down long enough to notice her.

I still know that girl. And these days, I’m learning to be a little kinder to her.

Dear valued client,

Some of you have already told me you’d love to be one of my 10 Mended Souls clients, and that means so much to me. If we haven’t put your next visit on the calendar yet, please send me a note so we can find a time that works for you. 🤍

I sent an invitation recently about this next chapter of Mended Souls, but I’m not sure I made the why completely clear.

After 28 years of caring for people through massage, I’m at a point where I want to shape my practice around the clients who want to make this care a regular part of their lives. I want to know who I’m preparing for each month and be able to make room in my schedule for you when you need your therapeutic massage or head spa visit.

I’ve heard it so many times while someone is on my table or just after a session: “I forgot how good this feels. I feel so much better. I need to make time for this more often.” And I understand what happens next. Life gets busy. We put ourselves last, and before we know it, months have gone by.

This is my way of helping make that intention a little easier to keep. I’m limiting my practice to 10 clients who plan for at least one service each month. If you already enjoy coming every week, every two weeks, or every three weeks, we can absolutely continue that. Once a month is simply the minimum commitment I’m asking of these 10 clients.

I also understand that a monthly visit is a financial commitment, and it won’t be the right choice for everyone. I respect that. For those who are able to make it part of their lives, it’s a commitment to their well-being, too. Massage can help ease muscle tension, invite your body to relax, and give you a moment to notice how you’re really feeling before you’re completely worn down.

Keeping Mended Souls small allows me to prepare for you, welcome you into a peaceful space, and give you the personal, unhurried care I love to offer.

You may choose whichever service feels right for you each month:

Therapeutic Massage — $145
A 90-minute-plus session devoted to rest and care from head to toe.

Head/Scalp Sanctuary — $165
A 90-minute-plus experience that begins with upper-body massage and a mini facial treat, then moves to the head spa table for the scalp portion of your visit.

Would you please reply and let me know whether you’d like to be one of my 10 clients? If you’ve already said yes, a note to schedule your next visit would be wonderful. If you’re still deciding, even a brief yes or no would help me plan my schedule, supplies, and monthly expenses with care.

And here’s a little something to look forward to! My annual Black Friday gift certificate offering will return for about three days: purchase two gift certificates and receive a third complimentary certificate to enjoy throughout the year. I’ll share the details as Black Friday gets closer!

Thank you for trusting me with your care. I want Mended Souls to continue being a place where you can come in, exhale, and remember that you matter, too.

Every Soul Needs a Little Mending.

Ali
Mended Souls Massage Clinic & Head/Scalp Sanctuary

A HEARTFELT UPDATE FROM MENDED SOULS MASSAGE CLINIC & HEAD/SCALP SANCTUARY

After 28 years in massage therapy, I have made a very thoughtful decision about the season ahead.

Moving forward, I will be limiting my practice to a small, established circle of just 10 ongoing clients total.

This decision comes with a great deal of reflection, gratitude and, admittedly, a little bittersweetness.

Mended Souls has never simply been a business to me.

It has been a place of connection, trust, healing and relationships that I have treasured through the years.

This is not retirement, and it certainly isn't because I have lost my love for this work.

Quite the opposite.

I want to continue doing what I have loved for nearly three decades, but I want to do it in a way that allows me to protect the quality of care I give, honor my physical limitations, and remain fully present for the people I serve.

Massage therapy is physically demanding work. After several hand and wrist surgeries over the past few years, I've had to acknowledge something my determined little personality would much rather negotiate with:

My body gets a vote now.

And perhaps I've finally learned to listen.

For 28 years, I have advertised, promoted, networked, created specials, welcomed new clients, worked to fill my calendar and continually tried to grow my practice.

Recently I asked myself a question:

What if I don't want to grow anymore?

What if success in this season isn't measured by how many names I can put on a calendar?

What if it means doing beautiful, meaningful work for a smaller circle of people—and having enough of myself left to enjoy the other parts of my life, too?

I realized something very freeing:

I don't want to build a bigger practice.

I want to preserve a beautiful one.

My goal is to continue creating the kind of environment Mended Souls has always been intended to offer—a safe, welcoming, peaceful, relaxing and healing place where you can exhale before you ever make it to the massage table.

I want the room to feel warm.
I want the table to feel safe.
I want the tea to be waiting.

I want the little details to still matter.

I want to listen.
I want to notice.

And I want to have the physical energy and emotional presence to provide thoughtful, therapeutic care rather than stretching myself so thin that the quality of the experience begins to suffer.

The 10 clients in my ongoing practice will be established clients with whom trust and a therapeutic relationship have already been built over time.

These aren't simply names filling spaces on a calendar.

They are people whose stories I know.

People whose individual therapeutic needs, preferences and patterns I have come to understand through years of working together.

People who have trusted me, supported my work and returned through different seasons of their lives—and mine.

There is tremendous value in that kind of established therapeutic relationship.

I don't have to begin at the beginning each time.

I know what has worked for them, what may need a little extra attention, what helps them relax, and often what their body is communicating before they've quite found the words for it themselves.

That familiarity doesn't make the work routine.

It makes the care more intentional.

I also understand that not everyone can—or wants to—commit to therapeutic massage each month.

Life changes.

Schedules change.

Finances change.

Priorities and needs change.

There is absolutely no judgment in that.

But for this smaller practice to work in this season of my life, I need to reserve these limited ongoing spaces for clients who understand the benefits of consistent therapeutic massage and are able to make it a regular part of their self-care.

Not because one client matters more than another.

Simply because I can no longer be everything to everybody.

So, if you are an established Mended Souls client and feel that making therapeutic massage a consistent part of your self-care is something you are ready to commit to, please contact me.

With my practice moving forward as a circle of just 10 ongoing clients, I am asking those within that circle to make therapeutic massage at least a monthly commitment.

This isn't simply about filling an appointment on my calendar.

It's about being intentional with your own well-being.

Therapeutic massage doesn't have to be something we turn to only when everything hurts, stress has finally caught up with us, or we happen to find an extra hour in the month.

For many people, it can become part of an ongoing commitment to caring for the body that carries us through every single day.

So, if you are an established client, would like to be part of this smaller circle, and are able to commit to making therapeutic massage part of your self-care at least once each month, please reach out to me.

I'd love to hear from you.

Perhaps this new season isn't only about me becoming more intentional with my time and energy.

Perhaps it's an invitation for all of us to become a little more intentional about caring for ourselves, too.

Invest in yourself, darlin'.

You're worth making the appointment for.

Moving forward, I will no longer be actively pursuing new clients, advertising for growth or continually trying to expand my clientele.

And after nearly three decades of doing exactly that, there is something surprisingly freeing about saying those words.

But I would be less than truthful if I didn't admit there is a bittersweet side to this decision.

I will surely miss so many wonderful people.

Twenty-eight years is a long time to be invited into people's lives.

Over those years, clients have walked through my door and, somewhere between conversations, quiet moments, laughter, tears and countless hours spent together, many became much more than appointments on a calendar.

They became friends.

I've watched people move through marriages and divorces, babies and grandchildren, new jobs and retirements, celebrations and heartbreaks, illnesses and recoveries, beginnings and goodbyes.

We've laughed.
We've cried.
We've prayed.

We've talked about children, husbands, parents, work, dreams, disappointments, faith and life.

And sometimes we haven't talked at all.
Sometimes the greatest gift was simply the quiet.

There are people I first met because they booked a massage who became people I genuinely came to love.

What an unexpected gift this profession has given me.

So yes, there is sadness in making my circle smaller.

There are wonderful people I will miss seeing.

And I hope those who are no longer part of my regular schedule understand that this decision isn't a reflection of how much—or how little—I valued you.

Quite the opposite.

I am profoundly grateful for the people who have trusted my hands, my heart and my little corner of the world over these 28 years.

Every person brought a story through my door.

Some stayed for a season.
Some stayed for years.
Some became friends.

And every one of those seasons became part of the story of Mended Souls—and part of mine.

Perhaps that's another lesson I'm learning:

Something doesn't have to continue forever for it to have mattered deeply.

Sometimes gratitude means being able to look back at all the wonderful people you've met along the way and simply say:

What a privilege it has been.

And I want to make one thing very clear for anyone who currently has a Mended Souls gift certificate:

Of course, all previously purchased valid gift certificates will be honored.

Please don't worry that this change in my ongoing practice takes that away.

I will make arrangements to honor those services as promised.

My decision to limit my ongoing client circle is about my future scheduling and capacity—not about stepping away from commitments I have already made.

This isn't retirement.

It isn't losing my passion for what I do.

And it certainly isn't caring less.

Actually, I think it's quite the opposite.

I want to continue opening the door to Mended Souls.

I want to continue creating a place where the people I care for can exhale.

I want to continue using the experience I've gathered over 28 years to provide thoughtful, therapeutic care.

I want to continue creating a place where, for a little while, your body can rest, your nervous system can settle, and the noise of the outside world can stay on the other side of the door.

There is something sacred to me about being entrusted with another person's care.

Perhaps limiting my practice isn't stepping away from that calling at all.

Perhaps it's how I protect it.

So rather than continually reaching outward for more, I want to pour what I have into the smaller circle already around me.

Less chasing.
More presence.

Less proving.
More purpose.

Less quantity.
More quality.

After 28 years, I think I've earned the right to redefine what a successful practice looks like for me.

I don't need the biggest clientele.

I don't need the fullest calendar.

I don't need to chase the next booking simply because that's what I've always done.

I want a small circle of people I can be fully present for.

People I know.

People who know me.

Relationships where trust has had time to grow.

And the opportunity to continue using the gifts God gave me without using myself completely up in the process.

There was a time when scaling back might have felt like failure.

Today?

It feels remarkably like wisdom.

Maybe there comes a season when success isn't about building something bigger.

Maybe it's about finally knowing when you've built enough.

Scripture says:
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others."
— 1 Peter 4:10

I believe that wholeheartedly.

And I hope to continue using mine.
Just a little differently now.

With more intention.
With more discernment.
With more appreciation for the people who have walked this journey with me.

And with enough wisdom to understand that preserving my ability to serve is part of honoring the gift, too.

To every person who has supported Mended Souls, trusted me with your care, referred a friend, purchased a gift certificate, encouraged me, prayed for me, or simply walked through my door and allowed me to do the work I was called to do:

Thank you.

Truly.

What a privilege these 28 years have been.

And what a blessing it is that this isn't goodbye.

It's simply a smaller circle...

with the same heart.

Every Soul Needs a Little Mending...Ali

Invest in Yourself, Darlin'.

Mended Souls Massage Clinic
& Head/Scalp Sanctuary
Marshfield, MO

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MADE YOURSELF A PRIORITY? 🤍

Maybe it’s the heat....

Maybe it’s back-to-school...

Maybe summer has simply worn out its welcome....

Or maybe you’ve been so busy taking care of everybody and everything else that somewhere along the way, you forgot to put yourself on the list.

Darlin’… consider this your reminder.

At Mended Souls Massage Clinic & Head/Scalp Sanctuary, your appointment isn’t about rushing you in, watching the clock, and rushing you back out the door.

I intentionally see only a small number of clients each day because I want your time here to feel different.

Quiet.

Unhurried.

Personal.

A place where your shoulders can finally drop, and for a little while, nobody needs anything from you.

With 28 years of experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist, I bring nearly three decades of hands-on experience to every appointment. I incorporate therapeutic techniques, reflexology, warm basalt stones and those thoughtful little extras that have simply become part of the Mended Souls experience.

CURRENTLY BOOKING

90+ MINUTE THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE — $145

This isn't a quick, one-size-fits-all massage.
Your session is customized to what your body needs that day and may include therapeutic massage techniques, focused attention to areas of tension, reflexology, warm basalt stones, soothing heat and intentional relaxation work.

I often find areas of tightness and tension clients didn't even realize they were carrying.

The goal isn't simply to help you relax for 90 minutes.

It's to help you walk out the door feeling different than when you walked in.

2-HOUR HEAD/SCALP SANCTUARY — $165

This is so much more than having your hair washed or your scalp massaged.

Your Sanctuary experience begins with attention to your individual scalp and hair needs and includes a microscopic scalp evaluation to get an up-close look at the condition of your scalp.

Your experience may include gentle brushing and detangling, warm jojoba oil applied to the scalp and hair, an extended therapeutic scalp massage, neck, shoulder and upper-body massage, a mini facial, shampooing, scalp cleansing and carefully selected professional hair and scalp products.

Warmth, steam and other relaxing elements may also be incorporated as appropriate.

And because scalp health and hair health go hand in hand, I use professional products chosen with the health of both the scalp and hair in mind.

Two glorious hours where you don't have to answer the phone, make a decision, take care of someone else or be anywhere except right where you are.

Just close your eyes.

I'll take it from there. 🤍

MENDED SOULS RETREAT — 3½ HOURS — $310

Sometimes an hour simply isn't enough.

The Mended Souls Retreat was created for the person who needs permission to truly step away from the noise for a while.

For 3½ unhurried hours, settle into the peaceful atmosphere of Mended Souls and allow yourself to simply experience — therapeutic touch, head-to-toe relaxation, thoughtful spa touches and time where absolutely nothing is required of you.

No rushing.

No tending to everyone else.

No watching the clock.

Just a beautiful stretch of time devoted to helping your body relax, your mind quiet and your whole self exhale.

Because sometimes self-care isn't about squeezing an appointment into your day.

Sometimes it's about giving yourself the better part of a day. 🤍

🎁 GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

Give someone you love something they may never buy for themselves — time to rest, be cared for and simply receive.

And if you've been thinking about experimenting Mended Souls for the first time…

ASK ABOUT MY NEW CLIENT SPECIAL. 🤍

And because August seems determined to remind us that Missouri can apparently be located three feet from the surface of the sun… ☀️

Come escape it.

Come upstairs.

Come exhale.

The room is cool, the lights are low, the atmosphere is peaceful, and you don't have to accomplish one blessed thing while you're here.

My schedule currently has a few openings, and I would love to fill them with people who have been saying:

"I really need to do something for myself."

Maybe this is your sign.

You don't have to wait until you're completely exhausted to take care of yourself.

Self-care isn't selfish.

And rest doesn't have to be something you earn after you've taken care of everyone else.

Sometimes taking care of yourself is simply maintenance for the person carrying the life.

So let me ask you one more time…

When was the last time you made yourself a priority?

Perhaps it's time. 🤍

Invest in Yourself, Darlin’.

Mended Souls Massage Clinic
& Head/Scalp Sanctuary
Marshfield, Missouri

Every Soul Needs a Little Mending.

Message me to reserve your appointment...Ali

When Your Battery Is Running Low… Perhaps It’s Time to Recharge

It really is remarkable how much life has changed.

Not so terribly long ago, our telephones were attached to the wall. If you wanted privacy, you stretched that curly cord around the corner and hoped no one picked up the extension.

Today, we carry our phones everywhere—and we are remarkably attentive to their needs.

20% battery? We start looking for a charger.

10%? Mild concern.

3%? Suddenly, finding an outlet becomes a priority.

Yet when we begin running on 3%, we have an entirely different philosophy.

I'll be fine.

We push through the fatigue. We ignore the tight shoulders. We live with the tension in our neck, back and jaw.

We convince ourselves we'll rest when things slow down—as though life has ever been particularly good at slowing down simply because we asked it to.

Perhaps we could learn something from the way we care for those little devices.

Recharge before you're completely depleted.

Self-care isn't necessarily about pampering yourself. At its best, it's about maintaining yourself.

And therapeutic massage is so much more than simply "getting a massage."

Massage may help:

• Reduce muscular tension and soreness
• Promote relaxation and decrease feelings of stress
• Improve circulation to the tissues being worked
• Support flexibility and comfortable range of motion
• Ease the discomfort associated with tight, overworked muscles
• Encourage an overall sense of physical and mental well-being
• Help the body transition from that constant go, go, go feeling into a more relaxed state
• Promote better rest and relaxation for some people

And then there is something that doesn't fit quite so neatly onto a clinical list:
the value of simply being cared for.

For an hour or two, you don't have to be the caregiver, the problem solver, the employee, the spouse, the parent, the grandparent, the business owner or the person everybody calls when something needs to be done.

At Mended Souls Massage Clinic & Head/Scalp Sanctuary, I combine years of hands-on massage experience with therapeutic techniques selected for the individual in front of me.

Depending upon your service and your needs, your experience may incorporate therapeutic massage, reflexology, warm basalt stones, intentional scalp massage and other relaxation-focused techniques.

My Head/Scalp Sanctuary experience takes that concept of slowing down even further.
The scalp is often overlooked when we think about self-care. Yet scalp massage can feel profoundly relaxing, while the ritual of cleansing, massage and individualized scalp and hair care creates an opportunity to truly disengage from the outside world for a while.

My Head/Scalp Sanctuary sessions also begin with a microscopic look at the scalp, allowing me to observe its visible condition before selecting products and tailoring the experience accordingly.

Because I don't believe meaningful care should feel like an assembly line.
My appointments are intentionally unhurried, individualized and private.

For a little while, there is nowhere else you need to be.
No laundry calling your name.
No phone requiring your attention.
No list that needs another checkmark.

Just quiet, therapeutic touch and an opportunity for your shoulders to drop, your breathing to slow and your mind to become a little quieter.

After all, we routinely maintain the things we depend upon.

We change the oil in our cars.
We service our heating and cooling systems.
We charge our phones every single day.

Perhaps the body that has carried you through every difficult day, every wonderful day, every responsibility and every season of your life deserves that same consideration.

And unlike your phone, you are absolutely irreplaceable.

If your own battery has been hovering in the red lately, perhaps it's time to put your name on the calendar.

And if someone you care about has been running on empty, consider giving them something they may not purchase for themselves:

permission to stop, rest and be cared for.

🎁 Gift Certificates Available

A thoughtful gift for birthdays, anniversaries, appreciation, holidays—or simply for someone who could use a little time devoted entirely to themselves.

Mended Souls Massage Clinic
& Head/Scalp Sanctuary
Marshfield, Missouri
Every Soul Needs a Little Mending.
Invest in Yourself, Darlin'...Ali
Text 417-337-4322