CARLYLE - Nicole Shirley has reached a significant career milestone by becoming a registered massage therapist (RMT).
Her journey to this accomplishment reflects her dedication, passion and commitment to promoting health and wellness in her community.
Shirley was born and raised in the Kenosee and Wawota areas, and only left for a brief time when her father moved to Kingwood, Texas. It was there that she graduated. They returned after a year and a half to the same area.
She had always enjoyed learning about human anatomy, and learned massage was an excellent way to help people heal faster and feel better.
She moved to Nova Scotia to attend a college for massage therapy, but shortly before she left, Shirley met the man who became her husband. Wanting to be closer to him, she dropped out of school in 2011 and returned to Saskatchewan.
Shirley, her husband T.J. and their three children – daughter Ellie is nine, son Cecil, 7, and Sean, 5 – keep them busy on their acreage northwest of Carlyle.
Shirley also plays on a recreational volleyball team throughout the fall and winter. She said they have a great bunch, and they plan annual trips for golf and snowboarding.
Her husband works in the oil industry and Shirley became a bus driver, but she found being unable to make her own hours difficult with children that participate in sports.
She still wanted to become an RMT as she knew that massage therapy offered a relaxing feeling and it helped them physically.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she took online courses to become a registered RMT.
Taking a two-year program online, every five weeks she was required to attend the Western Remedial College to get the first-hand practice that she needed.
Shirley said this worked out well as she could be at home with their children, and when she needed to do the two days in Regina, her husband was home with the kids.
In June, Shirley received her diploma as an RMT and began her business at Queen of Hearts in Carlyle.
Knowing how difficult it is for people to get to appointments during the work week, she will offer her services in the mornings, evenings and weekends.
“Not a lot of people can come during the day or get time off work to attend a massage,” said Shirley.
She wants to make it easier for her clients to get the help they need without losing hours on their cheques.
Her business name is simply called Nicole Shirley Registered Massage Therapist, and she cannot wait to help her clients feel better through the many techniques she has learned over the past two years. She is offering a $10 discount as a special promotion.
Shirley will continue to further her education every year whenever it is available. She is eager to learn prenatal massage and cupping to add to her business.
