Exhale Massage and Wellness: A Journey of Healing, Growth, and Community: Heart Behind My Work

Welcome- I am honored to share this space with you.

Exhale Massage and Wellness is much more than just a business to me; it’s the culmination of my life’s experiences, growth, and continuous learning. It began years ago, long before I even knew what I wanted to call it. I went to school for massage therapy right after high school—a decision that unknowingly set me on a path that would shape my life in ways I couldn’t possibly foresee. Over the past 15 years, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how the body, mind, and spirit are so intricately connected.

For a while, I worked at a nonprofit organization, where I was exposed to the complexities of trauma, the nervous system, and epigenetics. But it wasn’t just professional knowledge that shaped me—I was living it. I was dealing with the fallout of an abusive relationship, the grief of losing a dear friend, and processing CPTSD while embarking on the journey of being a single parent. I had to rediscover the power of my own body, mind, and spirit. Yoga and meditation kept coming up as tools I needed to explore, but at first, being still in my body felt unsafe. My early attempts at meditation triggered panic attacks instead of peace. That’s when I realized that movement itself was my meditation—my way of reclaiming safety within myself.

As I continued exploring ways to reconnect with my body, I was drawn deeper into the practice of yoga. In 2020, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training with Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats, and it was a turning point in my healing journey. I had spent years feeling disconnected—from my body, from safety, from a sense of inner peace—but my yoga practice helped me remember what it meant to truly be present. The Eightfold Path became more than just philosophy; it became a way of life, reminding me to move with mindfulness, to cultivate self-compassion, and to approach both my healing and my work with integrity. It’s through this lens that I offer bodywork, sound healing, and yoga today—not as separate modalities, but as an interconnected practice of returning home to ourselves.

At the same time, I felt a growing pull to create my own healing space. After my daughters would go to sleep, in the quiet of my home, I began offering discounted massage sessions to friends—creating a sacred, healing space right where I was. Eventually, that small beginning grew into something bigger. Six years ago, I officially launched Exhale Massage and Wellness.

The Story Behind the Name:

The name Exhale came to me during a deeply reflective moment. A dear friend, who was supporting me through my struggles, likened my experience to a forward fold in yoga. She said, “Exhale and breathe into it. Then inhale and find your strength, and with each exhale, release more.” It was that simple idea of exhaling—releasing tension, coming into the present—that sparked the name for my practice. Exhale Massage and Wellness was born with the intention of being a space where people could take a moment to reset, relax, and find their way back to themselves.

Over time, I’ve realized that transformation isn’t just something I support in others—it’s something we cultivate together. I am a facilitator and a guide, but I am also evolving, exploring, expanding, and finding balance alongside each of my clients. Every session is an exchange, an opportunity to listen, release, and restore in the presence of another.

This quote, once a quiet companion by my desk, helped guide the first steps of my journey. The colors mirror the energy I hoped to cultivate from the very beginning.

Two years ago, I moved my practice to Park Rapids, and it felt like yet another serendipitous moment. For years, I had been commuting over an hour each way to Detroit Lakes, and I realized that to truly be part of a community, I needed to be fully immersed in it. I had the chance to get a small, humble space that needed a lot of work, but I knew this was the opportunity I had been waiting for. The space itself wasn’t much to look at—a run-down, outdated building—but with the support of my amazing family and friends, we transformed it into something warm, welcoming, and full of potential. I got the keys on Valentine’s Day, and the rest, as they say, is history. It was truly a labor of love.

Moving my practice to Park Rapids wasn’t just about convenience—it was about creating a deeper connection to the place where I lived and being part of a community that values well-being and balance.

Looking Ahead: Expanding and Evolving Heart Behind My Work

As I begin my second year in this space, I feel more grounded in my practice and ready to expand. I’ve taken it slow, honoring the balance between growing my business and being present as a single mom. Now, I’m excited to step more fully into community offerings—hosting yoga classes, workshops, and mutual aid opportunities that bring people together in meaningful ways. My focus has been on building authentic, lasting connections and offering spaces where people can come together, share, and restore equilibrium—not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

I’m continuously learning and evolving, deepening my understanding of the body, the nervous system, trauma, and the many ways we come home to ourselves. I’ve been diving into new practices that integrate somatic and nervous system regulation, and I can’t wait to share them with my community. Whether it’s through healing sessions, community events, or simply moments of connection, every interaction is an opportunity for me to show up authentically alongside those I work with.

An Invitation to Pause, Breathe, and Grow Together:

Exhale Massage and Wellness was born from a simple, yet powerful truth—the exhale is where we release, soften, and come home to ourselves. This journey has been a practice of exhaling, of letting go, and of allowing space for something new.

As I look ahead, I invite you to continue exhaling with me—letting go of what no longer serves, embracing the present, and making space for healing, connection, and transformation in whatever way feels right for you.

Thank you for sharing in this experience with me. I can’t wait to see where the path leads us next.

In joy,

Candace.