In West Virginia, a holler is not just a place. It is a feeling. It is privacy and peace, but also connection. It is hard work, shared laughter, and a sense of care that runs deep.
That spirit is exactly what Jade Yates, LMT, RMT, hopes to create with her new Lewisburg business, The Healing Holler, which opened January 1, 2026, at Jefferson Office Park.
“There was quite a bit of thought that went into the name,” Jade shares. “I didn’t want to box myself in with ‘massage’ in the title because I offer other services like Reiki, and I’m not sure where my education in wellness might take me.”
The word healing felt like the right umbrella for both her current offerings and future growth. The word holler is where her West Virginia roots run deep.
After searching what a “holler” represents in Appalachian culture, Jade found descriptions that perfectly matched her vision:
• A remote area offering privacy
• A place where community bonds are strong
• A simpler way of life filled with hard work, laughter, and music drifting through the trees
“I want to create a heartfelt sanctuary where all my clients feel safe and welcome,” she says.
That is exactly what The Healing Holler aims to be: a peaceful refuge with Appalachian soul.
A Return to Lewisburg
Though she grew up in Salem and Roanoke and spent time living in Wilmington, North Carolina, Lewisburg was her childhood home before kindergarten. Returning to her family farm in West Virginia felt like coming full circle.
“Never in a million years did I think I would return,” she admits. “But now I crave a slower paced life surrounded by mountains.”
Opening The Healing Holler in Lewisburg marks both a professional milestone and a personal return to her roots.
A Journey Years in the Making
Jade’s path to becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist was not linear, but it was persistent.
At 19, unsure of her career direction but feeling called to help others, she enrolled at the Daniels Institute of Massage and earned her certificate in 2003. Fear of the board exam, however, held her back.
Six months turned into a year. A year turned into five.
She explored other career paths, earned a wellness certificate in 2015, and completed a nail technician apprenticeship while working in spas. Eventually, she decided to return to massage therapy and expand her services.
“In 2020, I didn’t do anything but work and study,” she says. That same year, she passed her boards and officially became a Licensed Massage Therapist.
She also launched a mobile massage business in 2020, offering clients the convenience of in home services. While successful, hauling equipment up stairs, into hotels, and through bad weather began to take a physical toll.
It was time to create something sustainable and permanent.
Expanding What Wellness Looks Like
Jade specializes in Thai Massage, often called “lazy man’s yoga.” This fully clothed modality blends acupressure, assisted stretching, compressions, and massage techniques.
Her training took her to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she participated in two study abroad trips to deepen her education.
In addition to Thai Massage, The Healing Holler offers:
• Integrative table massage tailored to each client’s needs
• Reiki energy work. Jade is a Master and Teacher and offers attunements
• Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage for digestive and emotional wellness
• Thai Foot Reflexology
• Facial Tok Sen, an all natural facial rejuvenation technique using gentle wooden tools
• Herbal compresses, hot stones, and Pa Khaw Ma assisted stretches
Rather than offering tiered “Swedish” or “deep tissue” menus, Jade creates customized sessions guided by client input and intuition.
“No two sessions are exactly alike,” she explains.
Visit The Healing Holler at Jefferson Office Park, 765 Jefferson St. S., Lewisburg, WV. The practice opened January 1, 2026, and appointments can be booked online at www.thehealingholler.com. Follow The Healing Holler on Facebook and Instagram @thehealingholler.
To celebrate the grand opening, Jade is offering 50% off appointments through May 31 when you book online (use coupon code HALF at checkout). You can also get gift certificates that are good until September 30, 2026, using the coupon code HALFOFF at checkout.
Rooted in Appalachian culture and enriched by global training, The Healing Holler provides a personalized and holistic wellness experience. It is a space to pause, reconnect, and heal.
