The Heart of Llamassage

Llamassage was born from a journey of overcoming, becoming — and finding the people who make you better along the way.

In 2008, I (Lori) was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. At the time, I had three young children — and even though people said it was “the best kind to have,” it was still terrifying. That diagnosis forced me to pause and ask myself: What kind of life do I want to live — and what do I want to leave behind?

I chose faith over fear.

I dove into learning everything I could about health, healing, and living well. I couldn’t control everything, but I could control how I nourished my body, how I moved it, and how I showed up for others. That season reshaped me — grounding me in purpose, compassion, and trust in God’s guidance.

Eventually, that path led me to massage therapy — a way to use my hands and my heart to help others heal, just as I had been healing myself.

And then came the name.

When I met my husband, his 3-year-old daughter asked if she could call me “Mom.” Her mom wasn’t comfortable with that, so we searched for something special that could be ours. Inspired by a story about a stepmom called “Jama” (Jennifer + Mama), we came up with our own version: Lori + Mama = Lama.

Before long, “Lama” became “Llama.”

When I began dreaming of opening my own practice, my husband suggested the name Llamassage — and it just fit.

What started as a sweet nickname turned into a symbol — of family, love, transformation, and connection. To this day, my stepkids, nieces, grandkids, and even my kids’ friends all call me Llama.

Llamassage isn’t just a name; it’s a reflection of everything I’ve walked through — faith, resilience, and the belief that we heal better when we heal together.

And that’s where Kionna comes in.

When we met in massage therapy school, there was an instant spark — the kind of connection that feels like you’ve known someone for years. From day one, we became “soul sisters,” walking every step of our massage journey side by side. We encouraged each other through challenges, celebrated every win, and reminded each other of the bigger purpose behind what we do — helping people feel better, live lighter, and heal deeper.

So when the opportunity came to work together in the same office, it wasn’t even a question. It was the missing puzzle piece finally sliding into place.

Llamassage isn’t just about massage — it’s about people.

It’s about faith, friendship, and community.

It’s about lifting each other up and becoming who we were created to be.

We’re here because we need each other.

And together, we thrive.