Melissa is a very knowledgeable therapist. She has the right amount of pressure and is great at…read morewhat she does. I ALWAYS feel amazing after a treatment!!

Getting a massage by Melissa is not only relaxing but educational. While no one can afford to go…read moreget a massage everyday. Melissa teaches you what you can do to help yourself feel better. It more than just a massage, she's helpful and caring. Last time I was there she sent me home with massage oil and rice sack. She also found something that probably a doctor wouldn't have found. She deserves 5 stars because she's a wonderful massage therapist!!

They make you take 4 - 5 hr sessions about childbirth. I readjusted my schedule to attend them as a…read moresingle soon to be mom working multiple jobs and was astounded to have several comments made about how it was less hard for white women. As someone who saved their fathers life with CPR at 12 and has cared for her family, others families and worked multiple jobs since I was a bit taken a back. Mind you this was not done in an educational, factual or statistical way more in a manner of friends gossiping. I politely pointed out that people of all cultures face these and the detriments associated and suddenly I was being told in front of the whole class that it's not a class for people not of color and to find something more inclusive. I immediately left and contacted my doula to express my upset, share why I left and would no longer be attending and see how to proceed. I was met with gaslighting and told no other white people have complained. I then informed her I would be disconnecting the call if I was going to be blamed. I awoke the next morning to an email accusing me of being unprofessional and racist and firing me as a client. I chose them based on a recommendation of a Dr I know personally, turning down other doulas I frankly liked better and I'm about a month away from giving birth to my very sick child. I only hired a doula so I would not be left alone in a room of strangers, after taking my money and stressing me out making me jump through hoops and then this... that's exactly what I'm stuck with. I had even (prior to the email) contacted the owner directly so that we may have a civil and adult conversation about what occurred. That never happened. No one bothered to listen to my story or my voice and they simply copy pasted the same message my doula sent me completely gaslighting my experience. I am absolutely the last person to judge another or dimmish their experience, to treat another based on perception or not give someone the opportunity to discuss a "misunderstanding." I have worked with people of all ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, ages and whatever ever other differences might crop up and I have never treated someone differently or assumed to know anything about them based on that criteria. I am beyond appalled.

We would not have been able to have the excellent birth experience we had without Shannon and…read moreCalming Nature. Pre-pregnancy I was pretty sure this was the business I wanted to work with. Once we got the + test, I called and Shannon made it super easy to set up our pre-birth meetings. When we met in person for the first time, we walked out excited to work with Shannon for our pregnancy and the birth of our child. We selected the Queen package. I learned so much during the meetings we had. My HUSBAND learned so much. Shannon set us both at ease and built our confidence. She helped me trust my knowledge and my body, she reminded me to be patient. She was always available by text when I needed her. When it came time for my baby to arrive, Shannon came to our house and helped us in active labor at home. She then met us at the hospital when we thought we were close to transition. Turns out, we weren't that close and my labor ended up lasting 24 hours. Shannon was there the entire time - attentive and helpful, not yawning or distracted. Isia, the woman who would have been our sole doula if Shannon had been called on another birth, was also there for each pre-birth meeting and during most of my labor, learning from Shannon and being a comfort to my spouse and me. Shannon guided us in sticking to the parts of our birth plan that were most valuable to us. She was absolutely the calm lighthouse in the chaotic storm of a hospital birth. After the birth, Shannon came and visited us in the hospital to help my baby and I get the hang of breastfeeding. That was something that was very important to me but I had nerves around. We're at 4 months now and still breastfeeding like champs. Shannon also visited us in home a few days later to make sure we were getting the hang of the new parent life. She is always kind, warm and uplifting. I absolutely recommend every birthing person find a doula - and if you're in Buffalo I full-throatedly recommend Calming Nature.