Our Story
Balm of the Soul Massage is a boutique massage studio based in Chicago—an oasis of peace and tranquility, thoughtfully designed to help you feel better the moment you arrive.
As you walk in, your shoulders soften and your breathing begins to slow. Your body instinctively knows it can relax and let go. In this space, you’re invited to focus on what matters most, yourself, trusting that you will be fully supported and cared for through the healing power of Massage Therapy.
Massage Therapy is beneficial for our physical as well as our mental health.
Whether Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, or Swedish, every modality is therapeutic in its own way. Massage can help reduce chronic and acute pain, relieve headaches, calm digestive discomfort, improve sleep quality, ease musculoskeletal tension and anxiety, lower cortisol levels, enhance mood, and increase flexibility and range of motion—and so much more.
The benefits are cumulative. The more consistently you receive Massage Therapy, the more profound and lasting the results can be. We recommend sessions every three to five weeks to experience noticeable improvements in how you feel, both physically and mentally, in your everyday life.
Trust us—your body will thank you.
Our Founder
Susan Brydges
Licensed Massage Therapist
Ashiatsu Practitioner
Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist
Susan has been a Massage Therapist for 26 years and has seen the body do amazing things. She believes that the body will heal itself, and that the role of massage therapy is to facilitate that space. Through compassionate and careful listening, she is able to hone in on the areas that are causing discomfort both physically and energetically. She accomplishes lasting results by addressing the root cause of the problem area while continually taking the client deeper into a relaxed state so that the body will let go.
Susan believes the slower you go, the deeper you can sink into the tissue—this creates the ideal environment for your body to unwind. Her approach to bodywork combines a mixture of Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial, and Trigger Point Therapy. She also enjoys blending other modalities she’s been trained in such as Reiki, the Chakra System, Reflexology, and TMJ, to name a few.
Susan has had great success helping relieve the physical and mental stresses of everyday life, clients who are dealing with hip pain, low back pain, shoulder pain and prenatal discomfort.
Our Approach
We believe in nurturing the body, mind, and spirit—because true balance comes from caring for the whole self. When we are balanced, we feel aligned, grounded, and complete; we are whole.
We are state licensed, certified, and insured, and proudly meet the two-year continuing education requirements set by the State of Illinois. Your safety, comfort, needs and well-being are our highest priorities.
Each appointment begins with time dedicated to you — discussing how your body feels, any health or physical concerns, your preferences, and most importantly, your desired outcome for the session. Afterward, we review personalized recommendations to support your continued wellness and help your body feel its best.
