Today we’d like to introduce you to Roberto Ghigi.
Roberto, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Your Story
I became a licensed massage therapist in North Carolina in 2017, but my path to this work has always been about people and community as much as it has been about a profession. Before moving to the United States, I worked in hospital settings in Italy, where I was exposed to clinical environments and the ways medical teams care for patients. That experience helped shape my understanding of professionalism, patient interaction, and the importance of working within structured systems of care.
After relocating to North Carolina, I continued my journey and became licensed in 2017. Early in my career here, I worked in medical offices alongside doctors, which strengthened my clinical foundation and helped me understand how massage therapy can support people dealing with stress, physical tension, and the demands of everyday life.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I made the difficult decision to step away from hands-on work for safety reasons. Like many people in the community, I suddenly found myself rethinking what the future might look like. Rather than waiting for circumstances to change, I used that time to reflect on how I wanted to practice and what kind of space I wanted to create for the people I serve.
That reflection led to the creation of “Your Healing Massage.” At Your Healing Massage, I offer relaxation, deep tissue, and therapeutic massage, adapting each session to the individual needs of the client. My focus is always on providing safe, professional care that supports comfort, stress relief, and overall well-being.
Because I have always been comfortable working with my hands and building things, I designed and built a private massage office attached to my home. I sketched the layout myself, thinking carefully about how light, quiet, and flow would affect both clients and therapist. The space was reviewed and approved to meet all building and safety codes, and building it largely with my own hands made the practice feel deeply personal from the start.
Opening my own office allowed me to work in a way that aligns with my values. The biggest difference between working for others and running Your Healing Massage is the freedom to direct my work with intention and care. I can slow things down, focus on individual needs, and create an environment where people feel safe and respected.
Giving back to the community has become an important part of that mission. At Your Healing Massage, I set aside the first Tuesday and first Friday of every month as First Responders and Teachers Appreciation Days. On those days, first responders and teachers can book a free 40-minute massage as a small gesture of gratitude.
“First responders and teachers spend so much of their time taking care of others,” I often say. “I wanted to create a space where they could take a moment to be taken care of.”
Serving neighbors in Fuquay-Varina and the surrounding area has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. Every client brings a different story, and I’ve learned that sometimes the most important part of the work is simply listening.
“I believe caring for the community starts with listening and showing up consistently, not just when it’s convenient,” I say. “That’s what I try to do every day.”
Looking ahead, my goal is not rapid growth or expansion, but deeper connection. I would love to find more ways to help others through my work, whether by expanding community appreciation days, offering educational opportunities, or supporting people who may not otherwise have access to care. My hope is that Your Healing Massage continues to be a place where people feel supported, welcomed, and valued as part of the community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life rarely offers a smooth path, and my journey has been shaped by a series of challenges that required patience, adaptability, and persistence. One of the earliest obstacles I faced was moving to a new country and learning a different language. Communicating effectively, understanding cultural nuances, and navigating everyday situations took time and effort. Over the years, I built a life here, and becoming an American citizen was a milestone I am deeply proud of. It represents not just a legal status, but a sense of belonging and commitment to the community I now call home.
Professionally, the road was not always straightforward. When I decided to open my own practice, I chose to design and build my massage office myself. While that decision allowed me to create a space perfectly suited to my work, it also came with technical challenges, unexpected obstacles, and moments that required problem-solving well beyond my comfort zone. From construction details to compliance with building codes, each step demanded focus, flexibility, and persistence.
Like many small business owners, one of the ongoing challenges has been visibility. Building a practice from the ground up means helping people simply know that you exist and understand what you offer. There is no shortcut for that. It takes time, consistency, and trust-building within the community.
Running a business has taught me that every day brings new problems to solve. Some are small, others more complex, but all require attention and adaptability. While this constant problem-solving can be challenging, I also find it stimulating. It keeps me engaged, curious, and motivated to improve.
Looking back, these obstacles have shaped the way I work and live today. They’ve taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of showing up consistently, even when the path forward isn’t clear. The challenges haven’t disappeared, but they’ve become part of a journey that continues to push me to grow, both as a business owner and as a member of the community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Your Healing Massage is a locally owned massage practice based in Fuquay-Varina, built around the idea that quality care starts with intention, professionalism, and respect for the individual. My work includes relaxation, deep tissue, therapeutic, and sports massage, with each session adapted to the client’s specific needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. I regularly work with active individuals and athletes, focusing on muscle recovery, injury prevention, and long-term physical maintenance.
What sets my practice apart is the environment and the way I work. I designed and built my private massage office myself, with the goal of creating a calm, quiet, and safe space where clients can truly disconnect from daily stress. The setting is intentionally simple and personal, allowing clients to feel comfortable and unrushed from the moment they arrive. Many people tell me they appreciate the privacy and the sense of calm that comes with a smaller, independent practice.
I am known for taking the time to listen. Every session begins with understanding what the client is experiencing that day, whether that’s physical tension, athletic strain, recovery from intense activity, or simply the need to relax. My experience working in medical offices has shaped my approach, emphasizing professionalism, clear communication, and staying within appropriate boundaries while still offering effective, thoughtful care.
When working with athletes, my focus is not only on addressing current tension, but also on supporting recovery and helping reduce the risk of overuse and strain. As I often say, “Consistent care is not just about performance, it’s about helping the body stay resilient and ready for what comes next.”
One aspect of Your Healing Massage that I am especially proud of is its connection to the community. Giving back is not an afterthought, but part of the identity of the practice. I designated the first Tuesday and first Friday of every month as First Responders and Teachers Appreciation Days, offering a free 40-minute massage to those professionals as a way of acknowledging the important role they play in our community.
Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is authenticity. Your Healing Massage is not a chain or a high-volume operation. It reflects who I am, how I work, and what I value: consistency, care, and trust. I want readers to know that when they support my business, they are supporting a local practice built with intention, hands-on effort, and a genuine commitment to helping people feel better in their bodies and more supported in their daily lives.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Without question, my clients deserve the greatest credit. Their trust, loyalty, and belief in my skills have been essential to the growth of both my work and Your Healing Massage. Every time someone chooses to return, recommend my services, or simply place their trust in my hands, it reinforces why I do what I do. Many clients have supported the practice from its early days, and their confidence has been a constant source of motivation.
Friends and family have also played an important role along the way. Their moral support, encouragement, and patience—especially during challenging or uncertain moments—helped me keep moving forward. Building a business can feel isolating at times, and having people who believed in me even when progress felt slow made a meaningful difference.
I’m also grateful to the professionals I worked alongside earlier in my career, including those in medical offices. Observing their professionalism, structure, and commitment to ethical care helped shape my own standards and approach. Those experiences influenced how I communicate with clients, maintain boundaries, and approach my work with consistency and responsibility.
Beyond specific individuals, the local community itself deserves recognition. Being welcomed, supported, and trusted by people in Fuquay-Varina and the surrounding area has allowed my practice to grow organically. Small conversations, referrals, and words of encouragement have all contributed in ways that are not always visible but deeply felt.
Success is rarely the result of one person alone. Your Healing Massage exists today because of a network of trust, support, and shared belief—clients who gave me a chance, people who encouraged me along the way, and a community that values local, independent businesses. For all of that, I’m genuinely grateful.
Pricing:
- Standard massage sessions are competitively priced for the local area
- Discounts and complimentary services are offered through community appreciation days for first responders and teachers
- Session details and current pricing are available on the business website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourhealingmassage.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourhealingmassage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourHealingMassage/
