Teaching & Writing
Nicole is passionate about making science and scientific research accessible to massage therapists. When she's not at the massage table, you'll find her in research databases or university library stacks, deep in rabbit holes about what's actually happening at the cellular and tissue levels under our hands.
She co-founded AnatomySCAPES, a continuing education company teaching advanced fascial anatomy and palpation literacy through hands-on dissection lab experiences for massage therapists nationwide. Nicole co-authors the "Anatomy for Touch" column in Massage & Bodywork magazine and is a podcaster for the ABMP Podcast, one of the leading national podcasts for massage therapists. She serves as a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, attended the Fascia Winter School at the University of Padua in Italy, and regularly attends conferences including the International Massage Therapy Research Foundation conference. Her writing and podcast work explore topics from collagen matrix to fat tissue anatomy, bringing both scientific rigor and social justice perspectives to the profession. [Read some of her work here & Catch her podcasts here.]
Background Nicole's path to massage was winding. Nicole holds a BS in Biology from Providence College and an MA from the University of Cincinnati. She spent years in the social justice nonprofit sector, and left seeking better balance between body, mind, and spirit. She trained at the International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts, founding Equilibrio with that same elusive philosophy of balance - or "equilibrio" - that continues to guide her work today.
Originally from New Hampshire, Nicole has called San Diego home since 1998. It took her approximately six months in Southern California before she could redefine “cold” as anything below sixty-five degrees. When not working with clients or teaching fascial anatomy, she's usually on the trails around San Diego County with her family.
Her Approach
Nicole's work is grounded in trauma-informed, nervous-system centered care. Her style is known for slow, anatomically-informed, melting deep tissue work combined with soothing relaxation - therapeutic and effective while honoring your nervous system's need for safety and calm.
As a Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner, she uses body balancing techniques to address the muscular and ligamentous tensions that create discomfort in pregnancy and can affect labor progress. Nicole is certified in Pre and Perinatal Massage with advanced training by Carole Osborne, trained as a doula (and still deeply humbled every time she attends a birth), and holds both her national certification (NCTMB) and California state license (CMT).
Nicole Trombley, CMT, SpBAP
Founder & Director | Massage Educator | Anatomy Specialist
Certified Pre & Perinatal massage therapist & Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner
Nicole has specialized in prenatal and postpartum massage since 2004, helping thousands of clients find relief from pregnancy discomforts and support their postpartum recovery. Her work blends deep anatomical knowledge with over 20 years of hands-on experience and a trauma-informed approach. She supports bodies through major transitions - pregnancy, birth, postpartum, perimenopause, cancer recovery, and the long-term effects of surgical scars, including breast surgery scars.