In Like a Lion: Lion’s Paw Massage Celebrates Year One
Appreciating a community and an environment where one can rise and fall based on their merits and values, we have set about creating our new life in Cody with purpose, direction, and motivation. A great undertaking for us was the establishment of Lion’s Paw Massage, in October of 2024, during the same crispening of the air and the changing of the trees. Facing the same great worry of all year zero businesses (an empty book, an unpatroned shop, an unwanted product, etc.) we dove into the great unknown, confident in our abilities to provide great bodywork, an overarching emphasis on quality, and consistent attention to detail. Our initial launch was vigorous and intentional. Being afforded the opportunity to provide and excel in service is greatly valued, and our gratitude is boundless!
In the course of the past year, trial and error on the business front was embraced and we stood ready to adapt an overcome, learn, grow and do better. An intuitive execution on the Massage Therapy front was well received from the outset, but we are not ones to rest on our laurels. Embracing Kaizen concepts (continuous, incremental improvement) services have been expanded over the year, add-ons have been tested and implemented, and extras have been enhanced.
While we prepare to celebrate our 1-year Business Anniversary, and in keeping with continuous improvement, we have made some adjustments going into the next business year. Serving people from all walks of life, circumstance, and need, we’d like to take this opportunity to update those familiar with us on the new days of operation / hours, and to inform those unfamiliar with Lion’s Paw Massage what we have to offer:
Services:
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Saturday Couples Massage!
Not just for couples, this 2 hour, 90 or 60-minute session can be for friends, co-workers, or family as well. Session includes a co-located massage with additional ambiance, confections and refreshments. Limited availability, Saturdays only.
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Scratch Effleurage / Scratch Spa
Light stimulation of the dermal layers through Scratch Therapy and light Effleurage Massage techniques. These sessions are ideal for full-body, regional or focused work and help to engage the “rest and digest” Parasympathetic Nervous System.
Read more about Scratch Therapy at: https://neurolaunch.com/scratch-therapy/
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Saturday Shebang
The Saturday-Shebang can be for friends, co-workers, or family as well. This 2-hour session is designed to invoke the ultimate co-located, contrasting experience by combining Massage, Scratch Therapy, and Spa-like treatments.
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Personalized Massage
Therapeutic (firm pressure / deep tissue / sports / stretching) and / or Relaxation (a lighter touch) Massage session personalized for the needs of the individual. This can include full body work, targeted work, or a combination.
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Foot / Hand Massage Only
Service with a hand and / or foot emphasis, designed to provide relief, relaxation, and unbinding of the foot, ankle, calf, hand, wrist, and forearm.
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30 Minute Chair Cupping
Targeted cupping that utilizes “smart cups”. These sessions are designed for quick, yet efficient, heated decompressive treatments of the soft tissues of the upper body.
Add-Ons (Couples Packages also Available):
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“Natural Relaxation Gel”
Addition of CBD Gel into the massage gel to promote relaxation of soft tissue and combat inflammation. Ingredients are not THC based or psychoactive.
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Hot Stones
Targeted incorporation of Hot Stones throughout the session. Provides penetrating heat that aids in release and relaxation of bound up muscles and soft tissue.
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Smart Cups
Less Aggressive, More Effective! Smart Cups are a game changer in decompressive, detoxifying, and circulatory relief! With built in redlight therapy, heat, and breathing function, this add-on takes cupping to the next level.
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Cupping
Targeted incorporation of mechanically pressurized glass suction cups into the session in order to promote detoxification, lymphatic drainage, circulation and to provide a decompressive pull.
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Warming Eye Mask
Self-Warming Eye Mask that promotes deep relaxation. Typically applied while the client is face down during the session with a heating duration of around 60 minutes.
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Cooling Eye Mask
Chilled Eye Mask with recessed eye pockets that can help to reduce puffiness and wrinkles around the eyes, and promote sinus clearing (typically applied face-up).
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Hand / Foot Scrub (Hand / Foot Massage Only)
Sugar Scrub for the hands or feet that aids in removing debris, unclogging pores, stimulating collagen synthesis, and improving circulation.
Hours / Days of Operation:
- Darla, Tuesdays 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Nick, Wednesday – Friday 1:00 p.m. – 9:0 p.m.
(*now closed Sun and Mon)
- Couples Massage, Nick and Darla, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.! No change except bookings will be opened up for single sessions with Nick on Saturdays if there are Couples spots that are unfilled as of Saturday mornings.
While we always standby our quality of service and have faith in our diligence, client feedback like those below have kept us motivated, dedicated, and driven to continue with the trajectory of our practice (reviews from our online scheduler at MassageBook, https://www.massagebook.com/therapists/lions-paw-massage ):
“I’ve received hundreds of massages in my life and can say Darla is the best ever! She listens to your massage preferences and body needs, takes notes and truly wants to make you feel your best. She is professional and makes you feel very comfortable. The room and bed are the perfect temperature; the music and aromas provide the perfect ambiance. She changes the pressure as you want. She can feel where your body needs attention to work out knots and tensions. She provides many extras too! If you are near Cody Wyoming she is worth a long drive. Book a message with her. Your body will thank you!”
– Z
“Exceptional service! I booked the same day and got a 90 minute massage on a Sunday while we were visiting on vacation driving through town. I’ve been having a lot of migraines on our trip and this was one of the most phenomenal massages I’ve ever had. and I’ve had a lot. I personally owned a day spa for seven years and I have never had such a wonderful experience. It was not only in a very intuitive massage very catered to exactly what I needed as I was having a lot of issues with sinus drainage and neck problems that I have from a neck surgery. I don’t while driving and traveling the Massage helped tremendously, but not only that the way Nicholas went above and beyond the service that I had booked adding in extra details That just made it a much more enjoyable experience. The next time we visit, Cody Wyoming, we will be back for another massage! highly highly recommend and I recommend taking anything he recommends as he did recommend the CBD oil and I think it helped a lot with the inflammation in my neck. I cannot say enough good things as I feel like it was the best massage I’ve ever had and I get them weekly.”
-J
“This was an absolute treat. I was skeptical at first with price, but everything they did, said, and offered was well worth it. Although I had to rush a little. I will be coming back again. The atmosphere was relaxed and their space was homey. They took the time to build a connection with us. Learned about what we do, and made it feel like we were just having a good old chat. My masseuse Darla was very receptive of any of my comments and my unfortunate occasional grunts. She made sure that she worked my target areas but also respected that some of those areas were old injuries. I can’t say enough about how amazing this experience was. A hidden gem in our town.”
-S
It is the passion for what we do that gave us the energy to roar into business like a lion. It is our gratitude for the opportunity to serve, our humbleness to know we can always improve, and our enthusiasm for our work that will keep us going strong into the next business year and beyond.
We value every client that entrusts us with their time and wellbeing, and are always happy to help people Unbind, Unwind, Relax, and Refresh! As a Thank You to all of those that were willing to take a chance on us in year zero, all existing clients (those that have fulfilled at least 1 booking as of 6 October 2025) will receive 20% off all services and add-ons from 6 Oct to 6 November 2025 (not compatible with online pre-pay). Thank you all for an outstanding year! God Bless Everyone, and here’s to great things to come as we all roar into the next 12 months!
Nick and Darla Hartley
-Nick and Darla Hartley
Lion’s Paw Massage, Owners
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Nick & Darla Hartley
Owners, Lion's Paw Massage
As a Husband-and-Wife team, Nick and Darla Hartley own and operate Lion's Paw Massage in Cody, Wy. They have been providing a quality Massage Therapy experience since their establishment in 2024 and look forward to continued contribution and engagement with the community as they build their life here.