Morgan Leavitt, LMT

12/18/2025

Who wants a gift?!?!

It’s that time of year when chaos ensues, and we stress and flail at the last minute to find the PERFECT thing to gift to our loved ones (or maybe ourselves). And the options can be overwhelming.

Well, I can help with that.

Here’s a selection of small businesses, all wellness related, of course, that I am personally supporting this year, with purchases, social shares, and referrals….

salonchicago esthetics life.coaching smbiz








All these small businesses are local to Chicago, except for The Loose Leaf, Nature’s Gift and Tribe Tokes, which are personal favorites of mine, who I purchase from again and again (and again.)

Click on the links. Give these businesses a follow. And don’t forget that gift certificates make excellent gifts!

All of these businesses will also be a part of my Winter Gift Giveaway for my massage patients.

Want to know how to be a part of the giveaway as either a recipient or gift giver for next year? Reach out and I’ll tell you how!

Happy Small Business Shopping!!!

12/05/2025

Your nervous system is talking to you, but are you listening?

Chronic pain has a tendency to build up over time and then “flare” when the nervous system gets overwhelmed. Often there are signs of that build up. We just need to pay attention.

It’s cold and snowy in Chicago, and my brain has been talking up a storm. It began with mild muscle aches, then burny joint pain, and progressed to that stabby feeling in random areas of my body when I walk out into the cold. My head wants to thrive in the cold (historically fewer Migraine attacks), but my body feels worse and worse as the temperatures drop. And unfortunately, the more triggers that build up in my body, the more likely a Migraine will occur.

I have listened deeply to my nervous system over the years. I can recognize the whispers when they begin. I have things I can do to deter the pain, and remedies for when the pain breaks through. I do my best to redirect the nervous system overwhelm before it gets too bad.

Sometimes I need help. (My massage appointment is next week.)

If you need help learning how to listen to your nervous system and decode what it’s trying to tell you, reduce your pain and keep it from coming back, you’ve come to the right place.

DM me for more info.

Don’t wait until your body is screaming at you. Reach out when you start hearing the whispers.

12/05/2025

Your nervous system is talking to you, but are you listening?

Chronic pain has a tendency to build up over time and then “flare” when the nervous system gets overwhelmed. Often there are signs of that build up. We just need to pay attention.

It’s cold and snowy in Chicago, and my brain has been talking up a storm. It began with mild muscle aches, then burny joint pain, and progressed to that stabby feeling in random areas of my body when I walk out into the cold. My head wants to thrive in the cold (historically fewer Migraine attacks), but my body feels worse and worse as the temperatures drop. And unfortunately, the more triggers that build up in my body, the more likely a Migraine will occur.

I have listened deeply to my nervous system over the years. I can recognize the whispers when they begin. I have things I can do to deter the pain, and remedies for when the pain breaks through. I do my best to redirect the nervous system overwhelm before it gets too bad.

Sometimes I need help. (My massage appointment is next week.)

If you need help learning how to listen to your nervous system and decode what it’s trying to tell you, reduce your pain and keep it from coming back, you’ve come to the right place.

DM me for more info.

Don’t wait until your body is screaming at you. Reach out when you start hearing the whispers.

12/01/2025

I’m gonna sound like a broken record, but…..how did another month fly by?!?!?!

I enjoy December much more when it starts with snow.

I’ve always loved Winter. Maybe because the chill in the air feels better to my Migrainy head than the humidity and heat of Summer. Maybe it’s the magic of looking out your window when you wake up in the morning and seeing the marshmallow world outside. Maybe because it signifies the start of hibernation season (I LOVE hibernation season.)

December can also be a stressful month, packed with too many activities and responsibilities. Trying to get all of your work accomplished before the end of the year. This month can fly faster than all the others.

Remember though, if you’re not taking care of yourself, how can you take care of and be present for others?

There are so many little ways to include self-care into your day to day routines. At this time of the year, it’s easiest to maintain what you’ve already been doing. Just don’t drop the ball. If you’ve been doing twice a week yoga, keep it up! Monthly massages, get it booked! Morning meditations, you can do it!

I’ve got my massage appointment on the books for this month.

Do you?

(Link in bio for scheduling this month’s massage appointment.)

11/27/2025

11/25/2025

This may sound strange…

I am grateful for all the pain, grief and hardships I’ve had in my life.

Don’t get me wrong, I would give back all the chronic pain, challenges, anxiety, loss, if I magically could.

But that’s not how life works.

So I learned long ago to embrace the bad with the good. And over time, I saw things differently.

I can appreciate the beauty of the world, whether I’m traveling to new places, or taking the train to work. The little moments of community and kindness that we witness in our neighborhoods. The ability to get up each morning and tackle the new day with an open heart. The fact that I make my living by helping people.

I could be bitter. I could stay in bed when life is hard and my body rebels. I could wonder ‘why me’ and focus on all the things I can’t do.

But that wouldn’t be much of a life.

I choose healing over hurting. Helping over being helpless. And moving forward over staying stuck.

All it took was a momentary pause. A little shift. A new perspective. And that created an entirely new outlook on life.

Gratitude is transformative.

So, yes, I am grateful for all the pain, grief and hardships I’ve had in my life.

11/07/2025

Massage Therapy is a form of communicating with your body and nervous system.

Often for the best results, it’s important for you to be able to communicate with your own body first, and be prepared to receive what it is trying to tell us.

This makes body awareness a very influential part of your chronic pain journey.

In just over a week, I will be presenting a meditation to help connect you to your body and open your mind to feel deeper, understand more clearly, and be able to interpret changes in your nervous system messaging.

Join me and for the Yoga Trifecta Workshop:

November 16th, 11am - 2pmarbory

11/05/2025

The world is on fire and we're all craving a little comfort and stability.

Thanks to for the suggestion, I am embracing the Thanksgiving nature of this month and creating a Gratitude Garland...for me...for you...for all of us to feel more connected.

Please join me in the massage treatment room for healing your body, mind, and spirit.

A little gratitude can go a long way towards healing our hearts, as well.

Link in bio to book your next massage treatment.

11/01/2025

Is it just me, or did the past month go by way too fast?

I love November. Not quite as much as October. But I enjoy the cooler temperatures, the patchy leaf canopy, the cozy clothes, the hearty soups and the afternoon cups of tea.

But what I love most about November is the reflection and the reset.

The lead up to Thanksgiving is the perfect time to consider and appreciate how much we truly have in our lives.

Life starts to slow down and we shift our focus to what’s truly important.

My gratitude grows during this period of time. And it carries me through the dark, cold of Winter.

What are your priorities this month? I hope it includes taking care of yourself.

If massage is on your to-do list, there are still a handful of November appointments available. Although, all the Saturday spots are filled, and only two evening appointments remain.

Make time for yourself.

Click on my link in bio to view my calendar and book this month’s session.

10/27/2025

I haven't been feeling well for a little while.

And it sort of made sense why, but was still hard to trudge through.

So yesterday I took a rest day. And we went down to the Caldwell Lily Pool for a stroll.

The light was hitting just right, and the water was full of color. And speckled with lily pads.

So, of course I'm thinking of Monet.

I'm reminded of the value of observation. Of delving into our thoughts and feelings, and deep into our bodies. How the inner workings of body and mind are always speaking to us.

Reflection teaches us to listen. And learn. And see things in a different way.

I'm feeling a little better today.

Maybe it was the sunshine and fresh air of a beautiful Autumn day.

Maybe it was the Lily Pool and connecting to Nature.

Maybe it was the words of Monet.

And maybe it was me, listening to what my body needs and learning why.

Let's go with that one.

Do you have a special place you like to go to for rest and reflection?

Have a wonderful week, friends.

10/24/2025

Do you know what is one of the greatest tools in your chronic pain toolkit?

Mindfulness.

That state of active attention to the present moment. Observing, without judgement. Assessing without going into ‘fix it’ mode right away.

It is the art of noticing…what’s happening in your body, your mind, your heart, the environment around you.

Practicing mindfulness daily is what helps you become the expert of your own condition and experience. It empowers you to become a step ahead of fixed patterns, changes, flares.

With my massage patients, we work on body awareness, which is just one element of mindfulness. It is a skill you can develop over time. And one that sticks with you for life.

By the way….I’ll be leading a body awareness session at Yoga TriFecta Workshop on November 16th. Check out their page for more details.

How do you practice mindfulness in your daily life?