Story & Lesson Highlights with Lisa Nevins

We recently had the chance to connect with Lisa Nevins and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
At The NOW Massage South Bay, I’ve found that our guests don’t just book a massage, they invest in a moment of stillness they didn’t know they needed. I had once assumed guests would only come in for relaxation or recovery, but they also come to remember who they are when the noise quiets down. Many walk in carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, and when they leave, something in their energy shifts. They leave feeling lighter and more in the NOW.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lisa Nevins and I’m the Franchise Owner and General Manager of The NOW Massage South Bay in El Segundo. At the age of 40, I made the bold decision to leave a successful career with a Fortune 500 company to follow a more purpose-driven path as a franchise owner with The NOW.

Before that pivot, I’d lived at the intersection of rhythm and reason — a breakdancer, a DJ, and eventually, an aspiring tenured history professor. Each chapter added depth, grit, and curiosity to the woman I’ve become today. I believe we are all allowed to evolve and rewrite our stories, to be both soft and strong, and wild and wise. The most beautiful parts of life often begin with a brave decision to begin again.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In 2020, I hit a wall so hard that I cried for 24 days straight. After 16 years in private mortgage banking, burnout had finally caught up with me. That breaking point reshaped everything I believed about success, productivity and self-worth. It ultimately inspired me to step away from corporate America and become a franchise owner with The NOW, a brand I had been a dedicated member of since 2017. I was ready to offer a space in the South Bay where others could find the same healing I was seeking.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger, overachieving self that she’s already enough, even when she slows down. Rest doesn’t make you lose your drive, it helps you find clarity.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One of The NOW’s Brand Truths, “Kindness is Magic,” is a favorite mantra of mine. It can shift the energy of a room and reminds me that how we make people feel matters most, in both life and business. Another guiding truth I hold onto is that peace is a choice we can make in every moment, it encourages me to lead with intention rather than urgency.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in the stillness before sunrise, sipping an iced Americano and sitting in that quiet space between presence and possibility. Peace also finds me when I see a team member step into their own light or when a guest leaves their massage feeling more present than when they walked in. It’s also in those small pauses when I close my eyes, take a breath, and reconnect with my intention. And most of all, when I’m around those who make me feel seen, safe and fully myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thenowmassage.com/south-bay/
• Instagram: @lisaanevins
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaanevins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNOWMassageSouthBay/
• Yelp: https://www.facebook.com/TheNOWMassageSouthBay/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenowmassage?lang=en

Image Credits
Headshot: Fabien and Laura Photography
Boutique Images: Public 311 Design