Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
As of early November, a new option is available to the Merrill community in massage therapy and aesthetics, with the opening of Mudra FACE (Facial. Aesthetics. Creating and Evolving) Aesthetics and Body Works in the Oak Park Dental plaza on East Main Street, inside Looks Unlimited.
Owner Nicole (Kusserow) Soberg brings over 10 years of aesthetics experience to the table in her new endeavor. She defines aesthetics as the specializing of health and well being of the skin as an organ and has experience in such services as hair removal, make-up artistry and even medical aesthetics alongside a plastic surgery dermatologist.
In opening Mudra and now offering her own line of aesthetics services, Soberg is excited and sees the endeavor as a dream come true.
“I’ve always had an interest and passion revolving around the beauty industry. When I was younger, I was that girl that took weekly walks to the grocery store with my allowance to buy the latest copy of Vogue to keep up with the latest trends in the industry,” she explains with a smile. “Ever since I first started pursuing a career in the beauty industry, I have always wanted to have a place of my own and have my own niche.”
It was while attending NTC-Wausau for general studies and working as a beauty consultant, that Soberg discovered the existence of a program focused strictly on aesthetics.
“I had no idea such a thing even existed! I knew I wanted to make a career in the cosmetics field but I wasn’t sure how or what I wanted to specialize in. But when I learned of the aesthetics program, I knew that was what I wanted to do. When I discovered the program was offered at the State College of Beauty and Culture in Wausau, I was very excited! The more I learned the more interested I became and I enrolled in 2007.”
Soberg graduated from the program in 2008, and while working in the field, she continued her education at the Conservatory of Aesthetics, True University of Chicago as well as graduating with an Associate Degree in Health Science with an emphasis in Massage Therapy, from Broadview University in Rothschild this past April.
“In my past employment, I had contact with a high number of clients with chronic skin conditions that I could not assist them with. I decided I needed to broaden my knowledge and expertise so I could assist them, hence why I chose to pursue ongoing education. I now have that knowledge and expertise to help others with such conditions. By opening Mudra, I aim to bring both the western (science based) and eastern (alternative health based) philosophies together with my aesthetics practice along with offering massage therapy services.”
While the concept of offering independent services had been on Nicole’s to-do list for quite some time, the one question which remained was that of a location.
She found the answer she was looking for when speaking with childhood friend and hair stylist Katie Schneider, this past spring.
“I have known Katie for what seems like forever,” Nicole adds with a smile. “One day we happened to be talking and she mentioned Looks Unlimited, the salon where she works, had open space which had at one time been used for tanning services.
“Conversations continued after I contacted salon owner Beckie Kleinschmidt. I had a vision for what I wanted and as it turned out, after some remodeling and restructuring, this space was perfect for me and my vision became a reality in November. I’m most proud of having my dream literally come true. Thus really isn’t a job to me, I feel as if I am literally living a dream. I am so very thankful to the help and support from everyone who helped me get here!”
Soberg offers a variety of services at Mudra including facial treatments (ranging from microderm abrasion to 100% organically sourced treatments); facial peels and Stress Relief Scalp Therapy to name a few. Nicole also offers Face Mapping Skin Analysis included in both massage and facial therapies.
Those interested in learning more about Mudra and the full-line of services Nicole offers, may stop in at 2402 E. Main St., Suite #4, any time Monday-Saturday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Soberg does offer appointments earlier and later than her regular business hours by phone at (715) 218-3677.