Shahla

I’m a mixed Middle Eastern and Scots-Irish woman, a licensed massage therapist with over a decade of hands-on experience, and a lifelong creative who found deep meaning in the healing arts. I grew up all over the world, which helped me experience the lovely ways humanity is both beautifully different and remarkably alike. Those childhood adventures and the travels I still pursue have given me a deep capacity for care, connection, and respect for every person’s unique story. I believe our differences are worth celebrating, and our similarities run deeper than we’re often taught to believe.

Over the years, I’ve worked in stunning, world-class spaces like Blackberry Farm and The Spa at Grand National—but my heart has always wanted to bring that level of presence and care home. After moving to Chattanooga, I felt the quiet nudge to create something of my own—a place where people could rest without explaining themselves, soften without apology, and reconnect with the tender parts of themselves that have been stretched thin by life’s demands.

What moves me most is helping someone remember themselves. I believe real healing happens when we feel safe and when we’re met with presence, kindness, and enough space to exhale. I also believe rest doesn’t have to be solemn. There’s room here for the whimsical, the quirky, the quietly weird. Laughter and joy are part of the medicine.

That’s the heart behind The Black Cat Spa & Lounge. Every guest who leaves feeling a little more regulated and a little more themselves brings that gentleness back into the world. In the future, I hope to further expand the amenities I offer to my community and further train my own team in these philosophies of deep presence, acceptance, and care. I dream of mentoring therapists, collaborating with local artisans, and creating community rituals that keep wellness inclusive, imaginative, and rooted in joy.

To be supported by my community in bringing this vision to life means the world to me—thank you for believing in rest, care, and the quiet kind of magic that makes a difference.