Today we’d like to introduce you to Nia Allen.
Hi Nia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became a Massage Therapist (M.T.) in 2014. However, soon after I joined the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman from 2016 to 2023. While serving on active duty I attended a military training school for Advanced Radiology. Later became a registered Diagnostic Radiology Technician. About a year after getting out of the military I accepted an amazing job offer for an X-Ray Tech position at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. While still employed at the VA I had an interest in doing mobile massage. So I did what anyone with no prior buisness experience or knowledge would do and started my research journey. As I did more research I become fond with the idea of having a stationary suite location for people to come to. Soon after I found a suite and officially opened Pure Purpose Massage October 3rd of 2025.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening my business had come with a lot of challenges but my life before opening my own buisness wasn’t what people would call smooth sailing either.
In 2015 I was working as a massage therapist in Mt. Pleasant. However, a series of unfortunate events had taken place that lead me to homelessness for a few months. Shortly after I moved to Virginia taking an M.T. (Massage therapist) position. As my passion to service others grew, I made the commitment to serve in the US Navy. While on active duty I became pregnant with my daughter. Which was a challenging time because I was two months pregnant when her father abandoned us. A week after giving birth to my daughter I received official orders for military separation and in three-months time I had moved back to my hometown, in Fayetteville NC where I lived with my Mother. My Mother’s home didn’t exactly accommodate all of us. My daughter and I slept on the couch for some time but I was still grateful given that I had been homeless before. During this time I was blessed to land a job at a local hospital but pulling 14-hour overnight shifts and being a full time single parent soon started to take its toll.
Later, after securing my position at the VA and launching my massage business, I found myself working seven days a week. The demands of balancing career, entrepreneurship, and motherhood began to impact my mental health. I had been previously diagnosed with PTSD MST (Postraumatic stress disorder Military Sexual Truama) and Depression. Although I was not new to my struggles with both of these disorders. During this period my mental health really started to spiral out of control. Meanwhile I was also navigating thru an abusive realationship. I became extremely depressed, suicidal, and about 2 month later was then diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder.
Despite these hardships, my faith, my dad, my close friends, and the support of my church community became my anchors. Their encouragement and unwavering belief in me allowed me to persevere, continue growing my clientele, and remain committed to both my business and my role as a mother.
We’ve been impressed with Pure Purpose Massage, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist. As a former athlete I developed an early understanding of body mechanics, strength training, and the critical role of recovery in performance and overall health. As I got further into my career I had taken a liking to Deep Tissue and Sports Massage. A memoriable moment for me was having the opportunity to work with the Fayetteville FireAntz before one of their Hokey games. An opportunity that reinforced my passion for working with active individuals and performance-focused clients.
What I find most rewarding is client feedback — especially when someone experiences noticeable relief, improved range of motion, or a better quality of life. I strive to create sessions that are not only therapeutic, but truly intentional and client-centered.
What sets me apart from others is that I value not only the physical healing aspect of massage but also the mental and spiritual elements as well. For me, massage is not just a service — it is a partnership in helping people feel, move, and live better.
The story behind the name Pure Purpose is that I wanted to make an intentional statement. So that people would read it and know that there are purely genuine intentions behind every massage I give. With the name I also wanted people to truly feel like they were pouring back into themselves. Last but not least I’de like to add that my name, Nia, means purpose in Swahili.
At Pure Purpose I offer a wide variety of different massage services. Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Sports, Prenatal, and Medical massage are only some of the services offered. But the best part is that all massages can be customized to your needs and or modified depending on your circumstances. No matter if you just want to relax, incorporate massage into your fitness journey, focus on your overall wellness, or want to reach a specific pain relief/recovery goal Pure Purpose is the place for you.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My Favorite Childhood memory was when I lived in Japan. I was about 9 years old when my mother had married my step dad who was active duty Air Force at the time but unfortunately he was an alcoholic. Ever weekend he would get drunk, play his music dangerously loud, and at times would get confrontational. However, my mom would take my little sister and I what you would call “dumpster diving” to avoid the risk of conflict at home. We would drive around and look for what people would put out on the street, typically before or after a duty station change. I am not sure if my mom knew what dumpster driving was back then but she had given it the name “Go-Mo”. So every weekend we would go “Go-Mo” and as a kid it was such an adventure for me, it felt like we were treasure hunting. Reflecting on this memory, is a reminder that even in the roughest of circumstances, there’s always a silver lining.
Pricing:
- 60-Min Massage : $99
- 90-Min Massage : $129
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purepurposemassage.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purepurposemassage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14WYfBMigQi/
