Chiko is a native of Japan who received her education in both Japan and the U.S. She was a gymnast in her youth and briefly a gymnastics school owner from 2015 - 2018 while her daughter was also a gymnast. After receiving her esthetics license in 2023, Chiko continued her education in healthcare and received her license in massage therapy and bodywork in 2024.  She has been working at both a large franchise spa in Durham and an award winning luxury day spa in North Raleigh. 

In Feb 2026, Chiko is launching this little oasis in Durham.  It is a place for anyone seeking for his/her ME time in a little sanctuary in town.  No need to take a vacation in a far-away resort.  Your relaxation place is right here in Durham.  Come and relax at Uplifts. Receive relaxing treatments at this little retreat could change your perspective and your approach to your daily life as your body, mind, and soul become calm and relaxed. They become one and united in a way they should always be.

As to her massage style, it is an integrated approach that incorporates multiple modalities or techniques such as Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Shiatsu, Trager, and use of tools such as a massage gun, hot stones, and Guashas. It is her own unique style she likes best which also tap you into a touch of energy healing such as Reiki.

** Regarding the infrared sauna:

After a long-search, she has selected the model with the safest & lowest EMF that she could find in the market, the one she is comfortable to offer to her clients at her little retreat. 

The manufacturer's product description is as follows:

"At the heart of Maxwell saunas lies U.S.-patented near-zero EMF far-infrared heating, with an average EMF reading between 0.1 and 1.0 mG, delivering the safest possible environment for even the most EMF-sensitive users by providing the safest possible environment for their infrared sauna experience.

Our Maxwell and Wearwell saunas have EMF readings between 0.1 and 1.0 mG, while other saunas of SalusHEAT have EMF readings between 10 and 30 mG. But don't worry, this non-ionizing radiation is comparable to what cell phones emit. This is significantly lower compared to the 100+ mG levels found in many other sauna brands, regardless of the specific model."

Although this sauna is intended for one person use at a time at her practice, she has selected a spacious 3-person sauna with 9 carbon heating panels including one on the front door glass, ones on the sides for the calves and the feet for a complete 360-degree wrap-around infrared heating experience. Enjoy your dry sauna experience at Uplifts!