I have always found it interesting how life can come full circle and how most of the time in life you don’t always get what you want but almost always you get what you need. It’s funny how you can meet someone randomly and keep in touch very little but then one day they turn out to be the exact person you need to help you with a particular situation. That has been much the reason why I am where I am today.

My innate and undeniable inspirations in life are in the healing and visual arts. I think those inspirations stem from when I was growing up in a family composed of teachers and healers. Through these role models I was influenced at an early age to help the world become a better place in my own unique way. As a young girl I remember staring in awe at the photographs taken by Margaret Bourke-White. Those in particular that stood out were those of Gandhi, concentration camps, and The Great Depression. To this day I am amazed how a single image taken at a decisive moment and at the right angle can have a profound effect on the world. At the time I thought that my unique way to change the world was through photography. So I followed the path to becoming a photographer by graduating from the University of Texas with a B.A. and a B.F.A. in Fine Arts with a major emphasis in photography. Much like my college graduate peers, I pursued my field of study in the professional world for about a decade off and on. I met many interesting people and photographed quite a few shots that won awards in the genres of landscapes, portraiture and documentary photography. It was on one of those photo shoots that I met some great friends that would in one way or another guide me to where I am today.

When I was working as a photographer, I had the assignment of going to all the Austin Area Holistic Health Association (AAHHA) events and take pictures. It was through these events that I met five people that would influence me to follow a new career path in Massage Therapy, but I didn’t know it at the time. The influencers were Evelyn, Steve, Mark, Jonathan and Marsha. In time their individual influences would resonate in my life.

I remember receiving my first massage in a soft and gentle environment filled with incredible fragrances of incense and exotic oils. It was on Blanco Road in the quaint Clarksville neighborhood not far from the Whole Foods Market in Austin that I experienced my first professional massage. The experience was unforgettable and life changing. The massage that Evelyn gave me planted a seed that propelled me into a lifelong career in massage therapy. I had been studying the world’s religions for quite some time and became familiar with the teachings of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and many others. My understanding of those religions and the observation of Evelyn in her practice of using massage therapy in a holistic approach for healing woke me up to a new calling. That calling was a career in massage therapy. Although I would not fully pursue it till later on in life, I did get to experience the amazing feeling of a great massage.

Because photography was not paying the bills fully, I worked in the corporate environment to financially support myself and protect myself with insurance. But after so much of working in a corporate environment, I felt disconnected from my true self and nature. This feeling of disconnect allowed me to think to myself that there must be much more to life and I needed to find that meaning. I had learned early on that feelings act as indicators to send messages to you that something has got to change. What had to change was my direction in life.

Then, that’s when it happened. I became ill with respiratory complications that required the care of a chiropractor. The illness gave me an opportunity to re-evaluate my life. Luckily for me, the teachings I studied from the world’s religions allowed me to focus on turning inward and mindful meditation. I was drawn to change my life and to seek and allow a different way of being. But for the time being I had to restore my health. It is interesting how something that is seemingly tragic at the time, opens a door in front of you through which a light shines that is brighter than one would ever imagine. That light keeps growing brighter and brighter as times goes by, much to my delight and ongoing amazement.

The facility I decided to get my treatment at was the very same one of two young chiropractors I met at an AAHHA event. Those two chiropractors were Steve and Mark. As time went by, the more and more I received treatments at their facility, I got to know the staff and really loved what they did while admiring how much they loved their profession. Similar to the passing of seasons, I overcame the illness and was back on my feet in a matter of months. When I became healthy at the same time I decided to try a new mentality of looking for a different way of being. As luck would have it, an opportunity arose at the facility to be a chiropractic assistant. It was as if destiny was trying to tell me something, the opportunity for a new direction all of a sudden presented itself. So I jumped on the opportunity and embraced the change of environment. I don’t know if that opportunity was made available to me because I had met Steve and Mark sometime before, or if it was how I got to know them all during my treatments or something else. Whatever it was, I like to think that a little bit of luck played a part. To me luck is preparation meeting opportunity. With everything that was going on, I felt that no other time was better for change than now. I more prepared to take on a new direction, so I ran with it.

Business was great at the facility and then one day Steve and Mark called everyone into the office. Luckily the meeting was not to talk about negative things but more so to share with the staff that they were going to open a new building next door. They said that if any member of the staff wanted to get skilled education to practice in their facility, they would give priority to renting office space to that staff member. The new facility was to be called the Family Wellness and Resource Center. This then propelled me to a new level in my career, that of finally becoming a massage therapist.

I had remained in touch with Jonathan and Marsha from my AAHHA days. They also happened to teach their massage classes at the new center. At the time Texas did not have a licensing requirement to give massages, so I studied with Jonathan and Marsha learning therapeutic techniques so that I could move away from being chiropractic assistant and move toward being a massage therapist.

It seems a rather curious route when my work in the visual arts as a photographer for the AAHHA group led me into the healing arts.

It was not till the mid 80’s that the State of Texas began licensing massage therapists. I was fortunate enough to be included in the first group of massage therapists to become licensed. I felt honored to be one of the first massage therapists in Texas to be licensed. Now, 25 years later, I feel honored to be invited to be a member of the Whole Massage Festival Hall of Fame. I thought, “What a long way I have come from my corporate paper pushing days.”

With no room for error, I took a massage course that would surely help me pass the State Boards practical exam with flying colors. The practical consisted of performing massage skills in a therapeutic setting with a live model that we had to provide for the exam. As life would have it, my practical exam was held at the Family Wellness and Resource Center, the very same place I got my start. Luckily, I was able to pass the practical exam using my male model who had to pretend to be pregnant.

Now that I was licensed and had built up enough cliental at the center from my time as a chiropractic assistant and massage therapist, business was good for me and my massage practice. After a few years, the culture of the center changed and I found it in my best interest to break free and try my skills in a spa setting.

I was fortunate enough to get a position with a very upscale resort and country club in Austin. It started out as a wonderful experience and all the massage therapists were filled with hope and happiness. We saw corporate profits increase, multi-million dollar expansions, and continually rising treatment fees; however, after our third salary cut in two years, several of us decided that it was time for a change and we bittersweetly turned in our resignations.

Before leaving the spa environment, I saw an opportunity to change course. I like to think to myself that obstacles are opportunities in disguise. As always, destiny has a plan for you even when you don’t see it. Some months before I would resign, the Texas Department of State Health Services passed a rule stating that all massage therapists in Texas were required to complete continuing education credits each year. Knowing that this spa experience was turning sour, I went ahead and got licensed to teach continuing education classes for massage therapists. I left the spa and opened my private massage therapy practice and massage therapy instruction business in Wimberley, Texas, not far from Austin.

I could hear the door of working at the resort closing while a new one was opening where I could move into a field of massage education. I still had an opportunity to stay in the massage community in a different and more autonomous role. I remembered at the time how, I loved the heart-centered approach Jonathan and Marsha took in teaching me massage therapy and I thought it would be great if I could do the same for many others, many times over.

However, as life has shown before, things can drastically change in an instant. As I was reflecting on what to do, a series of unfortunate events took place that greatly affected me. I was thwarted by several events including a burglary at my uninsured cottage where I lost everything of value and, for a time, I lost my peace of mind. Shortly afterwards I was involved in an unfortunate relationship that made times more difficult. To top it off I suffered a serious knee injury in an auto accident. These experiences financially and emotionally exhausted me. But what doesn’t kill you, makes you that much stronger.

Like Aretha Franklin’s song, I Will Survive; I did just that and prospered. I was fortunate enough to be able to move to Austin where, with the help of a mentor who I have known since the early 80’s, and with the help of a close friend who lived next door. Together they were able to help me rebuild and restore my life to a point of balance. I replaced the stolen items, disengaged from the unfortunate relationship, and my leg healed nicely as I continued on with my life.

Thanks to the help of my mentor and friend, I was able to get balanced again and lift the veil of dismay to focus on my profession as a Massage Therapy Instructor. Keeping up with the times, I set up a website with the help of an amazing webmaster who built the site to fit the needs of my students and clients. Setting up the website was one of the best things I could have done for my practice. It is amazing how many people you can reach through the internet. The convenience of having all course descriptions and treatments on the web allows me to manage my time much better. The site makes it easier for repeat students to plan their schedules and for new students to see what I offer. The site is a great destination for students who hear about me through word of mouth or through my direct mail postcards. They can obtain detailed information about CE classes I offer.

Just like how life evolves, business evolves. Ten years after CE credits were mandated for Texas Licensed Massage Therapists, online CE courses were approved in Texas. Having been one of the first Licensed Massage Therapists in Texas and also a Massage Therapy Instructor, destiny was telling me once again what I had to do. As of January 1, 2009, I am happy to offer online CE courses for easier access for my students. Since I am an approved CE provider through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage as well as for the Texas Department of State Health services, many people throughout the United Sates can avail themselves of my CE course offerings in person and online.

Throughout my career as a massage therapist and a massage therapy educator I’ve seen a lot of changes, particularly in the technological world. My massage therapy career has spanned close to three decades. I believe that we have truly reached a point where there is a marriage of high tech and high touch for the highest good of all concerned. It seems that a veil is lifting and our culture as a whole is beginning to see massage therapy in its true light. We as a society are deepening our respect and appreciation for the healing arts.

Looking back on my career as a Licensed Massage Therapist and Massage Therapy Instructor, I attribute much of my success to my resilience in overcoming obstacles, surrounding myself with positive motivational peers, keeping a positive mental attitude and openness to change. With that in mind, I leave you with a quote that I always end my courses with: “Remember to focus on the healing power of touch and the importance of its presence in our lives and in the lives of those we touch.”

Visit her website at Ariana Institute