Body Wisdom Massage School’s Blog

BWS: Looking back over 18 years in this profession, what have been some of your biggest lessons?
Ariel: You don’t have to be good at everything! Both in terms of massage techniques and other aspects of business. We have a great, supportive community of therapists in Iowa, and I’ve found that people are usually happy to share their experience and expertise. It’s necessary and healthy to seek help and support for areas where you may have less skill and experience. As far as the massage itself, I’ve learned over the years that some techniques, even if I love receiving them, are just not my thing to give, and it’s ok to let those go. I have no regrets about taking those classes- I think it’s good to challenge yourself- but I no longer feel guilty about taking something off my menu that just isn’t working for me. Focusing on what does work for me and brings me joy also brings the right kind of clients my way. Plenty of other therapists are offering different approaches to massage, and I don’t need to be everything for everyone.

Another lesson is that there are going to be ebbs and flows. As much as you can, having a financial cushion saved up for slower times will help some of that stress. I have often found that when I do have a slower time, I end up needing that extra time for something else that comes up in my personal life, so I try to appreciate the space when it happens and look for what I might need during that time (which sometimes is just some down time!).

BWS: What was opening Health & Harmony Massage Therapy in 2007 like? Did you face any unexpected challenges?
Ariel: Things were undoubtedly slow, to begin with, but I gradually started building a client base. I tried several marketing things that did not give any return on my investment of either time or money, which was frustrating at the time. I put a lot of time into building my website, and that was how most people found me initially. As I began building my clientele, word of mouth eventually became the most significant way new people approached me. I still think having a solid online presence is very important. One of my biggest challenges was moving from a very regular daily schedule to one that was different daily. I’m very much a creature of routine, so I had to build a structure within that changing schedule to keep myself on an even keel. Gradually, that became easier, and I’ve learned to roll with the punches better.

BWS: What do you love most about being a massage therapist and business owner?
Ariel: I love making a real difference in people’s lives, especially those who may have struggled with something that impacts their daily living for a while. They’ve maybe tried several other approaches before finding me. I also love the variety of people I get to work with, both for the unique challenges they bring and the range of personalities and life experiences I get to build trust and rapport with through my work.

BWS: Since 2019, you’ve been teaching Positional Release at Body Wisdom—what is it about this technique that excites you?
Ariel: I love how it works with the body, utilizing the nervous system to impact changes gently but effectively. I appreciate that it can be used both in acute and chronic conditions. I especially love that I can facilitate big changes with less discomfort for my clients and less work for me as a therapist.

BWS: How has incorporating Positional Release into your practice helped your clients?
Ariel: There are so many stories I could share here! One of my favorite things is when I ask a client about something we worked on in a previous session, and they forget that it was a problem.

BWS: Some therapists may not be familiar with Positional Release—how would you explain its benefits in simple terms?
Ariel: Positional Release works by passively positioning the body in a way that brings the attachment sites of a muscle closer together and holding that position to allow the muscle to relax and reset to a more neutral resting position.

BWS: What is your favorite part about teaching at Body Wisdom Massage School?
Ariel: My favorite part is seeing the “aha moment” when things click for my students. The first day or two is usually just going through the motions, trying to figure out the technical side of the technique. Then, they start to feel changes happening and move beyond the anatomy and positioning to the magic of accessing the nervous system through the method. I also love that, through teaching, I impact so many other clients that will never be on my own table.

BWS: If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out in this career, what would it be?
Ariel: Be true to yourself. If you can find your specific recipe for a massage that resonates with who you are, that passion will be evident to the clients who find their way to you. That also involves healthy boundaries—the time you are available, the amount of pressure your body can give, and even the specific techniques you offer. It can be tempting to do it all when you are first starting out, but that does a disservice to you and your clients in the long run.

BWS: Many new therapists worry about building a sustainable business—what strategies have helped you maintain a successful practice for nearly two decades?
Ariel: I think one of the most significant factors in being sustainable is learning (and adapting to) your own physical and mental limits. When I was still in my 20s, I figured out early on that I couldn’t do more than 5 massages, no more than five and a half hours total per day, and not more than 22 hours of hands-on time per week. I never did less than half an hour between sessions. Over time, that has moved to 3 massages per day and an hour between sessions. That will undoubtedly be different for each therapist, but that is a hard boundary for me that I know I can’t exceed without being totally wiped out. The other thing that can happen when I get too tired is that I don’t do as well with energetic boundaries, specifically in making sure I am disconnecting my energy from that of my client at the end of a session. I want to ensure I am not taking anything out of the session that’s not mine (and also making sure I’m not leaving things with my clients that are mine). When I am intentional with that aspect, it makes a huge difference in how I feel at the end of the day or week.

BWS: How do you balance work, continuing education, and personal life to avoid burnout?
Ariel: It can certainly be a challenge. I think taking new classes can be very energizing. I have also learned that I do need to intentionally plan downtime or specific family time. When I get too tired, I stop doing some of the things that bring me joy, and that affects everything.

BWS: Outside of massage, you have a passion for music, crafts, and outdoor adventures—how do those interests shape your approach to wellness?
Ariel: I definitely bring to my massage approach the creativity cultivated through music and art. The natural world also stimulates curiosity.

BWS: If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself as a massage student, what would you say?
Ariel: I absolutely loved massage school and felt I was in the right place at the right time. I guess I’d just say, “Yep, you were right!”

Thanks so much for sharing your journey Ariel!

The Body Wisdom Team