We were lucky to catch up with Alva McMillan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alva, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think your parents did right?

My mother was the oldest of six and my father was the youngest of seven. Their position in their families paved the way for them to bring two distinct vantage points to their own children. They instilled in me the traits needed to care for others and the ability to appreciate what came before me. I was immersed in music, art, dance, and academic enrichment programs. Critical thinking, exposure to the fine arts, and empathy for others were essential to my upbringing. My dad would always say “What’s the problem? and figure out how you can solve it and not lose yourself trying to”. My mom would always say, “Do the best you can with what you know or get to know more to do your best”. Their legacy of education and empathy drives me to share my talents with others and continue to find ways to optimize my treatment plans and training skills.

Alva, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am very proud of the fact that I have had a multitude of experiences that have led me to implement aspects of each to be a change agent to any task or position that I find myself. My academic background is in science, math, and the fine arts. In 1998, I began my professional career in corporate consulting with one of the biggest management consulting firms in the United States. My teams were under tremendous amounts of pressure to complete projects. I started to notice visible signs of stress and tension on the skin and body from the demands of the job on myself and everyone around me. Frequent visits to relaxation stations, spas, therapeutic treatments etc. were a necessity. I enjoyed every aspect of that world and began to talk with my mother (a lifelong educator) about the possibility of us getting into self-care coaching one day. The amount of travel my spouse and I had to do for our careers was not feasible for both of us to continue once our kids were born, so I decided to stay home with them. Job duties began to require relocations. Eventually, I went into training and education full time. In 2007, I decided to begin an evening program to obtain my credentials in massage therapy, therapeutic bodywork, and become a Reiki Master. Thus, this training sparked the beginning of Abellathena Life and for me to enhance the beauty and wisdom in those around me. Twelve years ago, I completed graduate school and received my Master’s degree. I was able to teach and coach full time, while providing therapeutic bodywork treatments part time.

Today, I am happy to provide a boutique spa environment with skin and body treatments engineered just for you. My clients can enjoy a relaxing space just for them to come unwind, receive corrective skin care treatments, or enjoy a nice get away from the stressors of their world. I work with each client to develop an individualized treatment plan for their skin, stress relief, and relaxation goals. Additionally, I train and coach others and act as a change agent in various aspects in the industry.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Pivoting has become second nature to me. Circumstances throughout my life have given me the ability to accept change and work with what I have. Throughout my almost 25 years of marriage, my family has been afforded the opportunity to relocate to four different regions of the United States due to my husband’s corporate relocations. Each move required me to provide the appropriate environment for my children, explore my diverse talents in various fields, and cultivate my need to minimize stress.

Our latest relocation was in 2019. It was the first move after the death of my parents and through much prayer, I decided to dive wholeheartedly into the field of therapeutic treatments and skin care. I researched how to get the proper credentials in my state to carry out the vision of Abellathena Life LLC. Through continuing education, conquering the challenge of having no family in the area, and finding a network of people to complete the quota requirements for licensure, it was a great accomplishment that I completed with hard work, fortitude, and dedication right before the COVID pandemic hit. In 2020, I added the credential of Advanced Practice Esthetician and Salon Manager to my portfolio.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best sources of new clients for me have been my referral program and genuine conversations with people at various events. When I am looking to visit or support a business, I always ask people for their recommendations. I am humbled every time a new client tells me that someone that they trust spoke highly of me and prompted them to come see me for a treatment, coaching session, or training class. When I am given the opportunity to speak to an audience or provide a treatment plan for my clients, my priorities are to read the room, listen to their needs, and offer practical solutions. New clients deserve my listening ear coupled with goals presented with a realistic plan for achieving them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/abellathena
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/abellathena