We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Catheliya a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Catheliya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

First risk:

My family and I came from Thailand as a child. My parents are two very intelligent people. But they were not familiar with the country that they moved their whole family to. They were in their 20’s.

My mom and I didn’t get along as I got older. She raised me to be an American. But when we go back to visit our family in Thailand. She wanted me to be like a Thai child. And I didn’t know how to do it. So we clashed a lot. I didn’t understand her culture. I was too younger. She didn’t really understand mine. She sent us to some of the best Catholic private schools. Worked hard so that my brother and I could have the best education. But then it all fell apart. My parents divorced. Things went downhill from there.

Second frisk:

I left my house at 17. Bought my high school diploma. And went to work.

Third risk

After a decade of working many different jobs.. I tried out several City colleges. I met a women who said that she had just gotten her Massage Certificate. I didn’t know that this was a possibility. That this cou be a career. I had been massaging my mom and friends since I was a child. So, I decided to go massage school. My first appointment for massage school oddly enough. Was on 9/11.. I didn’t realize what was happening. I woke up took a shower, got dressed and was about to leave the house. My roommate asked me where I was going? I said to my massage interview for school. Then she told me what happened. I did not make it to the interview that day. Actually I did not end up going to massage school for a while after that day. Then when the opportunity came again. I took it. And I got certified for massage in Encino California. But after the certification. I felt that it was not good enough education for what I wanted to do with massage. So a few years after that. While living in Washington State. I went to Everest college, formerly known as Ashmead college. And I received the proper education and certification there.

22 years later, and over 32,ooo hours of massaging clients. Healing them from their internal pain to their external pain. I have no regrets. I love what I do. And I love my clients! I have been in San Diego for over 12 years. My practice here has been open for over 11 years. My clients have been following me around all over San Diego since then.

There’s that saying: If you love what you do. It’s not really a job. I get to do that. 😊💗

Catheliya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Catheliya. I have been massaging my mom since I was a little girl. My mom would get migraines. So she decided to teach me the old-fashioned Thai massage. Since my mom was born in an era with no electricity or running water. We didn’t realize that massage was a profession.. Until one day I ran into a woman who told me that she had just graduated from massage school. That’s how the idea of going to massage school became a career. I didn’t go back to school until my late twenties. And then I didn’t go back to school for the second time till my early thirties. At that point I was a little scared that I wasn’t going to have a discipline to study or memorize everything. And to be honest I never looked at a syllabus. So I never knew what was next half the time. But I really really wanted this. I really love massage. I enjoyed it so much. Learning about anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Was it hard? It was so hard. Me and my classmates would cry before a test. But it didn’t mean that I did not want to continue. I was excited everyday that I went to class. Every class taught me something new. Physiology made me think that I was an alien. It made me think that we are all aliens. In the end I graduated with a 3.4 GPA. And I was the speaker for my graduating class.
I decided that I wanted to do clinical treatment over relaxation or spa. I enjoy finding out where the source of people’s pain came from. Educating them on how to release there pain. The internal core pain. So that the physical pain is no longer there. Most people think that when they go to a massage they should tell the therapist what they want. Because they’re usually going to a spa or a franchise massage place. I am more of a specialty massage place. When you come to me you come for treatment. Whether that treatment is for pain or relaxation. I tailor your massage. So the client generally doesn’t tell me what to do. I do what’s necessary for the body to help the client heal.
Some of my specialties are cranialsacral therapy, deep tissue, sports massage, medi cupping, gua sha, prenatal massage, lymphatic drainage, relaxation, aromatherapy, Hot Stone, and I am a natural holistic heeler.

I will say that I am not everyone’s cup of tea. My clients and I are quite chatty. It’s necessary as part of the process. In order to release negative muscle memory. Sometimes you have to talk it out. Sometimes I might talk about something to make you not think about the pain you’re releasng. Sometimes the client talks about things and they release negative muscle memory on their own.. Sometimes people request that I sing. You read that right. They request that I sing during their massage. And sometimes it turns into karaoke massage. And I’m okay with that. Whatever it takes to make them relax and feel safe and comfortable. So that their massage is more pleasant..I think that’s what sets me apart from other massage therapists and healers.

The thing that I am most proud of is the fact that some of my clients have been coming to me for over 10 years. And they I have a personal relationship with them all. One client always brings me eggs from the farm that she does volunteer work at. Another client got me donuts because they like it so much. They thought I might want to try it too. One younger client this year. Who has only been coming for a short time said. You can’t stop massaging. You have to contine you to take care of me for a long time. I just found you. A few clients searched to find me for over a year. Because I moved location and they didn’t know where I moved to. One client didn’t even get a massage from me yet. But by the time they did want a massage. I was not massaging at that place anymore. So they did some digging out the internet. And figured out where I was. They don’t even come that often. Because they travel a lot for work. But when they are home. They try to always get a massage from me. I have people a few who fly in from Sacramento and Texas. And they don’t get massages from anyone else. I’m proud of the fact that my clients truly trust me not just with their bodies but with their hearts.

Connecting with Catheliya is a transformative journey towards holistic well-being and self-discovery. She is committed to nurturing your physical, emotional, and spiritual health through a wide array of therapeutic healing practices and therapies. She is dedicated to providing you with a empathetic and warm welcoming environment where you can explore the pathways to healing and self-improvement. Whether you seek relaxation, relief from pain, or a deeper understanding of your inner self, Catheliya Healing Center is your sanctuary for personal growth and rejuvenation. I look forward to being your trusted partner on this healing voyage.

I always tell my clients to text me if they want to schedule. Sometimes what you see on the schedule is not all of the open dates and times that I have. And sometimes I’m willing to be flexible about my day off.

My website is Catheliyahc.com
Cell 619-340-8415

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think that the biggest lesson that I have unlearned is having boundaries. I don’t think boundaries was taught in my family. I learned it through helping my clients and helping myself heal. I learned that I had to love myself before loving others.
Now what does that actually mean? At least to me that means that I have to take care of me first. Find happiness for me first. Find fulfillment for me first.
That way I have better boundaries with my clients. Better boundaries with my friends. And I had more to give everybody. Including myself. Actually helped me find my way back to myself. Made me more confident. It’s been the biggest blessing in my life so far.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Wow this is really a big question. 2 years before COVID hit. I had to move back in with my mom. My stepdad divorced my mom. And now I had to be responsible for my mom and I. So I had to take a step back from my practice. I still had part-time clients. But I had to start driving for Uber on Lyft. I needed more money to take care of my mom and I. And then in 2019. I have this gut feeling that I needed to redo my resume because I needed to go work for someone else for massage for a while. And that I wasn’t going to be able to drive anymore. I didn’t want to give up my independence. And I felt obligated to my clients. I didn’t want to leave them. Cuz even as a driver at least it was my own business. But I had a gut feeling that something was really coming down the line. And in December of 2019, I opened up the Indeed app, and I read through some of the jobs that were available. I chose one company. And I knew I would get it. Within 30 minutes of applying for the job. I got a reply. My interview was the next day. I did my interview and my practical that day. Then I was hired. That place turned out to be one of the only places in San Diego that was allowed to do massage during COVID. I stayed there throughout COVID for 2 years, then I moved to a second massage place near my home. And then the time became right. Everything was just right for me to reopen my practice. I have been reopen now since Labor Day of 2023. I am happy to say that I am thriving. I continue to have new clients. I love the location. And I’m still in love with what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Catheliyahc.com
• Instagram: @catheliya
• Facebook: Catheliya HC
• Yelp: Catheliya Healing Center