We were lucky to catch up with Heather Araos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

A defining moment that not only changed my professional trajectory but also my personal life was my very first Reiki session. I was receiving massages as therapy for my mental health, which consisted of a long history of depression, post-partum depression and anxiety. My massage therapist suggested that I might benefit from a Reiki session. Bam. Then, life changed. I experienced so much emotional growth as I laid down baggage that hindered me for years. As I lay on the table and meditated, I received very specific personal inspiration as to how to move forward and keep the progression going. I healed long-held false beliefs about my mother and love. My anxiety decreased significantly allowing me to return to motherhood with joy and confidence. I gained more in that one Reiki session than any other therapy ever did for me. Not only did I decide that I HAD to have Reiki in my life from that point forward, I knew I needed to train in it as well. I wanted to practice this holistic therapy on myself and others I loved. I began immediately to find a Reiki Master that I felt comfortable with to mentor me. For a year I studied and practiced and developed my gifts. Then, I started my own Reiki business, a mother’s touch Reiki. I was inspired by my own healing journey as a mother with depression and am now passionate about helping other mothers along their sacred journeys.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Yes. Hello, my professional background begins with a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Brigham Young University. I am a scientifically published author and have taught Biology for more than a decade. I have also been married for twelve years and am the mother of four uniquely individual children. Through my own healing journey as a mother with postpartum depression, I became a certified Reiki Master Teacher and owner of a mother’s touch REIKI.

I am now a huge mental health advocate and dedicated to supporting all mothers in their self-care journey. I use my gift of intuition and empathy along with traditional Reiki techniques to provide mothers with holistic support in personalized Reiki sessions. I specialize in helping mothers release stuck trauma so that they can heal emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. In addition to mothers, I also offer sessions for children, the physical home, and whole families.

To further explain what I do, Reiki is a relaxation and stress-reduction therapy using guided meditation and gentle hand placements. Reiki finds the root cause of stuck pain and trauma and helps release it, allowing your physical body to heal. Some of the uses and benefits include:

Decreasing Anxiety
Release of Stress
Balancing Life
Targeting Root Issues
Healing Trauma from Childhood or Generational
Developing Self-Compassion
Building Trust in your Intuition

I developed my own Reiki curriculum and series of courses from introductory to Master Teacher in order to help others take control of their own overall wellness and trust their intuition. The goal with my courses is to give one the skills, experience and confidence they need in order to practice Reiki for personal use or as a certified practitioner. I believe when someone is searching for a teacher or mentor, that they will be led to who they are meant to find. I set myself apart as a mother helping other mothers. I am a teacher at heart, and so I don’t just offer a course but become a mentor as my students go on their individual Reiki journey.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I grew up in a religious household, which created a balance to the analytical brain I developed in doing science research. I was open to gaining information from multiple sources and was aware of the proper purpose of each. I had a close relationship to my intuitive brain and was able to naturally pair that with my formal training. I believe we all have to use the gifts that we’ve been given in addition to our training to really succeed professionally. We have unique talents that qualify us to make a real contribution to the world.

I also believe that a strong sense of your purpose and place in the world is necessary to living life with integrity and not getting lost in all the struggles that comes with running a business. I know my purpose is to be a mother and help other mothers along the way. I know my relationship with my Father in Heaven gives me divine worth, and I see others through that lense as well.

Having humility and setting aside our egos is the third most helpful practice in succeeding. I have to go into every session recognizing that it is not me healing the client. They are the ones brave enough to come in, trust me and make the choice to set down their burdens. They allow themselves to experience a new energy and choose to keep it with them. They allow their bodies to heal. My client and myself set intentions at the beginning of every session but not expectations. We are always willing to let go of what we think we need to what is actually in our highest and greatest good.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The top three resources that have significantly impacted my entrepreneurial thinking are The Big Life Journal, Jody Moore’s podcast Better Than Happy, and Brené Brown’s books Dare to Lead and The Gifts of Imperfection.

The Big Life Journal combines growth mindset strategies with CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). It allows me to see my thoughts and choose different ones. It helps me to get unstuck from negative thinking and speak kind words to myself.

Similarly, Jody Moore’s podcast also helped me realize that my thoughts are what create my feelings, and my feelings create my actions then results. So if I am not getting the results out of my business that I would like, I have to change my thoughts about it. My motivation for doing things changes.

I no longer look at my weaknesses as negative traits because of Brené Brown’s books. I see weaknesses as my strengths, and I no longer seek for perfection, which is a form of shame. I have more confidence and am able to pass that along to my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amotherstouchREIKI.com
• Instagram: amotherstouchREIKI
• Facebook: @amotherstouchREIKI

Image Credits
Alejandro Araos