We recently connected with Kia Troutman and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My idea came from my what I experienced during the time spent at home with my thoughts as I tiredly navigated between burn-out and postpartum depression. It was Spring 2020 and my world was shifting quickly. My two small businesses were closed due to COVID19 and I was at home with a newborn. I was tired mentally and physically from being on the go all the time while pregnant and soon thereafter. I was so drained that simple tasks like showering felt daunting. I was so busy I did not recognize that I had postpartum depression! It hit me like a ton of bricks when life suddenly shifted.

Something beautiful emerged from the storm. I learned to slow down (because I couldn’t do what I was used to doing). When I had more time to reflect it was amazing what I observed. I realized that my situation and destination was not one reached overnight but over a period of years of conditioning and habits that led to mental and physical exhaustion. All I knew was busyness but paid very little attention to my part in making sure I had what was necessary to sustain as wife, mother, and entrepreneur. Right before my schedule shifted I had a surge of energy that I capitalized on, but later paid for in dividends. I had to make a decision that if I were to keep living-and ultimately thrive a change was needed and it was going to take a lot of reprogramming. It took some leaps of faith to walk away from what was painfully familiar to me. Self-care had to become a part of my life and I needed a huge dose of it quickly. I ultimately chose to help myself thrive and learn how to help others do the same out of the storm. I am so grateful to have learned from my experience of burn-out. Now I am blessed to help countless others take control of their overall health by helping them prioritize their self-care as well, the natural way.

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

My history within the wellness world started over twenty years ago when I worked in spas in South Florida. I have delved more into herbalism as I have decided to incorporate more plant medicine into my offerings at my spa. Reducing toxin exposure, assisting with detoxification, and considering the environment are some of my motivators. I recently found out that my great grandfather was an herbalist in Jamaica so the pull may have something to do with that as well. I offer customized herbal infused facials, body wraps, natural manicures and pedicures, halotherapy and more.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe that my intuitive nature, listening to my guests, and delivering excellence has helped build my reputation because my work speaks for itself. My guests are my best advocates and marketers.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I decided to shift from making real estate my main business it made for less income in the beginning. I had to do without some of the things that made life a little more comfortable to pursue my dream. There were concerns about making ends meet more often than not. I decided to keep moving forward because no other work has felt as fulfilling as what I do now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kiatroutman.com
• Instagram: healinghandslakeland

Image Credits

Garry and Stacy Photography