We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mara Palermo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mara below.
Mara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
The mission behind my relationship coaching business is deeply intertwined with my two-decade-long career in the beauty industry, where I served not just as a stylist but as a “beauty therapist.” Behind the chair, I became a confidante and a safe space for countless women, listening to their stories, dreams, and, most frequently, their relationship challenges. This unique position allowed me an intimate glimpse into the complexities of women’s lives, where I realized that while I was transforming their external appearances, what many truly yearned for was a transformation of a more internal, emotional nature.
This realization was a pivotal moment for me. It underscored the profound impact our personal relationships have on our overall well-being and happiness. I witnessed how external changes could boost confidence temporarily, but lasting joy and fulfillment came from deeper, more meaningful internal shifts. My passion for transformation, which had initially found its expression through beauty and aesthetics, evolved to encompass a more holistic approach, focusing on emotional and relational well-being.
Combining my background as a “beauty therapist” with my personal journey through the rollercoaster of relational dynamics, I was drawn to relationship coaching. I saw it as an opportunity to facilitate the kind of deep, lasting change I believe in. My mission became clear: to empower individuals not just to look their best but to feel their best by navigating the intricacies of their relationships with greater awareness, empathy, and confidence.
This transition from external beauty to internal transformation embodies the essence of why I do what I do. It’s about leveraging my unique insights and experiences to guide others in crafting the fulfilling, loving relationships they deserve. My career in the beauty industry, coupled with my own relational journey, was the catalyst that propelled me into coaching. It instilled in me a belief in the power of transformation—both seen and unseen—and a commitment to facilitating that transformation from the inside out. This is the heart of my mission, driven by a deep love for witnessing and being a part of true, meaningful change in the lives of those I work with.
Mara, 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’m a relationship coach with a unique background that seamlessly blends two decades of experience in the beauty industry with a deep passion for emotional and relational transformation. My journey into this realm was not a conventional one; it was carved out of countless heartfelt conversations with clients in my beauty chair, where I was often dubbed a “beauty therapist.” This unique vantage point allowed me an intimate look into the lives of women, witnessing firsthand the interplay between external appearance and internal well-being.
A realization spurred my journey into relationship coaching: while I could enhance someone’s external beauty, the real transformation they sought was internal—a craving for deeper, more fulfilling relationships. This epiphany led me to transition from beautifying the external to nurturing the internal, focusing on the foundational aspects of how we connect with and relate to others.
What I Offer:
I specialize in helping individuals navigate the complexities of relationships through a comprehensive approach grounded in four pillars for transformation: Uncover, Balance, Communicate, and Cultivate. Each of these pillars represents a crucial step on the journey to deeper connection and understanding, not just with others, but with oneself.
Uncover: We begin by delving deep into your personal history, beliefs, and patterns that influence your relationships. This stage is about gaining self-awareness and uncovering the root causes of recurring issues, setting the foundation for meaningful change.
Balance: Next, we focus on achieving a balance between your needs and those of your partner, as well as balancing the masculine and feminine energies within yourself. This stage is crucial for fostering a sense of harmony within and in your relationships.
Communicate: Effective communication is key to any healthy relationship. In this pillar, we develop and refine your communication skills, ensuring you can express your needs, desires, and feelings in a way that fosters understanding and closeness.
Cultivate: Building on the groundwork laid by uncovering, balancing, and communicating, this pillar focuses on cultivating the ability to attract better partners and enriching existing relationships with deeper peace and harmony. It’s about using your self-awareness, balanced approach, and communication skills to foster connections that reflect your personal growth. Here, you’ll see the transformative effects of your efforts, drawing relationships that are both fulfilling and reflective of your inner harmony.
My services, including personalized coaching sessions, workshops, and resources, are designed to guide you through these four pillars, empowering you to transform your relationships from sources of stress to sources of strength and joy. By embracing these pillars, you’ll be equipped with the tools and strategies needed to build and maintain harmonious relationships that enrich your life.
Problems I Solve:
Many of my clients come to me feeling stuck in patterns of unfulfilling relationships, dating the same person over and over again, struggling with relationship anxiety, ineffective communication, and craving deeper connections. I help them break free from these cycles, providing tools and strategies to build healthier, more rewarding relationships. By focusing on understanding oneself and one’s partner better, I guide clients toward creating the harmonious connections they desire.
What Sets Me Apart:
My unique blend of experience in the beauty industry, relationship coaching, and as a holistic, somatic, and psychedelic yoga instructor provides an exceptionally comprehensive approach to transformation. This multidisciplinary background allows me to bring a deeply empathetic, insightful, and holistic perspective to my coaching. I recognize that true beauty, happiness, and well-being stem from a harmonious balance of external appearance, internal emotional health, and physical wellness.
Integrating techniques from somatic practices and psychedelic yoga, I guide clients through a journey that is not only about understanding and improving their relationships but also about connecting with their bodies and minds on a profound level. This approach facilitates an all-encompassing transformation, addressing the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of well-being.
It’s this unique combination of skills and insights—drawing from the worlds of beauty, emotional intelligence, body awareness, and spiritual depth—that truly sets me apart and enriches my coaching practice. By addressing the whole person, rather than just one aspect of their experience, I empower clients to achieve a level of transformation that is deep, lasting, and holistic.
What I’m Most Proud Of:
Above all, what fills me with the deepest sense of pride is the transformative journey I witness in my clients—from states of confusion and frustration to newfound clarity, confidence, and fulfillment within their relationships. Observing the profound ripple effect on their overall quality of life is not just rewarding; it is a powerful affirmation of the value and impact of my work. It’s a reminder of why I started on this path in the first place.
Furthermore, I am immensely proud that my career aligns so closely with my life’s passion. Guiding individuals toward healthier, more fulfilling relationships has always been a desire. Realizing that I am living this dream every day, doing the work I’ve always wanted to do, and seeing the tangible impact it has on the lives of others, reinforces my commitment to this mission. It’s a privilege to share in these journeys of growth and healing, and it’s this aspect of my work that I hold most dear. My life’s work is not just a profession; it’s a calling that resonates with my deepest values and aspirations.
What I Want You to Know:
At the heart of my brand and my work is a deep-seated belief in the power of connection—not just between individuals but between the various aspects of ourselves. My mission is to guide you towards not only achieving the relationships of your dreams but also living a balanced life, fulfilled, and authentically yours. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of romantic partnerships, seeking to enhance your emotional intelligence, or looking to balance professional success with personal happiness, my approach is designed to support you every step of the way.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In the tumultuous year of 2020, as the world locked down in the pandemic, my life took an unexpected turn. My salon, a place of creativity and my livelihood, was forced to shut down. This was not just a professional setback but a deeply personal one. The salon was more than a business; it was a community. Faced with this abrupt pause, I found myself at a crossroads, confronting the unknown with a mix of apprehension and a sense of opportunity.
It was in this moment of uncertainty that I chose to surrender to the unknown and embrace resilience in its most authentic form. With the world in lockdown, I turned inward, dedicating the solitude afforded by the pandemic to personal growth and spiritual exploration. Meditation and journaling became my sanctuaries, tools through which I cultivated mental and emotional resilience. This period of introspection was transformative, providing clarity and igniting a fire within me to not just weather the storm but to emerge from it stronger and more centered than ever before.
It was during this time of profound personal development that the seeds of my coaching business were sown. Drawing from my own journey of resilience and transformation, I felt a powerful call to support others in navigating their own relational challenges. I dedicated myself to building my second business, leveraging my insights and experiences to offer guidance and support to those seeking to enhance their relationships and overall well-being.
Launching a new business in a global crisis was a testament to resilience. It required not only adapting to the rapidly changing world but also trusting in my abilities and the value of the work I was compelled to do. This journey illustrated my resilience not just in the face of professional adversity but also in my commitment to growth and my unwavering belief in the power of transformation.
As I reflect on this chapter of my life, I am filled with gratitude for the unexpected paths that led me here. My journey through the pandemic, from the closure of my salon to the birth of my coaching business, is a story of resilience—a narrative that underscores the beauty of surrendering to the unknown, the strength found in solitude, and the profound transformations that arise from within. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can reimagine our lives, rebuild, and emerge stronger than we ever thought possible.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A pivotal lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that the duration of a relationship directly correlates with its value or success. Growing up and early in my adult life, I absorbed the notion that “toughing it out” was a badge of honor in relationships, a testament to commitment and resilience. This belief led me to cling to relationships long past their healthy expiration date, mistaking longevity for quality and depth.
The backstory to this unlearning journey began with a pattern of staying in relationships that no longer served me, simply because I equated time invested with a reason to keep investing, even when returns—emotional fulfillment, growth, happiness—diminished. This mindset trapped me in cycles of dissatisfaction and stunted personal growth, as I struggled to justify my unhappiness with the length of the relationship as a counterweight.
This cycle was perpetuated by societal narratives that praise long-term relationships as inherently successful, regardless of the dynamics or happiness within them. It wasn’t until I faced the painful decision to leave a long-term relationship—a relationship that, from the outside, appeared successful due to its length—that the depth of my misbelief became clear. The process was excruciating, not just because of the emotional toll of ending a relationship but because it challenged my deeply held beliefs about commitment and success in love.
Through this experience, I learned that “toughing it out” often means denying oneself the opportunity for genuine happiness and growth. It was a profound realization that the quality of the connection, the mutual growth, the joy, and the depth of understanding between partners far outweigh the simple metric of time. This unlearning process was liberating but also daunting, as it required me to confront the discomfort of societal judgment and navigate the uncertainty of starting anew.
This lesson changed my approach to relationships. It led me to value presence, mutual respect, and genuine connection over the superficial comfort of longevity. This shift in perspective not only opened my path to healthier, more fulfilling relationships but also became a cornerstone of my coaching philosophy. I now guide my clients to recognize the importance of quality over quantity in their relationships, empowering them to make choices based on deep, meaningful connections rather than societal expectations or fear of change.
Unlearning the fallacy that time equals success in relationships was a crucial step in my journey toward emotional intelligence and relationship coaching. It underscored the importance of conscious choice, self-respect, and the courage to seek out relationships that truly enrich our lives, no matter how long they last. This lesson, though hard-won, has been one of the most liberating and transformative of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marapalermo.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/marapalermo
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachmarapalermo