We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mercedes Ani. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mercedes below.
Alright, Mercedes thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
What parents did right was to trust my process of following my intuition. Although my job and life is unconventional, they fully supported my desire to move through my own journey. I think at first they would have liked me to do something more traditional as they thought it would provide more security. After proving to them that I could make a living by sharing my dharma (purpose), they have been very proud and always encouraging. They both have been my biggest fans. I am a better person because of the unconditional love and beautiful life they gave me.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a full-time Healing Arts teacher. My passion is to help others learn and empower themselves through Reiki (Energy Work), Yoga, AcroYoga, Thai Bodywork, Meditation, and Educational Wellness Workshops and Trainings. My journey with healing arts modalities inspired me to deepen my practice and share my passion for these practices with others.
As a teacher, I encourage students to turn inward during their practice to experience self-inquiry, explore growth outside their comfort zone, and observe their bodies and minds. My goal is to cater to the students’ needs while delivering a practice that intends to unify the mind, body, and soul in a safe and supportive environment.
I got started with Reiki because a friend suggested it based on my ability to read energy. Once I completed the first level of training, I understood a lot more about myself, my abilities and how being a highly sensitive person is actually a gift, not a shadow. I learned how I could empower myself and others through this healing modality. I continued leveling up in the practice by completing all three levels. After practicing as a Reiki Master for several years, I then completed the fourth level, Reiki Master Teacher, to be able to take students as this became a request from multiple people.
Today I am grateful to have my own Healing Arts business offering private reiki sessions as well as certification trainings in all three levels. I have a home studio where I work with clients both in person as well as via distance.
My certification courses were inspired by the desire for people to learn an effective technique to balance their own energetic bodies. A human need that we unfortunately aren’t taught about in a traditional school system.
My certification courses can be experienced in a variety of ways depending on the location and schedule of each individual interested in learning. I offer in person group and private certification trainings in North Carolina, private one on one trainings in person and online. The online options are partially self paced. It is important for me to be able to share this practice with everyone regardless of life factors and time constraints.
I am deeply grateful to have found a practice that resonates physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually both personally and professionally.
I have been offering Healing Arts modalities for over ten years.
Although I am trained and highly qualified in many modalities, I spend most of my time offering and teaching Reiki. My experience and intuitive abilities set me apart. I am an empath, HSP, clairsentient, clairvoyant and claircognizant with connections to the spirit world that I have been experiencing since early childhood.
I am grateful to have the skills and tools to help people feel better and to also educate them on how to progress on their own healing journey.
I want readers to know that it doesn’t matter where in the world you live as Reiki is available to all and my testimonials prove that. I have clients and students all over the state as well as in a variety of other countries. And they all express being more than satisfied with what they have received and learned through my practice. Clients report feeling just as much via distance as in person sessions.
I have a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Spanish Literature & Linguistics and Latin American Studies and a minor in Portuguese. I am an Advanced Reiki Master Teacher, E-RYT 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher), YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider), Licensed AcroYoga Teacher, Meditation Teacher, Thai Massage and Bodywork Certified, PED Yoga Instructor (Community College), Certified Crystal and Chakra Healer, International Wellness Retreats Guide, Yoga Teacher Training Facilitator, and the Owner of Healing Arts with Mercedes LLC.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
It is most helpful to succeed in this field to be compassionate and grateful. Working with other peoples energy can be a very vulnerable experience. I am grateful each time that a client and/or student trusts me to read their energy, balance it, provide understanding on blockages, stagnation, etc. You have to be compassionate to hold space for others. To connect with their energetic anatomy in a way to which you understand a great deal about someone that you might have just met. And to deliver information with grace and the knowledge and experience to support the practice.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
No, I am deeply honored to be able to share the gift of healing and wellness as my work. My professional life is very much in alignment with my personal life. I believe in the power to heal ourselves with self care. This healing modality is hugely beneficial for individuals looking to feel better physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I feel deeply honored and grateful every single day to be in service working as a channel to serve the highest good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heal.me/practitioner/mercedes-ani-reiki-master-teacher-experienced-yoga-teacher
- Instagram: @mercedesani
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@healingartswithmercedesllc3169
Image Credits
Rachel Garrison Photography