We were lucky to catch up with Paty Mariposa Hernandez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paty Mariposa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

My business, Mariposas Holistic Healing, was created while I lived in Esteli, Nicaragua in 2014. I moved there after graduating with my dual master’s in social work and public health to work in a non-profit in 2013. Unfortunately, that job didn’t work out; instead, I sought different ways to earn money. One unlikely path turned out to work individually with clients. My other income generator was teaching English to pre-schoolers.

Before I left Las Cruces, New Mexico which is where I attended graduate school, I had received my Reiki Master/Teacher Certification. I had no idea how to truly implement this healing gift, especially as a business opportunity. It didn’t actually occur to me as my only intention was to work for the non-profit. While living in Nicaragua, I would offer my colleagues Reiki whenever someone complained about physical pain. No one was familiar with Reiki then, yet they trusted me and agreed. With my social work background of asking questions, I would ask them about the pain, when it started, and what challenges they were experiencing, especially emotionally. Then I would apply Reiki to the area until they experienced relief. It would always leave me amazed after we worked together. I was simply happy that they felt better. Again, I never thought about pursuing it as a business. It was just another stress-releasing tool I had in my growing toolkit.

Eventually, people began to hear about my work and referred their friends and family to me.I bought a cot, as a massage table was too expensive at the time for people to lay on, and set up an impromptu office space in my living room. After seeing a few clients, I established a client system to document my work, and quickly realized I needed a structure if I was going to seriously pursue this which led to establishing my business. I spoke to local friends who were entrepreneurs, yet I realized that I needed more business support. My business name, Mariposas Holistic Healing, was born in Nicaragua and has stayed the same now for 10 years without wanting to change it. Mariposas, means butterflies in Spanish, which represents the transformation I help people with in a holistic, whole self way.

I returned to New Mexico and enrolled in a small business program through my graduate school that was offered to alumni for free. With their help, I established an LLC and slowly began my business. I also attended a virtual 6-month health coach certification as I decided not to become a clinical social worker then.

After I completed the certification, I was called home to Miami, FL, as my mother’s health had taken a sharp turn for the worse. I moved into my parents’ apartment to help care for my mother and put my business on hold.

My social work, coaching, and Reiki training provided skills nd resources to help my family, especially my mother, during this time. I began to lean more into my spiritual beliefs and intuition. I became her holistic health caregiver, which I cherished.

In February 2015, a few months after my mother passed away, I decided to refocus on my business, and thus, I decided to invest in an online business coach because I wanted to create a virtual business, which I only learned about as an option during the health coaching program. There was so much to learn that I often doubted my abilities. However, I developed my confidence through coaching, networking events, and taking action even when it felt scary,

Throughout the years my business has moved in various directions as I continued to figure out my professional and personal path. Even though I’ve remained in Miami as a base, I’ve been able to work remotely and live abroad for months. What I have learned the most as an entrepreneur is the importance of being fluid and shifting directions. In 2017, I took a big leap and began to work in person, offering coaching and energy healing, even while continuing to work remotely. During this time, Paty Mariposa came into being as one of my colleagues decided to call me Mariposa to differentiate me from other Patys that she knew. That name has since stuck and I’m primarily known as Paty Mariposa. This has helped my branding as it’s easy to bring butterfly themes into various aspects of my life and business. Another change was obtaining my license as a clinical social worker in 2020. This worked out because I could pivot from primarily offering in-person coaching and energy healing sessions to virtual sessions, which also included virtual counseling sessions during COVID.

I’ve learned that building and running a successful business entails many facets that begins with a vision of how the business owner wants to create their life. A business owner wears many hats, yet a successful owner learns to delegate them so they can focus on their skill sets. This can help to reduce stress and countless hours of restless sleep.

For many reasons, I believe 2023 was my most successful year as a business owner, yet it also caused burnout. I achieved a few 10 thousand dollar months for the first time in my entrepreneurial career. The abundance came with a price as I worked long days and sometimes 6-7 days a week. I spent more time working in my business rather than on my business. I wanted time and freedom yet was receiving the opposite.

The last week of December I decided to work with a limited number of clients, clear my list of things to do (actually it never ends) and began taking steps towards creating a different version of my business for 2024.

I’ve thought about what kind of schedule would bring more joy into my life and work less. I’ve decided to work 5 days a week with clients and students, 2 days working on my business and also ensuring personal time. Sunday is 95% personal time with my husband, loved ones, and friends. I do spend a little time working on my business in the morning while my husband sleeps in. If I want change, then its up to me to take action. One of the first things I did in December was to create my 2024 on my wall-sized dry-erase calendar. I wrote out days I wanted to teach classes, take time off, and offer group activities.

I also blocked off personal time off throughout the year. The calendar will be a work in progress yet it’s a great visual to have.

The next step is writing in variouswhat I want to offer and its price points. I want to continue bringing in 10k a month because I deserve and am worth it. However, I want this to occur through a variety of ways that aren’t time or energy-sucking.

As an entrepreneur, you must understand how much time you want to give to your profession and ensure your personal life is also being nurtured. What works for me may not work for you.

Having a supportive community is one of the most important aspects that’s helped my business grow. I’m connected with various professional support groups in person and virtually. I’ve worked with numerous business coaches throughout the years and am currently working with a project manager to help ensure accountability.

Even as a solo entrepreneur, I have a team around me to help. I currently employ 2 part-time virtual assistants to help with the tedious tasks I don’t want to do because they are time-sucking and are not within my skill set.

I have shifted my morning routine as I wake up earlier to meditate, read, and exercise. Since experiencing burnout, I’m now more aware of the symptoms, which for me show up as a lower immune system, fatigue, weight gain, focus challenges, short-term memory loss, increased substance use, procrastination, and isolation from others.

If I truly want my business to thrive and maintain my inner peace, I am taking consistent action toward creating the life and business I want in my life. It’s a constant shift and taking consistent action.

I hope my story and experience inspire you in some way.

Paty Mariposa, 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?

I was born and raised in Miami, FL. to Cuban parents. I lived with my parents and two older siblings yet was constantly surrounded by extended family who lived in Miami, Tampa, and Puerto Rico. My childhood was intertwined with positive and challenging moments. My parents enjoyed traveling and we accompanied them on many trips within the US and internationally. When my siblings left for college, I continued traveling with my parents. Traveling has always been important in my life and is incorporated into my business plan. A life event that shifted my life was when I joined the Peace Corps in 2007 and served in El Salvador. While there, I witnessed many chronic health issues that I now realize were stress and trauma-related. This experience influenced my return to social work as I obtained a fellowship at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, for graduate school. While there, I graduated with a dual master’s in social work and public health. I also received my Usui Reiki Master Certification.

I moved to Nicaragua and eventually began my business, Mariposas Holistic Healing. My practice officially started in 2015 and has continued evolving through the years. I’m now a certified trauma-informed practitioner. My focus is helping people who are struggling with stress and trauma to release it through holistic wellness.

I teach Reiki from a trauma-informed and ethical perspective. My social work experience and training have influenced my Reiki training, which I share with others.

As I move into 2024 my focus will move towards teaching and consulting. I want as many people as possible to experience Reiki and continue sharing with others. It’s my way of being of service and being a solution to the many issues we see today in the world.

I offer individual healing sessions in person and virtually. I also teach Reiki classes and am working on a Trauma Informed Reiki Master Certification that’ll be offered virtually in Spring 2024.

I’m excited about the future and sharing my gifts with others.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I established another business with my best friend, Libby Creagh a few years ago. It’s called Mariposas Reiki Retreats. We began offering Reiki-infused multi-day retreats with our first one held in Costa Rica thin 2013. We celebrated our anniversary by returning to Costa Rica in 2023.

Libby and I met while completing our social work undergraduate degree in Tampa, FL. We hit it off after engaging in a lengthy conversation about vegetarian food. We’re currently flexitarians and eat what our bodies crave as nutrition. In our last year of college, we lived in separate apartments that were located in the same complex. It was very affordable housing for college students, she was living in Costa Rica, which we were grateful for since we lived alone.

After college, our paths shifted. She learned yoga and worked in political fundraising. I moved to Floral City, FL, and worked for 2 years as a residential wilderness youth counselor. I then joined the Peace Corps for 27 months and then moved to New Mexico. We stayed in touch by phone and text.

When I moved to Nicaragua she was living in Costa Rica managing a yoga studio. We decided to offer our first weekend retreat at her studio. I taught Reiki 1 and 2 for the first time and she offered daily yoga. My mother was able to attend, which was a year before she passed away. It will be a beautiful memory I’ll carry for the rest of my life.

We’ve also offered Reiki-infused weekend retreats in Florida. In 2024 we’re facilitating a 10-day all-inclusive retreat to Peru.

As business partners we’ve learned to communicate so our friendship stays healthy.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I’ve learned that it’s a multiple-facet approach involving consistency. One technique is through reviews through my Google Business page which has helped increase my in-person clientele. I also use various marketing tools, such as Meetup, Eventbrite, Allevents In, Facebook events, and Alignable to promote my in person and virtual events. I participate in live and virtual events, plus attend networking activities.

I also hired a social media virtual assistant who helps me to stay visible. Together we have created a system that works in which I provide her the content, which is my gift, and she curates it into visibly appealing posts, her talent.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mariposasholistic.com
• Instagram: @stresslesswithpaty
• Facebook: Mariposas Holistic Healing
• Yelp: Mariposas Holistic Healing

Image Credits
Juan Diego Garcia Montoya