Meet Carol A. Niemi of Ashiatsu by Carol and Aloha Services

https://voyagehouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Picture16-1000×600.jpgToday we’d like to introduce you to Carol A. Niemi.

Carol, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all started with my first massage. I was in my mid-thirties, newly sober and had never felt so relaxed, nurtured and alive as during that massage–I felt the healing in it.

Somehow the therapist knew how to work with my body in a way that felt perfect. I was in a state of wonder. Near the end I remember having the thought, ‘I’d like to do this for others.’ But I had no idea how, and I didn’t believe I was intuitive enough.

What happened is I continued my personal growth work, opened my heart where it was habitually closed and dared to change my mind. Nine years later, I dared to believe that I could BE a massage therapist and work on my own terms, even though all the details weren’t fully worked out. Turns out I was right, and I learned further how to allow my intuition to guide me, with the support of my rational, intellectual mind. I’ve been a Licensed Massage Therapist 15 years now.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Imagine me laughing and groaning. Smooth road? Hardly! To be in private practice requires me to pull out every dusty skill or talent I ever had and polish it into a functional thing of beauty, PLUS learn a bunch of new stuff. I’ve learned a LOT from the good and bad examples around me, and, of course, my own mistakes. I also had to learn to surf the fear of not making it. The first year I had the most insomnia I’ve ever experienced. I’d wake up in the middle of the night to remember the “worry du jour.” I decided to meditate in a spiritual way whenever that happened; it put me back to sleep within minutes. 😉 These days I sleep soundly.

My audacious adventure stretched and stretches me to trust in Father/Mother/Creator/God/Great Spirit in the most literal ways. I do the groundwork and The Author of Love provides. Spirit guides; it’s up to me to listen.

For example, when Houston went through the “Depression of 2008” (later than the rest of the country as I recall), a lot of my clients stopped coming and my phone rang a lot less. People were losing jobs and generally afraid about money. Around the same time, I learned that one of the places I used to promote my work was actually involved in facilitating human trafficking, running ads for traffickers to exploit women and children.

No wonder there were so many sexually-oriented ads in the section that was supposed to be “policed” and for massage therapy only. I stopped placing ads with them and my phone rang even less.

My fear advised me that I had to get more aggressive in promoting myself, and soon!

But my intuition reminded me that the time and space created by less demand was just what I needed to write a book. “Healing Loss: Choose Love Now” (by Miradrienne Carroll, my nom de plume) was published in 2011, the manifestation of a knowing I had back when I was 14 years old–that someday I would write a book. I’m currently at work on the second.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ashiatsu by Carol and Aloha Services – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Ashiatsu by Carol / Aloha Services is my private practice in massage therapy and spiritual counseling, operated from the boutique setting of my home studio. I specialize in ashiatsu (deep massage delivered with the therapist’s feet), Sacred Lomi (Hawaiian Temple Bodywork), oncology massage and helping people address issues from a spiritual perspective, using a number of tools.

I help those who are drawn to my work in the manner they’re open to (or almost open to) right now—within the parameters of bodywork and spiritual counseling. My work is about how my understanding of how to LIVE in peace, love and joy intersects with YOU. My business is part of my ministry because my ministry encompasses my whole life.

Don’t worry—a session with me isn’t like a church sermon. Sessions range from simple bodywork in a peaceful, respectful setting, to being heard by a kind, objective ear, to an intuitive reading of your Hawaiian Healing Intention in conjunction with a Sacred Lomi bodywork session, to a custom hypnotherapy script for your specific issue, to working through a thorny forgiveness issue, to regular guidance for moving through obstacles to the next right place in your life. Many people come to me amidst some kind of transition; my clients often come back and some become “regulars” for years. What we accomplish together has impact. What I’m most proud of is being a facilitator of positive change, which happens both through bodywork and heart/head work (counseling).

I was ordained as a Minister of Light in 2009, and writing is another aspect of my ministry. Having found so much guidance and healing in books, I’m perpetually thrilled by the idea that help can be put into words and recorded on paper (or in bytes on the internet) and find its way to a person in need at just the time they need it.

Quite a few things set me apart:

Well-performed bodywork modalities that aren’t found on every street corner.

The energy of a non-commercial sacred space that feels so safe and homey (‘cuz it IS).

My particular slice of the knowledge pie.

Attention to detail.

An ease and privacy not often found in offices and spas.

The presence of Onyx Legato el Gato, the feline temple guardian and sentinel of serenity.

My commitment to serve you and your best interests when you come through my door.

Probably the most important thing that sets me apart is that although I run a business, it doesn’t exist just to make money. Instead, it makes money to support my ministry of supporting others. That sets the tone for everything else.

I’m a cat magnet. Right now, Onyx is the only one that lives inside. Sunshine lives on my patio–on the roof when it’s cool enough. At present, there are also two neighborhood cats I’m trying to TNR (trap, neuter and return) –Pilgrim and Sterling.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I look forward to another day living in the Light. It may sound simplistic, but things happen—or not—and life goes on. I have my little plans and goals, and I work on them, and we’ll see how it all plays out. My next book, a novel, feels like a relevant healing force for our times—one healing message among the many needed to soothe the unhealed beast and raise the collective consciousness. I’m very excited about it and envision MANY readers. But it’s in process. Meanwhile I enjoy life: my clients, my sweet kitties, walks outside in the frying pan, the whole creative process, friends, family, music, learning. I feel blessed to live in freedom in the United States of America and the friendly Bayou City in this amazing time of humanity’s awakening.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2121 El Paseo St.,
  Houston, TX
• Website: http://ashiatsubycarol.com
• Phone: 713-799-1606
• Email: carol@ashiatsubycarol.com

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.