I am so grateful you found me... I would love the opportunity to work with you. I have been pursuing alternative therapies to heal the body, mind and spirit for many years. My journey toward wholeness began about 15 years ago...
I was stressed out and suffering from anxiety, depression and an undiagnosed eating disorder. I was working full time at an office job I hated, fighting rush hour traffic with a long commute, shuttling my kids back and forth to daycare, school and latchkey. My relationship with my husband was strained and stressful. I was struggling to take care of our house, feed our family and keep up with the day to day obligations. I was trying desperately to make ends meet to pay our bills... I was completely exhausted and ready to snap. I knew that if I didn't change something and start caring for myself I wasn't going to make it.
One day I was at a shop and a book with a brightly colored cover caught my eye. The book was by a woman named Louise Hay and was called "You Can Heal Your Life". I skimmed through the pages of chapter one and found it fascinating! The book talked about how our thoughts create our reality and how self-approval, self-acceptance and forgiveness are the keys to healing and changing your life. I had always been interested in the metaphysical and mind/body connection so this was right up my alley. I bought the book and read it the next day.
That book really got me thinking about whom I was and what I really wanted. I knew I had always been a very sensitive person. I felt and noticed things that others didn't and that made me "different" (which in our society is not always viewed as a good thing). I also realized that how I spoke to myself in my own head was a result of "conditioning" I had taken in as truth but... it wasn't my truth. I started really appreciating who I was and having gratitude for all the gifts I had been given. I started developing and nurturing those gifts.
In 2015 I decided to take my first Reiki class (a level 1 and 2 combined class). At the end of the class, the teacher gave us our "attunements". As she whispered softly the names of the reiki symbols and waved her hands over me I felt my whole body flatten like a pancake and spread out like waves on the water. It was a mind-blowing, life-changing, amazing experience! I knew that I was meant to work with energy on a physical level, to help others with this amazing gift! I went on to take Reiki level 3 and get my Reiki Master/Teacher certification.
By this point, I had changed jobs several times over the years but was still just chasing money, working the old 9 to 5 grind and doing office work. In 2016 I got laid off from my job. At the time I was terrified - what was I going to do? I was seeing a woman for reflexology treatments then and she told me she was going to be teaching a reflexology certification course soon. It was a sign from the universe! It was perfect, right timing and I knew I was meant to take the course. I got my certification and began working with my teacher at her office and seeing clients for reiki and reflexology. I loved the work and had clients ask if I was a massage therapist as well. It got me thinking... I wanted to learn more about the fascinating human body!
This led me to attend Irene’s Myomassology Institute in Southfield, MI where I grew a deep love for both the art and science behind massage and other forms of body work. While at Irene's, I was introduced to CranioSacral Therapy and was intrigued by this gentle yet powerful healing tool. I graduated from Irene's and obtained my license to practice massage from the state of Michigan in February 2018. I also stayed on at Irene's after graduating for a full year as a teacher's apprentice.
Today I continue my training in Craniosacral Therapy (CST) through the Upledger Institute, specializing in SomatoEmotional Release (SER). I have completed my core classes through Upledger (CS1, CS2, SER1 & SER2) and am working on my CST techniques certification through the Upledger Institute. I am also a Teaching Assistant for Craniosacral Therapy 1 classes through Upledger. I have a passion for working with those who suffer from pain, trauma, anxiety, depression and PTSD - conditions that may be difficult to treat with other traditional therapies which don't address the mind/body connection. I incorporate all aspects of my knowledge into every session and use my intuitive abilities in all my work.
I am a member of ABMP (American Bodywork and Massage Professionals) and the IAHP (International Association of Healthcare Practitioners). I am also a Health at Every Size (HAES) professional.
As an HAES professional I pledge to:
All bodies are amazing and have the capacity to heal when given the best environment to do so. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you with a nurturing presence, using well-practiced methods of energy work and bodywork.
Copyright © 2020 Branches Holistic - All Rights Reserved.
Maria Asbel, LMT (MI License # 7501010841)