Maren Hoflund shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Maren, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I don’t think clients realize the extent of my offerings or what exactly I can do for them in addition to massage. I have an inclusive service that integrates sound healing and reiki and a guided meditation plus all massage add ons included without an extra cost. I have quite a bit of tools to use to yield the best results, and my heart is open to my clients’ need to share about their current life events.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Maren Hoflund, a Holistic Health Practitioner based in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego. My business, Mandala Method Healing, exists to bring restoration and healing relaxation to clients through tailored bodywork and other healing modalities. I work with individuals and groups who have experienced trauma, are in physical pain due to injury or lifestyle, and/or are looking for a way to support themselves through life’s ups and downs. Massage is very powerful because the benefits extend beyond just the body. These benefits plus the presence of reiki, PEMF, and the intention we create together, yield to relieved pain, better posture, improved digestion, better sleep, improved mood, and the ability to handle stress better consistently. This year I launched a membership model to make consistent healing rewarding and more affordable to those willing to commit to themselves and their health. Right now, I’m working on adding another membership with different benefits, and new services with CBD.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad taught me the most about work. He has had the same job my whole life, and wakes up around 4am or 5am depending on the day and works outside in the hot sun until anywhere between 3-5pm. He never missed a day or called out unless he was severely sick. His work ethic is better than anyone I know and it taught me the importance of responsibility and reliability.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I went through my big life change and started a self care journey when I was 18. A part of my healing process was my blog, where I wrote about the lessons I learned from different events and people in my life. At first sharing all of these deeply personal events was cathartic and a way to feel heard in a world I was crushed under. Eventually it transformed into proof of my resilience and kept my creative spark alive in different ways for many years. This experience was the foundation to being capable of setting up and running Mandala Method Healing.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There are a lot of problems with the way massage licensing works in the country. For example, a national massage license is not recognized by all 50 states. The massage industry can’t decide if it wants to be medical or something else, when it’s both. We need an entire restructuring that supports the longevity of careers for massage therapists while promoting what massage does and does not do. I believe this would help change public opinion about massage and could be an important factor in social change as well. So, I guess the biggest lie is that we aren’t as important as we are. In some cases massage is health care. In other cases it is necessary mental health support. But our country tends to view it as a luxury for special occasions which removes people from the benefits that would change their lives if they had consistent bodywork.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
In a broad sense, I believe I’m doing what I was born to do. I feel like I chose a career where I am helping people because of my belief that I’m here to make a difference. I know I play a big role in my community and strive to make a positive change everywhere I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mandalamethodhealing.com
- Instagram: @mandalamethodhealing / @marenelizabethh
- Linkedin: Maren Hoflund
- Facebook: Mandala Method Healing
- Yelp: Mandala Method Healing
