Good Neighbor Podcast: Cobb County

E32: Healing Hands: How Heleana Coleman is Changing Lives One Session at a Time

• Milli M. & Heleana Coleman • Episode 32

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Ever wonder why massage therapy feels so good, yet we often dismiss it as an occasional indulgence rather than essential self-care? Heleana Coleman, founder of Arise Integrated Therapies, joins us to transform how you think about bodywork and wellness.

With almost 14 years as a licensed massage therapist, Heleana brings profound expertise to our discussion about the healing power of therapeutic touch. She passionately dispels the luxury myth surrounding massage therapy, explaining how regular treatments help maintain balance in our overscheduled lives. From active athletes to stressed corporate professionals and busy parents, Heleana details how massage therapy addresses specific physical conditions while providing much-needed mental reset time.

Heleana's personal journey from biology pre-med student to massage therapist and now chiropractic student reveals her deep commitment to holistic wellness. Her approach at Arise Integrated Therapies uniquely combines physical treatment with emotional support, recognizing that healing often requires addressing both body and mind. What truly stands out is Heleana's infectious positivity, even when discussing personal challenges. Her philosophy that "whatever I'm brought to, I will get through" not only guides her life but infuses her therapeutic practice with compassion and understanding.

Whether you're curious about the health benefits of regular massage, considering a career in wellness, or simply need inspiration from someone who radiates positivity despite life's obstacles, this conversation delivers valuable insights. Connect with Heleana at Arise Integrated Therapies through social media or by calling 770-312-1000 to experience her personalized approach to wellness firsthand.

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Millie M.

Speaker 2:

Hello everybody, welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. I am Millie M. Are you in need of a good massage? Well, one might be closer than you think. I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor Helena Coleman of Arise Integrated Therapies. How are you, helena?

Speaker 3:

I'm doing very well. How are you doing this morning?

Speaker 2:

Doing quite well, thank you for asking. We are so excited to learn all about you and your business. Tell us more about Arise.

Speaker 3:

Well Arise. Integrated Therapies is a massage and wellness clinic. I have been a licensed massage therapist for 13, almost 14 years. Um, what we do is, um, we try to help everybody to find their balance. You know, we do so much stuff on a daily, weekly basis especially, you know, mom job all these things and you get out balance. A lot of times we think that it's not necessary. A massage has come to be known as a luxury and we realize that it's not really a luxury, it's kind of a need. So you always help your body to find its balance, relieve your, ease your pain, your tension, even work with some major illnesses, not not illnesses, but conditions that would help you get back to your daily of being able to move around and function.

Speaker 2:

I can completely understand that. I was just traveling yesterday and I'm like between my bag on my shoulder and, you know, my purse, and then I know musicians who are like drummers, who are constantly, you know, using their muscles to play their instruments, like you'll be surprised what we take our bodies through, and I and I was saying for years, it's like people really need to put like a monthly massage on their calendar for sure. So how did you get into this business?

Speaker 3:

So I've always had a passion for helping people and I'm very big in people feeling good. I went to school um biology pre-med and happened in a little bit of a twist and turn and I had a friend that was like you know, you kind of always touching people and things like that. So why don't we look into massage and, after long periods of uh research to make sure that it was accurate and going to be something that can really help people? Then that's what I ended up doing and that's where I've been for the last 13 years.

Speaker 2:

So Sounds like a perfect fit. What are some of the myths or misconceptions about your industry or what you do?

Speaker 3:

Oh well, massage is just now starting to be like a breakthrough industry. It's been around forever, but the thing is people have always thought, like I said before, that it was a luxury, so they didn't take it serious. I've had people who don't really understand that we go to school for this. We have to study muscles, you know what I'm saying? Things like that. I think they just kind of think that you get licensed and some people don't think that you get licensed, and some people don't even know you get licensed but just are touching people. You know.

Speaker 3:

So we have a lot of people out there who do do that, um, but they don't realize that there's an intricacy to it. You know what I'm saying. There's a lot of things that we have to learn to make sure that we know how to help you muscles and conditions and things like that. So knowing that we are actually more on the medical aspect than they think is is, I would say, probably the major thing that we go through, Because people just don't realize it.

Speaker 3:

You know, when you have an abundance of spas and things like that which is nothing wrong with those things, but a lot of times it's kind of like get in, get out industry. So people don't know that you're really focusing on real things that their body is taking on and that can be helped and relieved, you know. So they put it off to the back burner. It's more one of those things where they're like well, you know it's a luxury, so I don't know if I really need it more than one. You know, even though they feel great after, even though they're functioning great, you know it's. It's very crazy because they can feel super good and they're still like I don't know if I'm paid for it twice a month. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2:

So Right, definitely need to budget it as self-care, if for no other reason, just the environment that you all kind of cultivate of just being relaxed. How many times do we just get to be still for an hour? You know, not often. So who are your target customers and how do you reach them?

Speaker 3:

um. So my target clients are, um, active people. You know what I'm saying. It's kind of everybody, to be honest with you in that aspect of um, everybody needs massage care. So I don't have it's not like I'm like I don't work with elderly or you know what I mean because, um, everybody needs it. But I, I am um trained in neuromuscular therapy, a sports massage, so I do a lot of people that are active, you know, have very active careers in sports, a lot of corporate um, a lot of moms, people truly packing on the stress on a daily basis you know what I'm saying and not coming in to lay down and take a nap and they really have some issues. Now I don't mind, definitely relaxing everybody, but you know there's usually an issue behind there.

Speaker 2:

So Understood, understood, so outside of work. What do you do for fun? Understood, understood, so outside of work.

Speaker 3:

What do you do for fun? Um, I don't know everything. Like I'm one of those people I just kind of want to try things. I love concerts. I love reading Um, I have a seven-year-old that keeps me very, very busy. Um, but she's, she's got energy that is out of this world. And then I am also in school to be a chiropractor, so I stay busy.

Speaker 2:

Good for you. Those things, I would think, are very in tandem with one another, absolutely.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely. It's going to make a big difference, so I try to stay active.

Speaker 2:

That's another area that I think people need to prioritize is, you know, their chiropractic health as well. So let's switch gears.

Speaker 3:

Can you? Describe a hardship a life challenge that you had to overcome and how it made you feel. I feel like there are so many hardships all the time and please excuse me, but there are many hardships for us as as black women in general, and so I'm dealing with those on a daily basis but I think the most difficult is is schedule balance I think that's the biggest hardship currently um.

Speaker 3:

I've overcome things that everybody has to overcome. I've had a rough childhood, um, at times, and been put in positions that are not that great. You know what I mean. But I've always had a positive attitude, and sometimes so positive that it irritates people, and I just believe that. You know, whatever I'm brought to, I will get through, even though maybe in that moment I can't see it, but I know that it will pass. So I just, you know, I just try to get through whatever comes my way.

Speaker 2:

I love that attitude that whatever comes to you, you will pass. And it's true, like in the moment it doesn't feel like it. But then you can look back and go oh, I made it through that too. And keep getting on their nerves with positivity Because they're internal like it. But then you can look back and go oh, I made it through that too. And keep getting on their nerves with positivity. Yeah, because they're internalizing it, whether they realize it or not.

Speaker 3:

And it takes a long time to understand. That's not me, that's them, it's a personal, it's their personal issue, because I've had yeah, take nothing personally. Right.

Speaker 2:

It's what they're dealing with.

Speaker 3:

Well, helena please tell our listeners one thing you would like for them to remember about Arise. Arise integrated therapy is very it's a very personal clinic. I'm one-on-one with all of my clients. You know you can pretty much reach out to me and ask me if you're having a pain you didn't know about, you're having an issue or you're just stressed, because what I find massage tends to bring out the I just want to talk in people. So I'm okay with that. I don't mind that, because sometimes people just need to get things off their chest and it does also help the body. So again, when I say integrated therapies, I mean like your full body, your full mind. Both go hand in hand together and at Arise we kind of just want you to be your best, so we integrate whatever therapies that we can, as you know, to get you there.

Speaker 2:

I love that Sounds like a physical and emotional release. So how can our listeners learn more?

Speaker 3:

You can reach um and and or call the schedule or ask any questions Um um. Reach me at Arise Integrated Therapies, uh. 770-312-1000,. Arise Integrated Therapies on Instagram. Arise Integrated Therapies on Facebook. So your social media handles are all Arise Integrated Therapies. And also you can call at any time if you want to be more personable, because I'm a very personable person. So if anybody has any questions they want to one-on-one about, I'm always available to talk. Well, not always, but we understand.

Speaker 2:

We understand. Thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate your time and the best of luck to you and your business moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. This is really great.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpcobbcountycom. That's gnpcobbcountycom, or call 470-470-4506.