Val Stickler is a renowned wellness coach and the founder of Jiva Wellness Boutique, a holistic health and wellness center located in Clarinda, Iowa. Val chats with MysticMag.
Can you tell us a bit about the origins of Jiva Wellness Boutique and how the business has evolved since it was founded?
Jiva Wellness Boutique began in the basement of my home in 2016. I wanted to share my energy experiences with anyone willing to explore different energy modalities. The pandemic put a wrench into things, however, I found many services could be performed online. Who knew? Today, I continue to provide services within a professional environment. I continue to learn and teach others about new ways to integrate different modalities into daily living for a more present and a more manageable life by making personal wellness a priority.
Your boutique offers a wide range of wellness services, reflexology, aromatherapy, vibrational sound healing, and Reiki. How do you ensure that each offering is tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of your clients?
Since exploring energy work is a personal journey for everyone, I make sure to understand the needs of my clients by listening to what they have to say, what their preferences are and giving loving guidance to what may work for them. Honor is present in each session between the client and myself, the practitioner. It is important that I also pay close attention to the small details that can make a client more comfortable and engaged as energy and vibration flow. My clients know that I am also available for aftercare. Answering any questions and giving guidance about how their session has touched them.
Many people struggle to prioritize self-care in their busy lives. How do you work with clients to help them make self-care a regular part of their routine?
We are all busy trying to survive in a busy world. I feel “self-care” has become a term within our society that is only a few layers deep. Getting that latte, reading a book, going to yoga, and going for walks are all wonderful and much-needed. However, “self-care” is deeper than that. It’s touching and stimulating the core of your being. Connecting to much more than ourselves.
I want to teach my clients that self-care is having that deep connection or better yet that deep relationship with ourselves. It’s noticing energy levels and dealing with emotions throughout the day using breathwork, reiki, and meditation as part of their daily routines. It’s an awareness of the cells in our bodies, the vibrations running through them, and the connection between the body, brain, and breathing. Paying attention to what energy they give permission to enter into their spaces and personal lives is so important. I encourage my clients to schedule between weekly to monthly services as to what works for them and why it is important. Building and maintaining a relationship with yourself is the best gift.
Can you explain to us the benefits of reflexology, and how it differs from other types of massage therapy?
Reflexology is based on the theory that there are reflex points on the feet, hands, and head. Each reflex point mirrors a part of the body inside and out. The benefits of reflexology are that it triggers the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, improves blood circulation throughout the body, eliminates unwanted toxins from the body systems, and much more. Reflexology is a non-invasive way to complement traditional medical treatments/medications, manage stress, and alleviate pain.
Aromatherapy is a popular form of holistic healing. How do you work with clients to select essential oils that are tailored to their individual needs and preferences?
Aromatherapy is very popular. We experience it in our homes, sometimes in workplaces, and can be a great selling point for businesses. While all that is amazing and I am glad to see people tap into this, aromatherapy is a very unique practice of using pure essential oils, incense, and herbs for specific reasons. Helping clients find the right fit for them is important. We need to get to the root of an issue or find out what they prefer to match what is needed for an aromatherapy session. Being careful to not trigger allergic reactions, irritations, headaches, or even past traumatic experiences is so important. I do use aromatherapy in isolation but also during a service to enhance and encourage a positive experience.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the wellness industry today, and how is Jiva Wellness Boutique working to address these challenges?
Unfortunately, we have a long way to go. A challenge for the industry is making services like vibrational sound therapy, reiki, reflexology, etc. available for everyone. Many insurance companies do not recognize complementary therapies and many doctors are not encouraging these therapies. I wish more scientific practices would learn more about and be willing to work with complementary practices. It just makes sense to have the best of both worlds. Complementary therapies can help those with side effects and or mental health challenges from traditional treatments such as surgery, procedures, and medications.
If you would like to find out more about Jiva Wellness Boutique, visit https://www.jivawellnessboutique.com/ or follow on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063563864447 and https://www.instagram.com/jivawellnessboutique/
