Story & Lesson Highlights with Ariana Battle of Santa Monica

We recently had the chance to connect with Ariana Battle and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariana, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Absolutely. It’s really good to be back and reflecting on this.

There’s the work itself. The practice. The thing you’ve devoted real time and care to. And then there’s the very real need to be visible, to show up online, to keep a business moving in a digital-first world.

What doesn’t always get said is how disorienting that can feel. Being asked to stay grounded, embodied, and present, while also needing to document, promote, analyze, and keep up with a consistent cadence. Early on, I felt that pressure to post the “right” way, at the “right” times, and over time it started to feel disconnected from the practice itself. I started paying attention to that feeling (follow that gut friends).

So I flipped the script, and what I’ve learned is that the answer isn’t opting out or pushing harder. It’s letting social media support the work, rather than dictate it. Now I share when something genuinely feels good, when I’m excited, when there’s something real to offer. Not because I have to, but because I want to. The business isn’t led by an algorithm. It’s led by the experiences, the conversations, and the quiet breakthrough moments that happen within the Open Haven community. Naming that shift created more ease, more trust, and a lot more room to breathe.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Let’s do it. I’m Ariana, founder of Open Haven, or OH for short. You’ll find me using them interchangeably. Abbreviated, OH is a natural sound we make; it’s curiosity, realization, exasperation, excitement. In its full form, Open Haven is a natural state; when our minds, bodies, and souls feel aligned and alive.

Both are the human experience when introduced to these wellness practices. Sound baths that let your brain wander creatively and wildly. Private Pilates sessions that leave you surprised by what your body can do. Council circles where people show up as themselves, maybe a little unsure what to expect at first, and end up experiencing real, breakthrough connections and conversations.

What makes Open Haven different is what happens inside those moments. The slowing down. The noticing. Connecting and feeling grounded in yourself and alongside others, experiencing this incredible world. It continues to grow in ways that are so fiercely, beautifully human.

That same intention is what led Open Haven into another sensory layer. I’m so excited to share that Open Haven will begin offering restorative aromatherapy products. Scent is one of our most powerful senses, closely tied to memory and emotion, and a little goes a long way as a natural regulator for the nervous system. I’ve woven aromatherapy into sessions from the beginning, and over time people kept asking what I was spraying and whether I sold it. After a year of those requests, it felt right to offer this little mood-lifter beyond our classes. It’s meant for everyday rituals. A spray in your home, on a towel before a bath, on your pillow before sleep, or anytime you need a simple moment of presence to reconnect within.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The overanalyzing, competitive overachiever in me. She got me far in my previous life in finance and tech, but I move in softer steps now. It was how I navigated the world before I entered those spaces, and I’m enjoying the journey back. Now I practice letting things land where they will, staying open to what comes, and choosing connection over comparison. Learning that when I let go, even just a little, the good slips right on in.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Stay soft and optimistic, it’s our fiercest strength.

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’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Following a path that looks good on paper. Trade it for the path that feels good in your bones.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
The quiet, early moments in the morning. I slip into the living room before everybody wakes up, make my favorite cup of something, and read while my thirty-pound fluff of a pup snuggles me into oblivion.

I’ve really enjoyed this conversation – it’s been a nice pause, a chance to notice the parts of the work and the practice that usually go unspoken. These ordinary, everyday bits always end up sticking with you in the best way. Thanks for letting me share them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.openhavenwellness.com
• Instagram: @openhavenwellness