Meet Maria

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maria. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maria below.

Hi Maria, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my parents. Watching them come to this country with nothing but determination and hope taught me that anything is possible if you’re willing to work for it. They built their lives brick by brick with no shortcuts, just faith, sacrifice, and effort. They never gave up, even when things were hard. That strength and perseverance have shaped how I am today and how I approach everything in my life and business. I love them, and I feel so proud of them. I’m grateful for the foundation they created for me. When I face challenges, I remind myself of their journey and the doors they opened through their hard work and love. Their story reminds me that resilience isn’t just about bouncing back but also about moving forward even when life gets hard.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I became a licensed massage therapist in June 2001 and began my journey working alongside chiropractors. That experience gave me a strong foundation in rehabilitation and injury-focused therapy—skills that continue to shape the way I care for my clients today. Over time, I transitioned into the spa industry, where I gained broader experience and deepened my understanding of overall wellness and self-care. In 2019, I took a leap of faith and launched my own business, renting a space where I could grow professionally and build lasting relationships with my clients, and created my own business called ‘Total Body & Skincare’. Then, in 2024, an unexpected closure of that space turned into a new opportunity. Together with two incredible colleagues, I co-founded OASIS: Wellness & Beauty Collective—a space created to support other small businesses in the beauty and wellness industry.

I offer a range of self-care services, including massage therapy, facials, waxings, lash extensions, and more. My goal is to help people look and feel their best—whether that’s through relaxation, rejuvenation, or a boost of confidence.
What I find most special about my work is the opportunity to create a safe and healing space where clients can truly unwind and feel cared for. Seeing someone leave their session feeling not only more relaxed but also more radiant and empowered—that’s what fuels my passion. As well as when I get those calls telling me that they aren’t in pain anymore and how my services helped them.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I would say the three most impactful things in my journey have been networking, continuous education, and honesty—especially with clients and coworkers.

First, networking opened so many doors for me. Building genuine relationships helped me find opportunities, gain referrals, and learn from others. I’ve always believed in community over competition, and that mindset has brought amazing people into my circle, including clients, mentors, and business partners. My advice to anyone starting out is to show up, be present, and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself because you never know where a connection might lead you.

Second, education is important. I’ve never stopped learning–whether it’s taking courses, staying up-to-date with trends, or learning from hands-on experience. This field is always evolving, and staying curious and open to growth keeps your work fresh and your clients trusting you.

And finally, honesty. Being honest with clients and coworkers builds trust and respect. I speak up with kindness and transparency. That honesty has built long-term loyalty and created a safe, respectful environment where people feel valued.

So, to anyone just starting: surround yourself with good people, invest in your growth, and stay true to who you are. Those three things will carry you far

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

I believe that encouraging people to love themselves and take care of their bodies is one of the most powerful things we can do. Self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s an act of love. It’s about honoring your body, your mind, and your spirit. Like I always say, it’s better to prevent than to repair. Taking time for yourself shouldn’t feel indulgent; it should feel necessary because it is.

It’s not just about booking a massage or a facial—although those are wonderful ways to support your wellness—it’s also about making peace with yourself, mentally and emotionally. It’s about creating balance in your everyday life, checking in with how you feel, and treating your body with the same respect you give to your loved ones.

At the heart of my work, whether it’s through skincare, massage, or simply holding space for someone to breathe and feel safe, my goal is always to remind people that they matter. Their well-being matters.

Self-care is how we say, ‘Te amo’(I love you) to ourselves. It’s the foundation of everything else—how we show up in relationships, how we perform at work, how we handle stress. And when we start to care for ourselves on all levels—physically, emotionally, spiritually—we not only feel better, we start to live better. And that’s what I want to share with everyone who walks through my doors.

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