Meet Tara Schmeling of Idol Hands Healing in Arcadia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Schmeling.

Tara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been taking care of people professionally since a month after I turned 16 when I began working as a CNA at a nursing home. I became an LPN at 19, RN at 20, and finished my BSN when I was 23. I have struggled with back problems for over 24 years so being a nurse has been extremely challenging at times. The more I put my body through the worse it got. I found yoga in 2011 and it changed my life! The physical practice helped my symptoms but the “other” techniques I learned have been instrumental in dealing with chronic pain. Yoga was what kept me sane through the ups and downs of symptoms management and ultimately surgical interventions. The more I learned about yoga and eastern modalities, the more I wanted to learn! I became a RYT-500 (Registered Yoga Teacher-500 Hour Program) in 2014 and completed my Yoga Nidra Facilitator training in 2015.

I began teaching right away and gravitated toward the gentler practices. My goal was to make anyone who came to my class to feel safe to practice. When I took my first class, I was terrified! I had so many problems going on with my body at the time and I was fortunate enough to land in the class of someone not only professionally well trained but someone who also experienced many of the same challenges I did physically! I knew if I ever taught that is the kind of teacher I would be. I became a Reiki Master in 2018 and began to incorporate Reiki into my yoga classes as well as seeing clients for private Reiki sessions. I am certified in Touch For Health 1 and 2 (kinesiology techniques) and plan to take Level 3 and 4 in 2020.

That leads me up to November 25th, 2019. My amazing friend, Karen, offered to let me turn her guest house into my own studio! Uuummm. . . say what now??!! OK!!! So, I have been seeing clients in my guest house studio since December 1st! It’s been nothing short of amazing, busy, scary, fun, overwhelming, and wonderful. I combine all of my training into my sessions, including my medical background! It has been absolutely beautiful to see how people have opened up and responded to this type of self-care.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I had a number of procedures done to try to alleviate pain and other symptoms I was dealing with but eventually had to have two surgeries to correct the problems; 1 surgery in 2012 and another in 2018. During my yoga teacher training my appendix tried to kill me so I had emergency surgery in 2014 as well. That was interesting; trying to learn/practice poses and adjustments while dealing with back issues AND recovering from abdominal surgery! Ha! It definitely helped me learn to “stay within my own awareness”.

I have found if I “allow” things to happen they fall into place much better than if I try to force it. So when it has come to my training and learning opportunities, I try to allow things to flow rather than force. I have never wanted to open my own studio; this just sort of happened! It has been a lot of work but not at all what I expected. It really is just flowing!

Idol Hands Healing – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
So, my reiki sessions are VERY different than most people. I combine a lot of different modalities into my sessions to create a very saturating experience for my clients. I have gentle music playing at all times in the studio. I start by talking with people about their expectations/goals for the session, answering questions they may have, and explaining how the session will go. I do a combination of hands-on and hands-off so I want to make sure people are comfortable with that. I have some clients who benefit from a few gentle yoga poses (either seated or standing) or kinesiology techniques before getting settled onto the table. I burn incense and give my clients an essential oil blend I make. Once they are all tucked in on the massage table I play a Tibetan singing bowl; vibration/sound therapy are very relaxing to the mind and body. I talk people through some Nidra techniques (guided meditation) to help them “drop” into a deeper state of relaxation as I begin the reiki treatment. I do the front and back of the body, focusing on chakra balancing, but also do targeted reiki for any areas of the body the client is having issues with (ie: knee, shoulder, abdomen, etc.). When the reiki treatment is complete I “wake” people up the same way I do after a yoga class. I step out of the room and have people sit up slowly in their own time. When they are ready, they open the door and I come back in so we can discuss their experience, I can share when I noticed, and I can answer any questions they may have. I like to give people ample time after a session to “collect themselves” before getting behind the wheel. I have a 30-minute buffer between clients so I have time to clear/cleanse the room energetically as well as get myself balanced again before seeing another client.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is about being free, happy, and secure. I’m not going to say it has nothing to do with money because we all have bills to pay, right? Success for me is about feeling secure financially, happy with myself and my life, and that is what makes me feel free. Success to me is freedom!

Pricing:

• First Client Special: 90 Minute Session for $50
• 90 Minute Sessions Regular Price: $80
• 90 Minute 4 Pack: $270 (expires at 6 months)
• Intensive Healing Pack: 4 One Hour sessions with a 30 min Planning session and a 30 Minute Follow-Up session $225 (expires at 60 days).

Contact Info:

• Phone: 480-229-6913 (text only)
• Email: idolhands108@gmail.com
• Instagram: @idolhandshealing

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