Exploring Life & Business with Andrea Waite of Garden of Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Waite.

Andrea, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My passion led me to my purpose and my purpose led me to my calling. I am  always asked, how did I get started with doing massage, I know it’s shocking to say art…Yes, art! My entire life even as early as 2 years old I loved art and helping others. I knew early on it was my passion. I had dreams of being an art teacher and a photographer.

Shortly after high school, my journey took a different turn. Looking back I truly believe things happen for a reason whether it’s good or bad. It might not make sense at the time but later you will see that it was all a part of the plan.

After high school, I had  a wrestling scholarship to wrestle. Yes, wrestling!

In college, I wanted to major in photography.

I discovered very quickly that the universe had other plans. At the age of 19 I found out I was pregnant. So I stayed in Cincinnati to go to college for photography. I attended Antonelli college. After a year of being in school, I had challenges and obstacles that interfered with my success in the program. I was 20 years old , a single parent, dealt homelessness, government assistance, and was struggling to afford the supplies and equipment needed for the program. After speaking to one of the advisors at the school. She recommended I try a massage therapy program. I said, “massage therapy?” she responded by saying “massage therapy is like art, it’s  apart of the healing arts” being skeptical at first I was willing to give it a try I didn’t want to drop out of college. I knew my son was depending on me and graduating from college would put us in a better position. I took the leap and I switched programs from photography to massage therapy and this is where my passion led me to my purpose.

I graduated from Antonelli College with an associate’s degree in applied science in Massage Therapy in 2011. Shortly thereafter, I began my education in Esthetics graduated from the Salon Professional Academy 2011 with a certificate in esthetics.

I began working in various settings from holistic centers, spas to chiropractor offices. This is how I gained many skills, learned various modalities and techniques.

In 2016, I took a leap of faith with a negative bank balance and my last paycheck and began pursuing my purpose. As mentioned before this is the part where things didn’t make sense at the time but later did….

I chose to start my private practice because I love helping people relieve pain and overcome various ailments. From personal experience with working in spa-like settings, I wasn’t able to achieve the goal of having that one on one interaction with clients. I didn’t like the feeling of having clients being treated like fast food. Where everything is fast-paced, I have no time to understand my client’s needs, or help my clients with proper treatment and healing. Mostly due to, spas operating more like massage machines, clients coming in with specific requests or situations often are only catered to in a superficial way.

From Massage therapy I fell deeper into wellness and  that’s where I felt I found my calling. I’m excited to see that affordable massage is having an impact on so many of my clients’ lives, and I am grateful to all of my clients letting me help them restore balance and natural health in their lives.

It is fulfilling to the human soul when we pursue a career or opportunity to serve that aligns with our calling, passion, and purpose.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The struggles I faced were being a single mother, not having financial security, being homeless. Another challenge was my ethnicity.

When I got into massage therapy, there weren’t many African Americans pursuing the career at the time. I knew wanted to change that. I remember an employer told me to not put my face on a business card. Stating that I wouldn’t get much business. Basically referring to if people thought I was another ethnicity I would have a better percentage of clients. I knew that had to change so I worked very hard in my community to change the face of massage therapy. As well as showing that massage therapy is a professional medical occupation. When I first began 10 years ago massage therapy in the area focused more on relaxation massage. I knew massage was more than just relaxation so over the years Ive managed to bring new services to the area and make them affordable and accessible.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Garden of Wellness is a small passion-based business that is an independently owned and operated private massage practice. A medical office devoted to holistic health and using Massage Therapy for health purposes. With a focus in Holistic Clinical Massage and Integrative Therapies. While specializing in prenatal, surgical and chronic pain conditions.

The garden of wellness is like a garden of health to the community. I think that’s what sets Garden of wellness apart. I believe that happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give. The Garden of wellness is not only known for its unique alternative services but also known for sewing seeds back into the community. I have a community massage project that I’m most proud of. The project raises awareness of the benefits of Massage Therapy and making Massage Therapy affordable and accessible to the community.

On June 4, 2019 the Garden of Wellness was recognized for my work in the community and in the City of Cincinnati. Every June 4th has officially been proclaimed “Garden of Wellness Day” in the city of Cincinnati, by the Honorable Mayor John Cranely.

In 2016, “community massage project” was created within the Garden of Wellness. Massage therapy in the community cannot be underestimated. By responding to the needs of a community I ensure that massage is made available to everybody. For many people massage is not easily accessible. It is well known that lives are enhanced by massage and the healing benefits are proven. I’m dedicated to making a positive difference in the health and welfare in the city through the power of compassionate, professional touch offered through the art and science of massage therapy. I want to promote the profession of massage therapy throughout the community and raise awareness by introducing and educating the community about massage and its benefits.

The community massage project at the Garden of Wellness is a socially minded project using ‘pop-up’ clinics at community and public venues to provide easy access to quality, affordable therapeutic massage treatments for all. Volunteering my time in helping plant a good seed in the community, by serving the community through Massage Therapy. Massage…. for a Cause……..

Therefore including but not limited to, working with non-profit organizations and events, churches, senior living facilities, health workshops, schools, hospitals, veterans  and hospice patients.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years, I see my business and career branching to other ways to bring wellness to the community. In the next year, I will be bringing healing arts to another group that’s been overlooked. More details will be presented by the end of the year.

1 Comment

1. 

   Gail Harmeling

   September 20, 2021 at 2:19 pm

   Love this beautiful lady! She has helped so much with my arthritis pain and post cancer issues.

   Reply