Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana Rios.
Hi Adriana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Hello, my name is Adriana Rios, actually Eva Adriana Rios. I am originally from Tamaulipas, Mexico. I mention my first name because it is relevant to my business brand, but most people call me by my middle name because that is what my family and most close friends have always called me. I called my business Eden because of my first name Eva and the garden of Eden. I am passionate about nature and in my practice, I always focus on bringing the energy of Mother Earth to ground me and transform any energy of pain and soreness that my clients and myself might feel into something better.
Family is very important to me so I chose Utah to be my home because I wanted to be close to my sister’s family, and even though I don’t have kids of my own yet those who know me know that spending time with my nieces and nephew make me very happy. They are one of my biggest motivators.
Since I was a little girl, I wanted to have my own business. I was always searching for what it could be. I now understand that I never had the passion and love for any projects I explored and it was never meant for me to do anything else than holistic healing.
I have a degree in International Commerce. I attended the University in Mexico and did a Business Program in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. I have always been passionate about cultural differences and service to others. I consider myself spiritual, and I acknowledge I was given a gift to facilitate healing. I was always the kind of person people talk to about their struggles even in line at the groceries. Seriously, sometimes I would not even say hi, and they would start telling me very personal stuff to then leave saying thank you I feel so much better! Sounds funny because it was not like I even asked for them to talk to me in the first place. I started noticing that happening often and I questioned why. Why did they feel better? why me? what was it that made them feel better? Well, when you ask those questions to the Universe you better pay attention to the answers. So, I started looking for ways where I could use that gift for good. I moved several times to different cities trying to find a job that made me feel passionate without losing my mind on the way. I liked the jobs I had before, I was good at doing those and I was even happy. But I knew deep in my heart I did not see myself doing those for the following 5, 10 or 20 years, and I was not to settle for happy-ish. One day while visiting my sister we were walking her baby and passed by a massage school and I asked myself “What if…?” But my mind said, “Come on! you are too old to start a new career, you have a good job, you are doing pretty good back home, it is not easy to come to the US, you don’t even have a visa to work in the US! and also, you don’t want to touch strangers for living!” But I went and got the program information just to check it out. So that is how it started. I went home to Mexico and suddenly everything aligned so I could move to Salt Lake City and study Massage Therapy. I thought massage would be a very good business and that I would only take the program to get to know the industry and then I would run a business even in Mexico if the business visa did not work out. And turns out I found my passion. I help people to feel better physically and mentally through massage but I also help other Massage Therapists and Holistic Healers and provide a safe place for them to be more confident and build their own business and follow their career dream. At the clinic, we work with clients who are recovering from injuries, pain management, healing from medical procedures, and those seeking for overall relaxation. Being part of their recovery after a life-changing event is an honor. I like that they feel safe and trust me enough to work along with their medical team to help their body move again and live a better life. That makes me very happy and that feeling is one that I never felt before in any job. I have a team of Massage Therapists that are excellent and who I trust to be part of this journey. They have seen me grow, make mistakes and learn along the way and I am grateful for their trust and support.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I wouldn’t call it smooth, even though I know for some people it has been more difficult than for me. I left my entire life—family, and accomplishments—back at home when I came to Utah. That was an incredible challenge.
I was over 30, and at the time I felt pretty stable and comfortable. And a part of me wondered, why would I change that? Why would I go through the hassle of applying for a business visa? But it felt right, and I took a leap of faith.
I learned that most things can be done if we put in the time to do the research. It’s also important to seek out people who’ve been there and can guide you through the process. It is just a matter of staying focused, making the time, and putting in the work to reach your goals.
Was it difficult? Yes. I sometimes got distracted or discouraged, because I listened to people who told me that starting a business of my own in the US was not possible. You need a lot of money to begin, and not being a US citizen certainly added difficulty.
Yes. It took me longer because of course, I couldn’t qualify for loans, and most people would not trust me to lend me money. I got discouraged plenty of times. I even had one attorney tell me, “Just go back to Mexico; don’t risk your visa on this.”
The point is, I was determined to see it through. I wanted to have my own business in Utah bad enough that I kept asking. I eventually got the loans. I found mentors. And despite the fear, I found the right attorney who knew the process. This is ultimately how I found success.
We’ve been impressed with Eden Massage and Wellness Clinic, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Eden Massage is a local, small but strong business owned by Adriana Rios, a Mexican woman who immigrated to Salt Lake City with a dream to empower other holistic practitioners to create their businesses while helping others to reach their health and wellness goals. We provide Massage therapy that is nurturing, effective, and respectful of our clients. We specialize in techniques for injury rehabilitation, pain management, recovery from medical procedures, mental stress management, and overall relaxation. We also provide tools to live a healthier life for mind and body. We focus on tailoring each session based on each person’s goals, creating a relaxing and energizing experience. What really makes us different is that our main focus is our client. We prioritize connecting with our clients and making a difference in the way they feel, and the money we make comes in as a result of our work. We often donate our time and treatments to people who really need it and cannot afford Massage Therapy. We care for the well being of every person who comes to us.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
That I need a support system. Yes, I would not be where I am if I did not have a strong net to catch me and help me to keep going. This is something that was very clear to me since the first week of massage school. They actually told us in a class to write who our support system would be. And the key is that not everybody is good to motivate you for the same purpose. What I mean is I would not call the same people if I need advice for finances than if I need emotional support. So, I have someone who I call when my ideas are stuck, I have someone else to call if I am overwhelmed, I call someone different if I need an objective point of view on something, and if I need money, I call my parents lol. I am kidding but well my parents are like that card that fits everywhere. The truth is that I have friends that have believed in me in moments when even I was doubting in myself. And the other important lesson is that it is important to surround ourselves with people who think big, who think projects, who think solutions, who are hungry for knowledge and experiences, who think growth, who want to be happy, who want to live an extraordinary life. Because that is how we are going to think as well. In one of the seminars I attended, they said we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with. And that is so true. So, I pay attention who I spend my time with because soon I will be sharing their goals and dreams, and even fears. I am picky on what events I go to, what I read, what shows I watch, what music I listen to. Because that is information that programs our subconscious mind for success or fear.
I learned that there is always someone that has done what we want to achieve, so I looked for people who were in the wellness industry and I was shy to work with Americans at first because of the cultural difference of course, but I was open to learning and God blessed me with the right people who helped me and taught me. I met Dr. Altman, a chiropractor that helped me to build my confidence and patience and supported me as a professional and as a person. He taught me that things should not be complicated, sometimes we make them complicated ourselves and we should be open to letting go if it is taking your inner peace. There is a difference between stress that hurts you and the work that requires time and that we must put in to make things happen. The first damages our body and our spirit, the second is part of the journey and is delightful and brings good results.
Pricing:
- 90 min Massage $100
- 60 min Massage $75
- 45 min Massage $60
- 30 min Massage $40
Contact Info:
- Email: edenmassageslc@gmail.com
- Website: www.edenmassage.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edenmassageslc/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/edenmassageslc
Image Credits
Christina Mellor
George Dansi
