We had the good fortune of connecting with Lesley Almer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lesley, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I would have to say CURIOSITY is the most important factor behind my success. It’s a great intention of mine to observe my business and the industry with a fresh perspective. I think it’s important to evolve with new techniques, new standards of doing business, and continue learning my craft so that I don’t fall into a plateau. Each year I take workshops and explore different aspects of health and wellness. I consider myself a bonafide student. In order to bring that special and unique experience to clients, I choose to enhance my skills and natural healing tools. It could take my whole life to truly understand the complexities of the human body, and even then, there’s no official end. Science is revealing more and more each day about the personality of DNA, how thoughts become things, how sound affects our well-being, and so much more. I feel this is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg. My curiosity will always be there, and that is a huge asset for the quality of experience I will offer to all guests who visit my retreat center.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve immersed myself in the natural healing arts since 2002 as a Holistic Bodyworker and Crystal Sound Practitioner. My business is called Universal Touch, and I offer a wide spectrum of services including therapeutic massage, organic facials, energy work, sound healing, and holistic health guidance.

I have a real passion for the health and wellbeing of my community. When clients seek my assistance, I listen to what their words, their conditions, and what their body and energy are telling me. Quite often one massage appointment will give me a better understanding of what they’re going through and what’s needed to help them reach their goals. I become a body whisperer and listen with all my senses, using an intuitive approach, as well as my education, to guide them along the way.
From back pain, to skin problems, to huge life changes or loss of direction, I know I can help guide them out of that chaotic cloud of confusion, and encourage them to form stepping stones down a path to realize their own potential.
As for the story of my business, it manifested seven years ago. I decided to move down to Long Beach and nestle in with beach life and my girlfriend (now wife). I planned to continue my practice as a bodyworker, but since I was new to the South Bay I didn’t have any clientele or connections in the area. I had just left a spa position after ten years, and I had to start from scratch. It was scary, but thrilling to be on this new adventure.
I was so determined to make it work that I didn’t give myself the option of not succeeding. After numerous calls, visits, and new connections, Wellsprings Wellness Center in Seal Beach became my new work base. Within a few months, I also joined forces with a local Chiropractor and finally felt like I could really make my dream come true. As my clientele began to build, I decided to write about my experiences of the past; what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons I learned along the way as an independent contractor working in health and wellness. In massage school in 2002, that kind of knowledge wasn’t readily available. Once we got certified, it was like we were birds; they opened the cage door and we flew away, in all different directions.
Like most jobs, working in the spa and wellness industry does have its challenges. I’ve seen many professionals quit after a short period of time because of injuries from working too hard, not making enough money, burning out, or just existing in a state of lack. Through experience, I uncovered a lot that was never discussed in our classroom setting. I thought it was time to talk about it, so I began to write about all of the things I wish I knew when I first started. My goal was that by reading my book, practitioners would discover their own worth, claim that power, and work for or among others who also valued that worth. If we all live life from a state of abundance, instead of lack, many challenges practitioners face in this industry would be minimal. Happy and healthy practitioners, in turn, are better able to support and uplift our community.
During my writing period, I found myself organically connecting with other like minds to put on workshops for sound healing and self-care. The creativity was so strong and I was grateful to find myself involved in so many projects, working with many different professionals, and helping to educate my community. I was thrilled when my eBook, “Manifest Your Successful Natural Healing Business: A Handbook for Bodyworkers, Aestheticians, & Natural Healers of the World,” was published three years later. I feel like this book is even more important now as we evolve and become more aware of who we are as individuals and as a whole, and how that bleeds into our work environment.
I’m really excited about a few things coming up. The first is my business move from Seal Beach to the heart of Bixby Knolls in Long Beach, California. I will be unveiling a retreat center where the community will be able to take a break from city life to rest and recharge in the comforts of a quiet, nurturing space. I hope to announce my re-opening in Bixby Knolls very soon.
The second project I’m very happy about, is my crystal singing bowl online workshop, “The REMLA Method™of Sound, 10-day Course.” I was teaching a 4-hour workshop for The REMLA Method™of Sound and decided to create an online, independent study platform for those who seek an intuitive approach to learning crystal singing bowls for self-healing. Each day I guide you through a 15-minute sonic exercise where you learn my method of playing these beautiful crystal teachers. The only pre-requisite is to own at least one crystal singing bowl. I’m offering a 50% off coupon code for all readers who are interested in this online course. It will be valid until the end of December 31, 2020, and is really a great way to jumpstart your self-care practice for the New Year.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would plan a day at Bolsa Chica State Beach, where we’d ride our bikes along the sand, go to SeaLegs for some drinks and snacks, then have a fire pit at night. Another day, I’d take them to breakfast at Bake ’n Broil in Bixby Knolls. We’d walk the shops on Atlantic and stop at Bixby Joe’s for a mid afternoon coffee and snack. There’s also SteelCraft on Long Beach Blvd. that I’d want to show them, with a Rainbow Juice stand on the main street. Another day, I’d take them to Sunset Beach for paddle boarding, then stop at Fish Camp for a big lunch. If it was the weekend, we’d visit their farmer’s market on PCH or at the marina on 2nd & PCH. Another day, I’d take them to 4th & Cherry in Long Beach where we’d see a movie at the Arts Theatre, then walk the street to see the shops. We’d stop at Lola’s for delicious Mexican food. Another day, I’d take them to Main Street in Seal Beach to visit the stores, walk on the pier and eat at Thai On Main. Another day, I’d take them to consignment stores in Fountain Valley and then introduce them to Fermentation Farm in Costa Mesa, where I get all of my fermented goods and locally sourced products. After that, they’d be exhausted 😉

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents, Dennis and Gayle, and my wife, Seven, for their unconditional love and support over the years. I would not be who I am nor where I am today without their pep talks, encouragement, and participation in helping me develop my skills. My parents were some of my first clients, and my mom even went with me to my Stateboard Exam, as my model, for my Esthetician license. As for Seven, no words can truly describe the inspiring seeds she’s planted within my heart. Her ‘Sevenisms,’ her crave for knowledge, her lust for life…just having her presence in my life has both challenged and polished me into becoming a better version of my-Self. The fact that she’s become my life partner, just makes life even more beautiful.

Website: https://lesleyalmer.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/universaltouch/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UniversalTouch67
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/universal-touch-seal-beach
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBuzZdyG41c17t6OevYnxw?view_as=subscriber
Other: eBook on Amazon: “Manifest Your Successful Natural Healing Business: A Handbook for Bodyworkers, Aestheticians & Natural Healers of the World,” by Lesley Almer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WH6DF20/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_sUeQFb3HSD57N The REMLA Method™ of Sound 10-day Course: https://universal-touch.teachable.com/p/the-remla-method-of-sound/ 50% off Coupon Code: SHOUTOUT Blog: https://theremlamethod.wordpress.com/ Insight Timer Guided Meditations: http://insig.ht/remla67

Image Credits
Sam Diephuis Candy Crimin Seven Maldonado

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