Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Macklem.
Hi Morgan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Well, my story starts out as an 18 years old who thought she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. I’m sure that is a relatable sentence! I was a competitive runner throughout the years and wanted to become an Athletic Trainer to help athletes with injuries in order to keep competing. I had my share of injuries and was always so frustrated. So, I went to Central Michigan University for the Sports Medicine program. The program was competitive and rigorous. If we weren’t in class or studying, we were out in the field doing a rotation with a sports team or at a clinic.
By the time I graduated, I just felt like that wasn’t my calling. I was so burned out from school; I couldn’t imagine starting another program. I decided to work some jobs and figure it out on the way. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to find work after college. I worked at Starbucks for a bit and then I was recruited to work at Lululemon. Lululemon pushed me out of my comfort zone with having us write goals for 1, 5, and 10 years. This was HARD because I felt so lost. Eventually, I thought, “How about personal training with an injury prevention focus!”. All I knew was I wanted to help people in some way, and I absolutely loved learning about the human body. After a couple of years of that, I realized it wasn’t for me. At that point, I felt defeated. I wasn’t sure why I was here and what my purpose was.
In 2016/2017, I was working in a physical therapy clinic, and I had to do 10-15 minute massages on patients to help with their therapy. I started to get a lot of compliments on my touch which was surprising to me. On top of that, I kept hearing about a well-known massage school in Michigan called Irene’s Myomassology Institute. As everything entered my radar at once, I thought “Why haven’t I ever thought about becoming a massage therapist?!”. It’s the perfect combination of understanding the body and being able to help people in their healing. I was ready. I signed up for the program and started in June 2017. That year was the most messy, wonderful year I had ever experienced. I didn’t realize how much I had to heal myself in order to make it through the program. Being able to learn so many different modalities and grow simultaneously is priceless. That year flew by, and I graduated in June 2018. I decided I would work a job for a year to gain experience and then I planned to move out to Denver to live out my dreams. My plan was to eventually start my own business!
So, I saved up my money and made the move to Denver in September 2019! Sometimes I still can’t even believe it. I found a job that I felt I could really grow with. After working there for 2.5 years, I finally decided to take the leap! After all, what was I waiting for?! With a decade of experience in the health/wellness field, I felt ready to create something of my own. In February I created my business called The Golden Aura. I have truly been guided by intuition throughout this process and I am beyond grateful!
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?
Once I knew that massage therapy was my path, things started to fall into place pretty easily. With that said, I definitely had some bumps along the way. My first job as a therapist was extremely draining. I felt burned out before my year was up, but what I gained from that was the knowledge on what my body can handle. When I moved out to Denver, I had my eyes set on a really cool spot to work! Unfortunately, I had a really harsh interview where I questioned if I should even be a massage therapist. I knew deep in my soul that this is the work I am meant to do. I got back out there and found a job that was the perfect fit! Once Covid hit, I had a lot of time to dig deep and self-reflect. When I returned to work in 2020, I felt a lot more carefree. And by carefree I mean not worrying so much about how others perceive me and to always be my authentic self. Authenticity is contagious.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Golden Aura?
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist. My style is a therapeutic, intuitive flow with a mix of modalities. I believe relaxation and deep work can be achieved all at once. My massage is always intentional and I do my best to listen to what my clients want/need. I love taking the time before the massage to chat about the goal of the session and to communicate afterward about how they feel and what homework they could do on their own to help with maintenance. My favorite techniques include myofascial release, energy work, pin and stretch, and cupping. I tend to do deep tissue work on most of my clients. I am very present and love this work, which I think is felt through my massage. My entire goal is to help people step away from life and to unwind on the table. We are constantly on the go as a society and I now fully understand how important relaxation is for the human body. Our nervous systems go haywire from time to time and I enjoy helping others with a caring touch.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned on this journey is to always trust your gut even when it doesn’t make sense. We have everything we need within us and sometimes it takes a little dusting off to see that. Don’t give up on yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.massagebook.com/biz/TheGoldenAura
- Instagram: thegoldenauramassage
Image Credits
All photos were taken by Bethany Kicz
