Meet Ariel Dawson

Remedial Massage Therapist, Level 1 & 2 Reiki Practitioner & Acupuncture student

Tell us about you – who is your family, where do you live?

I was born and raised in Yuggera Country (Brisbane). I went to school in Annerley but lived in Jimboomba on acreage. I grew up with a lot of pets including horses, dogs, cats and chickens. For a few years in my childhood my mother was a volunteer wildlife carer. So I had the privilege of growing up with kangaroos, wallabies, possums and sometimes even flying foxes in my house.

My father’s side of the family is from Myanmar (Burma) and that part of my heritage is very near and dear to my heart.

I currently live south of Brisbane, though not as far south as Jimboomba anymore.

I live with my partner Joel and 13 year old son Jimmy, as well as our 2 very sweet cats Ollie and Hermione.

What got you into your current role as a Remedial Massage Therapist & Reiki Practitioner?

My interest in alternative health was first sparked when I became a beauty therapist in 2012 and I worked with a natural skincare range which I was fascinated with its effectiveness. I soon began to study Naturopathy but after getting an admin job at an acupuncture clinic I discovered what I truly wanted to do. After a while, I finally started my acupuncture degree in 2019 which I’m due to finish this year.

I wanted to have a broader understanding and skill of how I could treat so I completed my remedial massage diploma mid-2023.

Until the end of 2023, reiki wasn’t even on my radar. Then another student performed a brief treatment on me in class and I was immediately sold on the practice, and I completed my level 1 & 2 reiki this year.

Why are you passionate about working with mothers and women?

I became a mother quite young. I was only a month off turning 20 when I had my son and while my experience wasn’t the worst, it was certainly less than desirable. I was alone for a lot of it and very unhappy.

I’ve since had a long mental health journey which has had many ups and downs, and while I’m a huge advocate for therapy I have developed a great interest in how trauma and suppressed emotions manifest physically.

Looking back, I wish I had known what I know now, but my experience has lead me directly to where I am now and I’m passionate about bringing my knowledge to others.

Women and mothers are expected to be nurturing but seem to be the last ones to receive it. I want to help create an environment (and by extension, a world) where mothers and women’s nourishment is just as important (if not more) as everyone else’s, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love to crochet and read. I love fantasy novels and it gives my mind a break from reading research papers and text books! My cat Ollie likes to sit in the sun with me while I read.

My family and I love to hike, and we visit Twin Falls every New Years day.

We also love to watch anime together and we all love to play video games too. My personal favourite game is Hollow Knight.

I adore musical theatre, and I attend Club Broadway every chance I get because singing musical theatre at the top of my lungs with hundreds of other people feeds my soul in a way I never thought possible.