Inspiring Conversations with Ashley Ball of Massage Poppy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Ball.

Hi Ashley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Massage Therapy actually found me! I was living in Southern California with my kitty and powering through a divorce that left me very mentally unhealthy. On a whim, I saw an ad for The National Holistic Institute and decided to take a tour, at the end I enrolled. Massage school sparked a major shift in my energy, the focus of my holistic training was unifying the mind, body, and spirit; all of which were greatly out of whack for me.

I’ve always been drawn to natural ways of healing after dancing for over 24 years and going through rehabilitation for my knees, so school opened an entirely new world of healing for me. I learned to combine eastern and western modalities into my practice and tie energy work within each session. After running my mobile practice in Los Angeles, I relocated to Kansas City and have now relaunched Massage Poppy within Moss Studios here in Midtown.

This space allows me to create a safe space to facilitate healing on all levels for my community.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has absolutely been a bumpy road to get to this place. After my divorce, I struggled to find my place and stability. I would work 16-hour days between appointments and drive time while working as a mobile therapist and for many years I battled disordered eating, depression, and anxiety. Once I moved to KCMO I relied on my pets and the principles of massage school to find peace and start healing from within. I believe strongly in energy transfer and that as a therapist when I place my hands on a client I have to have the right intent and energy.

I knew that I wanted to return to my practice once the pandemic eased and I began to focus on meditation, therapy, and my overall wellness. I found ways to be kind to myself, embrace a body-positive mindset and commit to restoring myself daily. As someone that dealt with such struggles since childhood learning to love who you are can feel impossible, but I feel so greatly blessed to be here in this moment. Now, through my work, I can help others practice self-care, self-compassion, and self-love.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Massage Poppy was created with the hope of changing the way we view Massage Therapy, my drive is to spread awareness of all the profound physical and mental health benefits massage has to offer. I strive to restore the mind, body, and spirit with a holistic and therapeutic intent. Many may feel intimidated by the thought of receiving bodywork, especially for the first time, so we focus on creating a safe space that is judgment free, where compassionate touch and healing are brought to every session.

Upon graduating in 2015 as a Massage Therapist and Health Educator from The National Holistic Institute of California, I felt the profound effects Massage Therapy had on my life. Within my own journey of body acceptance and spiritual healing via holistic practices, I discovered her passion for facilitating healing in others.

How do you define success?
I define success via a daily appreciation for where I have been and where I am in the moment. I reflect on my past struggles to remind myself of how far I have come.

I ask myself if I can see my growth, if am I actively pushing towards my goals, and if am I making my furkids proud. I don’t set goals that are so hard to obtain that I feel like I am failing, life is too short to not celebrate every win, even the tiny ones.

Pricing:

• My 60-minute massages start at $85
• Chair Massage for offices and events start at $75

Contact Info:

• Website: www.massagepoppy.com
• Instagram: @MassagePoppy