Today we’d like to introduce you to Lety Soto.
Hi Lety, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Professional: I started as a medical assistant in an acupuncture office and I learned all about wellness and managing pain with natural therapies there. As a medical assistant I have worked in acupuncture, psychology, and dermatology. I am also a licensed massage therapist and esthetician. I have taken 20 years of the knowledge and education working in the medical field and now apply that to my own business encompassing whole body care into my massages and facials in my own studio MySelf MInd & Body, located in Newport Beach, CA.
Personal: From an estetic perspective, because I suffered with awful acne as a teen and into my 20s and 30s I understand the connection between how the skin looks and how you feel. I worked in dermatology for 12 years and I saw that connection with all things from brown spots and wrinkles. Its not about vanity, but self esteem. Physically that connection exists as well. I was in a car accident when I was 19, my car flipped end over end and my entire back was sprained. It took years to recover and its has made me a big advocate for self care, maintenance and wellness and how they can improve anyone’s life.
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?
It’s been hard. I never wanted to run my own business. I used to manage some of the medical offices I worked at and knew it was a LOT. But after becoming frustrated with my working environment, feeling undervalued, underpaid and overworked I knew I had to go out on my one to protect my mental health and see my own vision become reality. Just when I was developing momentum, COVID hit and devastated my business as it did with everyone across the industry. I had to pivot, persevere and fight to keep my dream alive. Thanks to loyal clients and partnering with medical doctors allowed me to keep the lights on through COVID.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a massage therapist and esthetician with 20 years in the health and wellness field. I specialize in a whole body approach to my massages and facials. For massage I specialize in pain management and anxiety relief with modalities like cupping and aromatherapy, using all of my knowledge working in acupuncture and chiropractic offices to melt pain, relax the body, calm the mind and help you reset. For facials I spend a lot of time educating on the health of the skin and how to nourish it so it looks and feels its best also focusing on facial massage to improve the appearance of the skin and stress and anxiety.
I am super proud of the business I have built. Many client have followed me to different locations and been with me for years and refer their friends and family (the ultimate trust!). They trust me to help them with their concerns and also give them information on how to maintain those benefits at home and in between sessions.
A new part of my business that was born out of the COVID years is my increasingly presence on social media where I am able to reach out to more and more people across the Country, helping not only to develop new clients but also be able to show how crucial and beneficial self care can be. I gave gone from not knowing what a reel is to being able to help others grow and increase their online presence for their small business. I am proud of that growth and that I am able to help so many more people.
My years of experience and combination of all things wellness is truly unique. I love to learn and apply this to my sessions to be able to help my clients in all aspects of self: physical, mental and emotional. That’s why my business is named MySelf Mind & Body.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Every doctor I’ve worked for has given me valuable knowledge and experience, but the most influential was Dr. Dima Ali at WellMedica in Reston, VA. I lived on the East Coast from 2005 to 2010, and that experience truly shaped my career. We grew her business together, and I learned not just about patient care but also how to run and grow a business both in person and online. Most importantly, she taught me that you have to believe in yourself in order to succeed. When I returned to California, that foundation made it easy to transition into working with top dermatology offices because of everything I learned under her mentorship.
My husband has been very supportive emotionally but also my IT department, business advisor, and office handyman especially at the start.
My family is so supportive and always has been as I have learned new skills and eventually went out on my own.
My clients helped by encouraging me to grow and being proud and supportive at every step along the way. Acknowledging all the learning and work I put into my business and how it improves their well being has definitely encouraged me and supported me through the years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.myselfmindandbody.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myselfmindbody?igsh=ZTU4OHJsMzU2Njk4&utm_source=qr
