Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Makarick.
Autumn , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I found massage in 2019, almost by accident. At the time, I was working in restaurants as a server. A friend offered me three Thai massage sessions in exchange for watching his dog for the weekend. I had never had professional bodywork before—I didn’t even like being touched, and I certainly never imagined I’d end up in a career where I’d be touching others. But I loved animals, so I agreed.
By the third session, something shifted. I had a new awareness of my body that I’d never experienced before, and an unfamiliar but deeply welcome sense of peace and calm. I remember walking away thinking, maybe this is something I could do—maybe this is something I could offer to others.
Then the COVID lockdown happened, and like many people, I began to reevaluate my life. During that time, I applied to massage school. While in school, I not only learned about anatomy and technique—I learned about my own nervous system. I discovered yoga, was introduced to Reiki, and began experiencing a kind of healing I never knew was possible. I became more curious and kind with myself, and in that curiosity, I began to find a deeper sense of peace.
About a year into my practice, I founded The Mindful Body. I didn’t just want to offer massage—I wanted to create a space where people could feel safe being still in their own bodies. Stillness is often uncomfortable, especially in a world that moves so fast, but it’s also where healing begins. Through my work, I support clients in regulating their nervous systems, softening into themselves, and finding the presence and calm we’re all searching for.
I built the space I once needed—where the mind and body come back together, and where deep, lasting healing becomes possible.
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?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road- healing rarely is. I came into this work while still learning how to feel safe in my own body, and early on, I faced the challenge of holding space for others while building a business from the ground up. Burnout crept in more than once—trying to do it all, give everything, and forgetting that I, too, am human. Over time, I’ve learned to slow down, set boundaries, and honor my own nervous system the way I encourage my clients to honor theirs. These challenges have deepened my understanding of what it truly means to heal and have shaped how I show up: grounded, present, and always growing.
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?
The Mindful Body is an integrative bodywork practice located in Ocala, Florida. We specialize in therapeutic massage, Reiki, and small group yin and restorative yoga classes designed to support the whole person- body, mind, and nervous system. What makes our approach unique is the way we partner with each client to create sessions that are deeply intentional and rooted in presence, not pressure.
Our massage sessions are not about forcing the body to change. We listen—first to the client, and then to their tissue. We work slowly and intuitively, responding to how the body receives touch rather than pushing through resistance. You won’t find “no pain, no gain” or aggressive techniques here. Instead, we help the body relax so it can begin to release on its own.
Every session includes the inHarmony vibroacoustic soundbed, which uses low-frequency vibrations to calm the nervous system and help the body to receive deeper work, if needed, with greater ease. Our most popular service is our Restorative Reiki Massage, a deeply relaxing experience that combines massage with energy work to support nervous system regulation, emotional release, and overall balance. Reiki can be especially beneficial for those experiencing anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, or burnout.
At The Mindful Body, we don’t just work with muscles —we work with the whole human. Our sessions encompass the physical, emotional, and energetic layers of the body, holding space for each client to reconnect with themselves in a grounded and supported way. Whether you’re seeking relief from pain or simply space to exhale, our goal is for you to leave feeling lighter, more centered, and more at ease.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am a Reiki Practitioner and Teacher but I didnt grow up familiar with these practices and I used to be a skeptic of Reiki.
That changed the day I watched it bring peace to my adopted dog, Freida. She had come from a past filled with fear and trauma — if she was awake, she was pacing and panting, stuck in fight-or-flight.
During her first Reiki session, she laid down within minutes and fell into a deep sleep. For the first time in months, possibly years, she was at ease. Even when the practitioner left the room, she didn’t stir.
I didn’t fully understand what I had just witnessed, I didn’t see or feel anything myself, but I had to trust it was real. Reiki gave her nervous system something it had been longing for: safety.
With time, patience, massage, acupuncture, and regular Reiki, Freida blossomed into a joyful, calm dog.
It was a few years later when I received a Reiki session myself that I was able to truly understand the essence of Reiki and what Freida had experienced that day she finally found some rest and peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.MassageTherapyOcalaFL.com
- Instagram: _the_mindful_body_
- Facebook: AutumnMakarickLMT
Image Credits
Randall Lacasse
