Meet Aileen Hitomi Lane | Licensed Massage Therapist & Reiki-Master Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aileen Hitomi Lane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aileen Hitomi, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have always felt the call to be of service to others. This started when I began working as an Occupational Therapy Practitioner back in 1994; and during this career, I have worked with infants to adults in a variety of settings including: Infant/Toddler State Program, Special Education, inpatient rehabilitation, Spinal Injury Service and Outpatient Pediatric Clinics. Working in the field of Occupational Therapy was lucrative and provided job security no matter where I lived. About 7 years ago, I was introduced to CranioSacral Therapy and applied this modality with special needs children and their parents that came to the Pediatric Clinic I worked for in Boise, Idaho. In 2020, during the middle of the Covid pandemic, I left my job, sold my house in Idaho, moved to Sedona, Arizona and enrolled myself in Sedona School of Massage. I was ready to follow my dreams by leaving the medical field and offer CranioSacral Therapy and Reiki to the community through my own private practice. I still had so much to learn about CranioSacral Therapy and feared “losing my touch” after leaving my fellow therapists in Idaho. However, I put myself out there and started offering CranioSacral Therapy as much as I can. I also started putting together classes to teach Reiki – which really put me out of my comfort zone.
I no longer have all the benefits and retirement packages that the medical field offers, however I have never felt so much freedom in my life until now. I did all this in my 50’s and I realize that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. You see, this was not the first time I took risks in my life / career. How do you think this native Los Angeles gal ended up in Boise, Idaho in the first place?

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The first time I received CranioSacral Therapy, I was amazed by how something so subtle can be very powerful. I was given the opportunity to take courses through the Upledger Institute at the pediatric clinic, and used it with children and sometimes their parents. At the same time, I also began studying Reiki. I sometimes found that during a Reiki session, I also begin giving my clients CranioSacral Therapy as well. It was as if their bodies knew that it would benefit from both modalities. I am not sure if what I do sets me apart from others, but I am proud of taking that leap of faith of leaving the comfort zone of Occupational Therapy. Of course FEAR crossed my mind several times – fear of not being good enough, fear of lack, fear of failure and so on. One of the ways that helped me overcome these challenges was to just do it. Even when clients came in for a deep tissue massage, I always end the session with CranioSacral Therapy to help bring them into a deeper state of relaxation. CranioSacral Therapy improves the functioning of the central nervous system, and facilitates the body’s innate healing process. I want as many people as possible to experience this! After competing Massage Therapy School, I immediately enrolled in Foundations of Herbalism course so that I can learn more about plant medicine. I believe nature provides us with healing elements and started making tinctures and balms. I began offering these products as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Sedona is a very popular tourist destination and I know that they would be curious about checking out popular spots like Uptown Sedona and some of the well know hikes and vortex. However, I would also take them to the surrounding areas like Old Town Cottonwood which has wonderful restaurants and wineries; a ghost hunt tour in Jerome; and fly fishing in the White Mountains of Arizona. Of course there are some “secret” hiking spots I would take my friends to and they have to keep it a secret as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a Shoutout to my husband, Robert. Taking risks and chances in life is how Robert and I started our relationship. When we met, we lived thousands of miles apart. He had his work in Los Angeles, and I had mine in Idaho – most importantly, I was raising my son from my first marriage. I made it clear that I was staying in Idaho until my son graduated from high school – he was 10 years old at at that time. Robert and I had a long distance marriage for 7 years and we made it work. After my son graduated from high school, he moved to California to attend college. That’s when Robert and I settled down in Sedona in 2020, finally living under the same roof. Did I mention that we got engaged on our first date, and married 6 months later?

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