We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Maureen Hughes and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Maureen, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What battle are you avoiding?
I’ve been avoiding doing filming of all of my work. I have been perfecting my craft for the last 11 years, and it’s about time for me to just put myself out there as a Professional Thai Massage Therapist. I have always prided myself on being to explain just about anything to anybody when it comes to health and wellness. But creating and editing videos is so painful for me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a practitioner of the ancient healing art of Thai Massage — a holistic and esoteric practice that helps open the body’s energy systems, restore balance, and promote overall well-being. This work not only allows me to facilitate deep healing for others but also keeps me connected, grounded, and physically engaged in the process.
In addition to my massage practice, I am an ordained minister and wellness educator, offering a range of integrative strategies to help individuals release limiting beliefs and cultivate lasting happiness and harmony in their lives.
I founded Total Harmony Integrated Wellness in 2014, originally as a yoga education platform, but the vision has since evolved into a comprehensive holistic practice encompassing Thai massage, mindfulness, and personal transformation. For seven years, I directed a Thai Massage–based continuing education program under the SomaVeda® teachings, training practitioners to combine traditional techniques with modern therapeutic understanding.
My mission is to help people reconnect with their natural state of balance — physically, mentally, and spiritually — through the timeless wisdom of Thai healing arts and integrative wellness practices. I would also love to see Thai massage become a topic of conversation in every household.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors who have shaped both my professional and personal growth. My father instilled in me a strong work ethic, the value of creative problem-solving, and even a few lessons in strategy — from the principles of the barter system to the nuances of poker. Later, my PhD advisor, Dr. Barry P. Sleckman, taught me the importance of presence and confidence when delivering presentations and lectures — skills that proved invaluable during my previous career in biotechnology sales.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Throughout my life, I have experienced many challenges and lessons, most of which have revolved around deep personal inquiry. I have faced long-term struggles with depression and addiction, and for a time, I believed that a lasting relationship would resolve these struggles. In reality, it did not — and, in some ways, it intensified them.
Through these experiences, I have come to understand that healing is an ongoing practice, marked by both steady progress and plateaus. Each new situation provides an opportunity to uncover and address the beliefs that require transformation.
Over the years, I have explored numerous modalities and worked with many practitioners, but one method that has profoundly shaped my journey is Choose Again: The Six Steps to Personal Freedom. Whenever I notice my mind drifting into self-defeat or negative self-talk, I remind myself of a fundamental lesson from this method: that I am inherently pure love, and that every experience — even the difficult ones — is ultimately for my growth and healing.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest misconceptions in wellness today is the idea that we should focus solely on “positive vibes” — that negative emotions or differing perspectives are somehow unwelcome. Equally pervasive is the myth that strength and fitness are reserved for young, skinny women. At age 50, I’ve had men criticize my appearance and suggest I should feel ashamed of my body. I have to ask: what year is this — 1950?
I’m also deeply concerned about the growing trend of coaching around psychedelics. Very few people have undertaken the depth of self-inquiry, training, or experience required to guide someone safely through such profound experiences. Approaching this work without rigorous preparation can be not only ineffective, but potentially harmful.
Wellness, in my view, is about authenticity, inclusivity, and responsibility — embracing the full spectrum of human experience rather than adhering to narrow cultural myths or trends.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I’ve always been something of a lone wolf, not naturally inclined toward teamwork. I recognize that this stems from patterns formed in response to childhood trauma. Over the years, this tendency toward control has sometimes pushed away incredible people or caused others to keep me at arm’s length.
At my core, my intention has always been to help others. I have a deep capacity to see into people’s experiences, and often, that level of insight can be uncomfortable for them — even when it comes from a place of genuine care. Navigating that dynamic has been one of the most important lessons of both my personal and professional life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.totalharmony.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maureen_hughes_yoga/?hl=en/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-hughes-phd-lmt-9710a95/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalharmony11
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/total-harmony-integrated-wellness-st-louis/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@totalharmonyiw/
- Other: http://www.marinehues1976.com
Image Credits
Blaine Schanter, Jeanette Falu-Bishop
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