Today we’d like to introduce you to Narayan Johnson.
Hi Narayan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Minnesota with a natural affinity for touch — an intuitive knowing that connection, presence, and hands-on care could bring comfort and healing. Even before I graduated high school, I felt called to become a massage therapist. That certainty, shaped by my own early experiences of loss, set the foundation for the work I do today. Losing my father at a young age opened a lifelong exploration of spirituality and psychology, both of which continue to guide how I understand healing and the human experience.
After college, I began my massage career as a volunteer at a healthcare center serving patients with AIDS. That time taught me profound lessons about compassion, dignity, and the resilience of the human spirit. From there, I moved into a salon and spa environment, studying aromatherapy and Ayurvedic treatments — modalities that deepened my connection to holistic wellness.
My journey eventually led me to California, where I immersed myself in advanced studies including Structural Myofascial Reintegration, Sports Massage, and a blend of Thai and Shiatsu floor techniques. I worked in various clinics and spa settings, expanding my skills and integrating each new philosophy and modality into my practice. In 2014, I completed my yoga teacher training and later became a Reiki Master, bringing all of my healing disciplines into alignment.
I created Purogative as an intentional, nurturing space where clients can let go, breathe deeply, and reconnect with peace through hands-on healing. It is the culmination of everything I have lived, studied, and devoted my heart to — a place where healing is approached with presence, intuition, and love.
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?
Although my journey has been filled with extraordinary experiences, it has also guided me through some of the deepest initiations of my life. I faced several significant health challenges, one that brought me down to 90 pounds, leading to a near-death experience. That period required me to dig deeply into the holistic practices I believe
in — not as a practitioner, but as a patient of life. Yet even in that darkness, something awakened. I was called to turn inward — not as a practitioner, but as a student of my own soul. The holistic practices I had devoted my life to suddenly became pathways of self-realization, and the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda illuminated a clarity and peace that carried me through my healing. What could have been an ending instead became an initiation into a higher level of awareness, shifting me from surviving to consciously evolving.
During the most extreme phase of my illness, I had to make the challenging decision to move my family back to Minnesota for both medical and family support. At the same time, I was navigating a marital separation and eventual divorce. My children and I lost most of our belongings, along with many of the close connections we had built in California. Yet even in those moments of uncertainty, I discovered profound truths: that healing is not just physical, that rebuilding can be an act of empowerment, and that love, intention, and faith can create new beginnings out of what once felt like endings. These experiences expanded my compassion, deepened my purpose, and taught me that every challenge carries the potential for awakening — if we are willing to meet it with openness and grace.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Today, I run a private practice where I integrate a wide range of massage modalities, energy-healing techniques, yoga principles, and meditative practices. My approach is both holistic and intuitive — treating each client not simply as a body, but as a whole person with a story, a history, and a unique energetic landscape.
My sessions are known for their calming, nurturing quality. I specialize in creating a serene environment where clients can drop into stillness, unwind tension, and experience meaningful transformation. By blending modalities — from myofascial work to Reiki to meditative touch — I customize every treatment to support the specific needs and goals of the individual.
I am deeply influenced by teachers such as Thich Nhat Hanh and Paramahansa Yogananda, whose teachings on self-awareness and inner stillness continue to guide my personal and professional path. My background in the healing arts has shaped me into a compassionate, intuitive practitioner — someone devoted to bringing connection, peace, and grounding to every person who walks through my door.
Looking ahead, I plan to offer half- and full-day healing immersions that combine multiple modalities, including yoga, massage, sauna sessions, hot stone therapy, nutrition consultations, and coaching. My goal is to create experiences that support profound lifestyle change and sustained wellbeing.
At the heart of my work is a simple truth:
Healing begins with love — for ourselves, for one another, and for the life we are living.
My work is rooted in presence, intention, and soulful touch. Every service I offer is designed to support healing on all levels — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. My practice is not just about massage or energy work; it is about creating a safe, nurturing environment where deep rest, reconnection, and transformation can unfold.
My offerings are an integrative blend of bodywork, energy work, yoga principles, and meditation. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all method, I meet each client exactly where they are. My focus is always on helping them soften, unwind, and come home to themselves.
Most importantly, my intention is genuine. I believe touch is a powerful form of communication — a way of offering comfort, grounding, and healing. My guiding philosophy is expressed in my business tagline:
“Through our hands, we project our hearts.”
When someone comes to see me, I want them to feel cared for, seen, and supported. I want them to leave feeling lighter, more centered, and more connected to the love and peace that already exist within them.
What matters most to you? Why?
Love is at the center of my work, healing philosophy, and purpose.
I believe that love is the truth of who we are and that every person’s life is proof that love exists. This belief guides every aspect of my practice — from the way I touch, to the environment created, to the energy held for each client. My intention is always to meet others with compassion, presence, and genuine care, so they may reconnect with the love, wholeness, and peace that already reside within them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purogative.com
- Instagram: @simpleyogagirl
