East End Woman Trades Desk Job for Health & Wellness Adventure

Emily Escalante spent 20 years as a graphic designer, deciding this year to make a major life change by opening up East End Eden, a health and wellness center located in East Liberty.

“In 2008, there was a lot less opportunity anyway,” Escalante of Highland Park said of the economy. “After some soul searching and teaching preschool for a year, I decided what I really wanted to do was go to massage therapy school and I really like working with people.”

With two children who both attend the in Regent Square, she also was looking for a career with a little more flexibility. After attending the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy, she joined three friends from school to open East End Eden in January.

“I am interested in health and wellness—I am not a shining star example but that’s what makes it accessible,” Escalante said. “I am flawed and have a sense of humor and I think people can relate to that.”

The wide open office is decorated in white and airy furniture with different private rooms for massage. Everyone at East End Eden is a private practitioner sharing the same space. The business also has two health coaches, provides regular workshops, a life coach, a medium, intuitive counselor, reiki and more. Also, Escalante enjoys teaching young business owners about financing as well.

“We all work for ourselves and get to collaborate on ideas and training and I feel like working together, we can do so much more than working separately,” Escalante said. “In three months, we have already seen that and it’s so exciting. It all unfolded really quickly and I think that shows we were on the right track.”

Escalante has enjoyed the change of pace and the chance to step away from a desk job at a computer.

“The most rewarding thing has been starting my private practice and meeting people and helping them,” she said. “I get as much out of it as they do and it’s super exciting to be in East Liberty right now. It feels great to be a part of something really exciting in Pittsburgh.”

Another major bonus—scoring a great office space with a good vibe.

“I always feel really calm as soon as I walk in the door,” she said.

For more information, visit http://www.eastendedenpgh.com/.