Massage Therapist, Business Owner, Bali, Indonesia

It’s not every day that you hear someone say: “I once massaged the daughter of Yuri Gagarin. She is really a wonderful person”. My interest was peaked when I got to know Ms. Ni Putu Pitriani, her wit and sense of humour shining as bright as her smile. Strong personality and sass slayed me further when she proceeded to tell me about exploring Moscow in sub-freezing temperatures. She also learned Russian and got friendly with pelmeni, borscht and other staples of the Eastern European cuisine while living in Moscow. This Balinese WOW Woman is tough as nails and a softie at heart. She brings dedication to her craft and takes pride in her business.

Pitriani’s story is a glimpse into a life of a hard-working Indonesian woman who doesn’t stop at anything to provide for her family, to support her ailing father and to ensure her mother retires in peace.

1 . Name

My name is Ni Putu Pitriani.

2. Where is your hometown?

My hometown, the place I love the most, is a small village by the name of Jagapati, in the Badung Regency, in Bali, Indonesia.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?

I work for myself. I am a massage therapist. My usual routine is wake up around 6 AM, exercise (or sport as I say it), which increases my strength and makes me more energetic. You see, I work with my hands, and I need to stay strong. I feel like I have more power when I exercise. I start my work around 10 AM and carry on until 9 PM. It’s a little bit hard, but I love my job.

4. What did you study in school? Did it help you in your life/career?

I finished high school. I have “medium school” as they call it here in Bali. I had one teacher who made a lasting impact on me. She was really good and because of her I learned to love English. I studied hard for her and learned a lot more as a result of her class. This foundation helped me to continue my practice of English with my clients (mainly tourists).

I took courses for massage practice, to learn how to properly do it. But I must say that it was my grandpa who was a massage therapist in the family. He was a natural haler and I’d like to think that I took after him. It was easy skill for me to learn because maybe it was passed down through generations. I don’t want to boast but many clients say that I have intuition about healing.

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of. Was there a moment that changed your life? What was the decision that set you on the current path in life? How did you get from your hometown to the current town - talk about your journey?

My life changed after my divorce. I all of a sudden was left with my child, my daughter, (who is now 15 years old by the way). Unfortunately my husband left me with a lot of debt and I had to make serious decisions for my family. Since nothing major was coming up in Bali, I chose to take an amazing opportunity to be able to provide for my family by taking a job far away. Through connections I discovered that an upscale spa in Moscow needed professional therapists and I applied. Four of us went there and spent four years in Russia.

I succeeded in clearing my debt, made extra money and was able to start my own business back in Bali. Working abroad was challenging of course. It was also my first time out of the country. Imagine, the winters get to about -35’Celsius. (-31 F) and some of my Indonesian coworkers couldn’t deal with the cold. Several left the country soon after the winter started. It was so cold for them, their noses would constantly bleed. Just not used to it after coming from Bali where the average temperature is 30’C (86 F).

But me personally, I enjoyed the experience of being in another world. I loved the Moscow subways, the beautiful architecture and explored a lot in the city. Of course being away from my daughter was the hardest thing. Especially since this was before skype or what’s app video calls. Working abroad opened my mind and my heart to new experiences and opportunities.

Of course the biggest benefit was clearing my debts back in Bali. Doing hard things is worth it if the result is finding an opportunity or job that you love. I love being a massage therapist. I think I’m a therapist in many senses of that word. I meet so many different people and help them not just physically but also listen to them vent and talk about their problems. I’m also mental therapist in many ways.

I also love making my beautiful daughter proud, of her business woman mother. Watching her grow up healthy and providing for her makes me extremely proud.

Finally, I like to be able to manage myself and I like working for myself so much. I don’t want anyone telling me when to start work and when to finish. I like to arrange my time and schedule for myself. Ok, yes, the first time I was scared a little bit, but I kept telling myself, YOU CAN DO IT! I believed in myself and I started. I rented out the current building for the first three years (paying all in cash by the way) and now I pay monthly rent and live my life.

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

I was a kid at 20, although in many ways I was also an adult. I started working at 14, helping my auntie in her painting business. But since 20, time changed me a lot. Who I am now has changed. I wasn’t wise before and I learned so much about life.

I never would have believed that I would be working with so many different and interesting people. I think I would not have been too surprised if you told me back then that I would be a successful massage therapist for 11 years and four of those years I would be my own boss and a business owner.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down (did you have a life changing difficult moment) or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

It was difficult for me to pay for our loans after my divorce. The opportunity in Moscow was a hard decision. When it came up I chose to do it, for myself and my daughter. You see, my daughter was six years old at the time. But maybe because she is my daughter, she was also strong. She is a strong kid and we both survived. Four years I spent in Russia.

Another hard moment for me was my dad passing away. He was the strength of my life, my hero. It’s been one year since he left us.

Life must go on. I must continue and carry on. I am grateful for my life and my health and for my family.

8. Advice for other women? (maybe some advice for your daughter in the future?)

Be strong and love yourself. Be brave and whenever situation arises, don’t be afraid to discuss with your family and friends. Every problem has a solution. Share affection and love with others. I know you are strong, and will find happiness with yourself. I am proud of you.

9. Can women be all that we want to be? Can we achieve greatness? Do you think you're a feminist?

All women can reach their dreams, anyone can, in Indonesia or in USA. Just choose to do it and make the first step. We are strong enough and brave enough. As women our feminine energy is important, but for the balance I think it’s fine to have masculine energy around as well; for stability and harmony.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

I love being in nature, floating in clear water and swimming in Bali. I love going on vacation with my daughter, friends and bigger family. I love vacationing in Singaraja, a Northern Balinese city on the Java Sea. We always try to find new places to visit, new beaches and nature.

However I try to find happiness wherever I am, because happiness we create and it doesn’t depend on any one place.

11. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

I like to ride my old Vespa. It makes me fell relaxed, classy, easy and calm. Going together with my daughter is so wonderful.

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

My top priority is to seek freedom (to choose my own adventure) and happiness (always staying positive). That is my priority. I also want to be as healthy as possible; to always be me. I just wanna live a happy life.

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

Fear of getting older where I can't work anymore.

14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another life to live?

I wouldn’t change anything. But I would find a nicer husband if I had another life to live.

15. What inspires you?

My mom she is patient and strong. She is the role model for me. She took care of my dad for nine years, while he was sick. I watched her big heart and her ever expanding love for my father. She is quiet but strong.

16. What are you hopeful about?

For my business - I hope to own my own place of practice. That’s my plan, to own something, no more rent!

For my daughter, I want to live with her next. Right now she is going to school in the village and I’m working in another part of Bali, and visiting on the weekends.

For myself, I want live my life happy. And make people happy.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life? Has the global pandemic changed your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?

Love, friends, communicating with and learning from people, laughter, family. These will help you find a solution to every problem.

Good thing about pandemic was having more time with my family. But economics, having slow business and less income - this is the hardest part.

19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Be strong when dealing with life’s hardships, be brave when dealing with setbacks, be nice to others and grateful for your blessings. I love that 14-year old so much, that young woman. I would cut that girl some slack too. That girl was already working because she had to help the family and her sick mother.

I would also tell that girl to try and play outside more, don’t play with the phone, and be in nature more.

20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

My favourite book is Secret by Rhonda Byrne. It’s my favourite book because it helped me realize that I just need to be a magnet for the positive and good people in my life will follow.

21. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, why you admire them?

My mom is the strongest woman I know. For me all women are strong and are WOW Women. We all have something special about us, we are brave and strong.

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

Found me on Google maps: Putu's Massage & Spa. That my place.

You can also find me on Instagram: @linananta

Bonus questions:

1. How did you become brave and where did you get confidence from?

I became brave because I needed to be brave for my daughter, for my family, and brave for myself. I learned this from my mom. When you have a child to provide for, I promise you, you will find strength and confidence, where you didn’t imagine before.

2. How/why/when did you open your own business?

I opened my small business four years ago because I said on my self I can do it. I believed that I could do the best job. The main reason was I could work for myself and that ability afforded me time for me and my family. I wanted to feel free.

3. What is your dream?

My dream is to have a new place of business that I own; a new home for myself where I don’t have to lease or rent and where I can live with my daughter.

4. What does your name mean? Where did it come from?

My parent gave that name because that was I born on idul fitri and pitri means “holy”. My name: Ni Putu Pitriani.

Ni - for a women (Ne for a man)

Putu - means “first born” child

5. Who are your mentors? Women / men?

My clients are my mentors because sometimes we talk and share and I learn from them.

6. What do you not want anyone else to know about you?

I guess I don’t want people to notice when I’m sad. I have to be positive for my job and I try to always hide it when I’m not feeling great.

7. If you didn't have to work anymore what would you do with your days?

I would travel around my country, explore Indonesia.

8. What bothers you most about other people? What do you love most about other people?

Angry and annoying people - don’t like them and try to stay away from them.

I love when people are respectful and loving. I appreciate those who try to be happy and make a difference in the world. I know that we can’t all be happy all the time, but we at least have to try.