Miria Aman, a 53-year-old massage therapist, business owner, and mother of two teenagers, has navigated a turbulent life journey spanning from Bukittinggi, Indonesia, to London and eventually New Zealand, according to an interview in the Finances after Fifty series.
Early Upbringing and the Move to London
Aman grew up in Bukittinggi, Indonesia, raised by her mother—a trained pharmacist who frequently gave away medicine to those who could not afford it, according to the profile by Julie Hill. Her mother utilized entrepreneurial instincts, establishing a guesthouse from basic local lodging that eventually earned a mention in the Lonely Planet guide. At age nine, Aman was left briefly to manage the guesthouse before her mother returned from Bali with a partner named Jonathan, prompting a relocation to London.
According to Aman, arriving in London was a stark shock characterized by freezing weather and overt racism. Facing language barriers and hostility, she frequently landed in detention at school until an art teacher, Mr. Lloyd, engaged her with drawing materials. By illustrating her childhood memories of beaches, volcanoes, and coconut trees, Aman displayed her background on the school walls, shifting her social standing.
From Homelessness to Television Production
After a family dispute prompted a temporary return to Indonesia and Jonathan subsequently vanished upon their return to London, Aman and her mother experienced homelessness at Victoria Station in freezing conditions. Following these hardships, Aman’s mother met a man named George, whose alcoholism and violence ultimately required a legal injunction and a move to an East End council house, according to Aman’s account.
Aman studied at Exeter University and later worked a part-time job at Spitalfields Market selling Indonesian food. That role connected her with Bafta-winning television producer Sandra Hastie, who worked on the children’s programme Press Gang. Starting as an assistant, Aman advanced to a third assistant director (AD), working in a high-pressure environment she likened to The Devil Wears Prada. After three years, fearing burnout, she left the television industry.
Pivoting to Wellness and Entrepreneurship
Recognizing a market gap for mobile wellness services, Aman launched her first company, Stress Angels, providing on-site massage before the practice was widespread, according to the published interview. She secured early corporate investment and repaid the loan within a year, hauling a portable massage chair through the London Underground and visiting offices and homes.
Seeking formal validation in a Western medical and wellness landscape, Aman studied Swedish massage, sports massage, trigger point therapy, the Alexander technique, and kinesiology. After relocating to Australia with her partner and later to New Zealand—prompted by her then-husband’s home country and following her mother’s death in 2003—she established a specialized wellness practice in Milford, Auckland, named Empowering Wellness. Today, she focuses on lymphatic drainage, pregnancy massage, breast health, and pre- and post-operative care.
Financial Realities and Investment Strategies After Fifty
Having received no early financial education, Aman began exploring financial literacy later in life after listening to the podcast The Happy Saver hosted by Ruth Henderson, according to the source profile. Following a divorce and the sale of a shared home, Aman found herself renting in New Zealand. Because bank mortgage lending criteria for self-employed applicants restricted her borrowing power despite two years of trying, she adjusted her strategy.
Aman redirected her capital into long-term investments and mandated contributions to KiwiSaver. Confronting client bereavements in her wellness practice has heightened her awareness of mortality, reinforcing her primary goal to assist clients before she goes out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Miria Aman?
Miria Aman is a 53-year-old massage therapist, business owner, and mother of two teenagers based in Milford, Auckland, who operates the wellness business Empowering Wellness.
What services does Empowering Wellness offer?
Empowering Wellness specializes in lymphatic drainage, breast health, pregnancy massage, and pre- and post-operative care, alongside targeted bodywork.
How did Aman approach homeownership after her divorce?
After separating from her husband and finding that bank lending criteria for self-employed individuals prevented her from securing a mortgage, Aman chose to direct her funds into long-term investments and KiwiSaver.
Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on shifting financial strategies and career paths later in life? Leave a comment below, share this article with your network, or subscribe to our newsletter for more real-life financial journeys.
Worth a look