In the sprawling, often cacophonous world of wellness, Paula Vail operates with a serene and steady confidence. As an award-winning author, the host of the popular TV and radio show “Elevating Your Life,” and a dedicated Reiki Master and Teacher, she has built a career on a simple, yet profoundly radical, question: “Why Am I So Happy?”. This isn’t a rhetorical boast; it’s a genuine inquiry, the central theme of her work and the title of her transformative book. It’s a question she has spent the last 25 years answering, not just for herself, but for a global audience of millions.
Her journey is not one of a lifelong guru who grew up in an ashram. It is the far more relatable story of a seasoned entrepreneur who found her true calling through an unexpected crisis. For 27 years, she navigated the high-stress, relentless pace of the restaurant industry, a world that honed her business acumen and instilled in her a deep passion for service. But her most significant transformation didn’t happen in a boardroom or a bustling kitchen. It began with her beloved dog, Shotzy, and a health scare that would reroute the entire trajectory of her life, leading her from the tangible world of profit and loss to the subtle, powerful realm of energy, healing, and holistic well-being.
The Unexpected Catalyst
For nearly three decades, Paula Vail’s life was steeped in the restaurant business. She started as a worker and eventually became an owner, a journey that fostered a profound respect for the entrepreneurial spirit and the art of human connection. It was a demanding, all-consuming career that taught her the value of persistent hard work and the power of focused visualization, especially when she faced the financial challenges common to so many small business owners.
Then, 25 years ago, her dog, Shotzy, fell ill. In the search for something, anything, to help her companion, she discovered the gentle, non-invasive practice of Reiki. It was a life-altering encounter. She immersed herself in its practice, its research, and eventually, its teaching. What began as an act of love for her pet became a deep, personal calling. The skills she had honed in the restaurant world, service, connection, resilience, were not abandoned; they were repurposed. She had found a new way to serve, a new way to connect, and a new product to offer: not food for the body, but nourishment for the soul.
From Kitchen to Microphone
For years, Paula’s work was a quiet practice. Then, nine years ago, a radio network took notice of her unique perspective and invited her to host a show. This was the moment her private passion became a public platform. It was a chance to amplify the stories of other inspiring individuals, to share the principles of wellness with a much broader audience. She views her role as a broadcaster as a gift, an opportunity to facilitate positive change through information, inspiration, and the power of manifestation.
Her platform, “Wellness Inspired,” and her TV and radio show, “Elevating Your Life” on KMET 1490 AM, became conduits for this mission. She brought on guests from around the globe, creating a space for engaging conversations on mindfulness, health, and personal growth. The goal was simple: to champion the idea that well-being, in both its physical and emotional forms, is accessible to everyone. The same word-of-mouth marketing strategy she had relied on to fill her restaurant was now filling the airwaves with a message of hope and empowerment.
The Vibration of Wellness
What sets Paula apart in a crowded media landscape is her seamless integration of her skills as a Reiki Master into her presence as a host. She understands that Reiki works by elevating vibrational frequencies, and she has found that this effect translates through the microphone and the camera. Guests and audience members often report feeling a tangible surge of positive energy after her shows, a phenomenon she attributes to Reiki’s ability to brighten and raise the ambient energy of any space, virtual or physical. She doesn’t just talk about wellness; she actively transmits it.
While she has received numerous accolades, including features in Times Square as a Pinnacle Professional by Continental Who’s Who and being named “Empowered Woman of 2019” by the International Association of Top Professionals (IOATP), she says her most treasured moments come from the joy and inspiration she derives from her interactions with her remarkable guests. To keep her audience engaged, she offers a wide range of topics and asks unique, heartfelt questions, aiming to create a sense of genuine care and appreciation for everyone who tunes in.
The Architecture of Happiness
At the core of Paula’s work is a desire to provide tangible tools for a better life. Her book, “Why Am I So Happy?” is a practical roadmap to unlocking inner joy. Drawing from her own life experiences, from the stress of business ownership to the peace of her wellness practice—she offers strategies to counteract negativity and cultivate happiness through conscious choices. It is a guide for navigating the challenges of modern life, extending beyond simple workplace happiness to a more holistic and fulfilling existence.
Her work has been recognized in a variety of prestigious publications, including Publisher’s Weekly, The New York Daily, and twice on the cover of “Women of Distinction Magazine.” Her inclusion in the 2021 biographical listings of MARQUIS WHO’S WHO further cements her status as a significant contributor to her field. But for Paula, the goal is always to connect on a human level. She often shares her own stories of adversity to demonstrate to her audience that everyone faces challenges and that hope is always present.
The Authenticity Mandate
Two key pieces of advice have served as lode stars on Paula’s journey. The first came from a shaman, who affirmed her Reiki practice and gave her the confidence to pursue it fully. The second came from a friend, who offered the simple but profound encouragement to “just be you.” This belief in the power of individual authenticity has become the bedrock of her brand and her life.
She encourages others to find their own paths to well-being, whether it’s through mindfulness, calming breaths, or engaging in personal “happiness triggers.” She believes in the collective impact of positive, caring individuals working together to create a better world. Looking to the future, she anticipates the continued expansion of Reiki and other healing modalities into mainstream settings like hospitals. Her own future endeavors are a reflection of her ever-expanding mission: a book about angels, a film based on her book, and several television interviews. It is a journey of an ever-widening circle of positive influence, all stemming from a single, authentic source.
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