About Project Gorgeous
Serving the Indianapolis area through acupuncture and herbs, stretching, coaching & skincare.
“Stay true to you and vibe high, because you are worthy of being seen and feeling loved.” ~Marianne Talkovski
What is the inspiration behind Project Gorgeous?
When I was a kid, I was often told I would struggle with my weight. In school, kids would whisper about my looks because I was one of the few kids from a different ethnic background. Because of these experiences, I struggled with body dysmorphia and an eating disorder from the ages of 14 – 24. I managed to stop these dysfunctional behaviors but continued to hide and doubt myself for 15 more years…until NOW. Through my dedicated search for healing and what I have learned through my practice as a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and esthetician, I am compelled and committed to share my tips on nutrition, skincare, holistic health & beauty rituals and mindset practices that have helped me overcome my insecurities and doubts. My mission is to help anyone that feels unattractive let their rebel beauty outshine their inner critic. This is something I work on everyday and want you to know that if you feel unattractive, unhealthy or tired from societal pressures and standards about how you “should” look…
I’m your cheerleader, accountability partner, practitioner and coach! Book HERE for your first treatment.
Who are you?
My name is Marianne, (like Gilligan’s Island) and I am a licensed acupuncturist, certified life and health coach, yogi and beauty consultant. I offer a variety of services to support your healing journey. I focus on creating a therapeutic relationship with you by teaching you how to heal, balance, love and style your body. If you’re looking for a tour guide for your total wellness, health and beauty, I’m your gal! PS. I promise you won’t get stuck on a deserted island, unless that is part of what you desire for your journey…
How can you help me?
Have you ever noticed that life seems to get busier and busier, you haven’t had a chance to take a break or rest, you have emails, text messages and voicemails that are piling up and you’re starting to feel aches and pains you haven’t noticed before? Or the weight is creeping up and you have no energy, no matter how much sleep you get?
Well my goal is to help you schedule an appointment with yourself where you can hit the pause button and get some serious reflection time in so we can come up with a solution together for you to experience more balance and harmony in your life.
I always say that “when we as humans restore, we are able to give more”…or at least show up as better versions of ourselves for our loved ones and others that really need extra love (I’m talking about that angry person that cut you off in traffic or the miserable person that was not so helpful behind the counter…).
So when you book a session with me, I use every tool in my kit to help you claim your deepest desires and denounce your greatest fears. I ask you questions to investigate what is at the root of your pain, imbalances or dis-ease and together we come up with solutions and action steps. It’s possible that you will leave with exercises on breathing, nutrition, other ideas or even a mantra to focus on. And finally, you get an objective, supportive cheerleader that offers perspective or a listening ear to help you through your transformation!
What kind of clients do you see?
I see people who are open-minded, curious and focused on growth in their personal lives and business. They want to be proactive about their health – they just don’t know what steps to take to reach their goals. They are open-minded souls that want to honor their bodies…or they need a gentle reminder to do so because somehow they fell off the wagon…or they are completely curious about sitting still, relaxing and letting their bodies use its own resources for healing.
They sometimes struggle with confidence and could use a boost in their self image. They have big goals and dreams or know they are meant to experience more in this life. They play 100% full out when it comes to doing the work, even if it can get tough sometimes.
When it comes to beauty, they are proactive about healthy aging and understand that preventive measures are easier to invest in than corrective measures. They accept that beauty is a reflection of health. They may or may not feel comfortable being vulnerable and somehow trust they can let their burdens out in our sessions. And they recognize they feel better when they do.
What makes you unique from other coaches?
I have many tools in my toolbox that I access from my 9+ years as an acupuncturist, 11+ years as an esthetician and 4 years as a health & life coach.
When it comes to your physical health, I look at the your face as a map and the issues in your tissues to investigate what is not functioning well in your body. You gain access to many insights and fresh new perspectives on nutrition, self-care and neurology through my health coaching programs. These programs are tailored specifically for you should you suffer from sugar addiction, adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalances, etc.
When it comes to your spiritual health, I coach you to upgrade your self-image by tapping into where you are now, where you want to be, what is holding you back so you can step forward with the many special techniques I have researched, learned and utilized in my acupuncture, facial and coaching practices. This is all curated with the intention that you can bring your best gifts from within to the physical world for others to experience.
When it comes to your beauty and style, I am your spiritual makeover artist. We explore together how you want to feel, what your deepest desires are and I create a look with skincare, makeup, spiritual expression through wardrobe, etc that you are happiest duplicating to manifest your biggest dreams. Those dreams could look like dressing to attract your dream job, life partner or to finally stop playing small because you think you are too big in size. I am extremely passionate about helping you live your life to the fullest, in style with a huge smile!
Why & how do I set up time for self-care?
“An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.” ~Author unknown.
We all have a purpose in life and to set ourselves up for success in discovering that purpose, we need allow ourselves to heal. Sometimes there is too much noise, distraction, or overwhelming stimulations that can stop you from truly understanding what needs to heal – whether it is old patterns from childhood, injuries, bad choices, traumas, etc or current habits that keep you stuck. When you allow yourself that sacred space to heal and prioritize your self-care, you can show up better for yourself, your family, friends and for others that need a shining example. You have one life to live, so why not be in control of your experiences? You can prevent your body from developing imbalances. The only thing that is consistent in life is change AND you have the power to age healthfully with grace.
I truly and wholeheartedly believe that when you are taking care of yourself, you are living your best life. My most successful and happy clients are those that prioritize and invest in their self-care.
Book a discovery session, Chinese Face mapping session, acupuncture session or nutrition/herbal consultation to prioritize and invest in YOU.
Ten short random facts about Marianne:
Marianne’s experience includes:
A bachelor’s in International Business
A Master’s in Chinese Medicine
Esthetics training in Maui
Apprenticeship under skin care guru Ling Chan in New York City
Winner of highest increase in sales for existing customers for Eminence Organics in 2014 and 2017
Winner of best in customer education for Eminence Organics in 2017
Winner of company core values for Eminence Organics in 2017
Extensive retail sales experience in various environments, from boutiques to resorts
Continued education in business, skin care, nutrition and holistic health/medicine
Marianne is a licensed acupuncturist and esthetician specializing in facial rejuvenation and Chinese face reading. She is very passionate about organic skin care and holistic nutrition, so much so that she is also a skincare educator for top resorts and spas. Her main goal with her clients is to help each of them feel beautiful, from the inside-out.
1.) Marianne has lived in a city, suburb, on an island, in the country and overseas.
2.) Marianne has studied esthetics in Maui and was known for her hot rocks facials.
3.) Marianne has been a poster child for Wells Fargo.
4.) Marianne has trained under one of the toughest skin care gurus in NYC – Ling Chan of Ling Skin Care.
5.) Marianne is obsessed with faces. So much that she studied with Lillian Bridges, the world’s leading authority on Chinese Face Reading since 2010.
6.) Marianne has 2 chi-weenies – one named Pepé la Pew (Pepé for short) and one named Jelly. They spoon in harmony, so much so that she deemed them #yinyangchiweenies. She also has a daughter named Jasmine who is newborn fan of Eminence.
7.) Marianne has at least 4 different types of laughs.
8.) Marianne believes that prevention is easier than correction and health = beauty, so her practice has a special focus on healthy aging.
9.) Marianne also believes that we can manifest whatever we desire, and sometimes we have to detox, balance or build ourselves up to create space for our manifestations.
10.) Marianne has walked on fire at Tony Robbin’s Unleash the Power Within conference and is committed to constantly upgrading her skills, talents and goals to be the best support and guide for you!
What do all the credentials mean?
L.E.
This designation means that your practitioner has been granted a state license to practice esthetics only.
L.Ac.
This designation means that your practitioner has been granted a state license to practice acupuncture only. It does not include Board Certification or extensive additional training.
Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
This designation means that your practitioner has completed approximately 3000 hours of training in acupuncture and oriental medicine. This usually includes education in acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, moxibustion, heat therapy, massage, and other therapies that are a part of traditional Chinese medicine. It also indicates that the practitioner has 2 years training as an intern, and that he or she has passed a rigorous national medical board exam. Continuing education is also required each license term, before renewal is granted. These practitioners also have the L. Ac. designation. NCCAOM stands for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. These practitioners are the most highly trained acupuncturists.
M. S. T. O. M.
These designations indicate graduation from a certified acupuncture medical school that hold a master’s in science of traditional Oriental medicine. These practitioners also hold an NCCAOM certification.
Licenses, Credentials & Education
Licenses and Credentials:
Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine, Pacific College, NY
NY, MO, IN State Licensed Acupuncturist and Board Certified Chinese Herbalist
NY, MO, IN State Licensed Esthetician
BA in International Business
Education: