Today we’d like to introduce you to JennieRuth.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is JennieRuth. I am a 500hr yoga teacher, Reiki master, and Sound Healing Practitioner. Sometimes one at a time, and recently being able to combine all three. As my age entered the “year of 60” in 2023, I have been applying two words; courage and abundance.
An adventure-filled upbringing in Ohio as one of 4 children. Our father was a Dr. of Theology (the study of the nature of God and religious belief) and our mother is a watercolor, theatre, and singing artist. As our father taught and lectured throughout the world, we eventually settled in St. Cloud, MN where he was called to parish ministry. I followed what I knew by studying music, languages, theatre, education, religion, and spirituality. This childhood laid the foundation for all of the next chapters in my life.
Falling in love and raising a family in rural central Minnesota was quite a change for me, being 15 minutes from the closest town. Working in the local school district and church, I was able to dedicate my time as a community parent as my husband traveled for work with his construction job. That was my entire world for 23 years.
My yoga journey began in the fall of 2016 as an empty nest was approaching. Yoga helped me find balance during a time of immense transition. In 2020 I found a wonderful and nurturing studio in Azitala in Elk River where I began the yoga education journey. Eventually included yoga teaching, Reiki, Sound Healing, and advanced yoga teacher training, enjoying teaching there and in several different locations, and yoga retreats.
2023 begins with courage. I decided to call and email all the local yoga studios, wellness centers, gyms, and event centers, to launch the Sound Healing portion of my business. Encouraged by a few positive interactions, I added some monthly sound bath and live drumming events to my schedule, traveling with a vehicle filled with instruments collected over the years.
Imagining it would be a slow climb, I had a couple of friends and my family encouraging me to a healing room, and many shelves were added and filled with instruments to our previous office space. I had begun working with private clients and recorded weekly meditations with sound healing combinations for a client in Hawaii that was a high school classmate. We reconnected at our 40th reunion and he listened to me as I told him my plans in my usual animated delivery. We scheduled a business trip for Spring to work with him and mentor someone interested in sound healing. A business trip to O’ahu, yippee!!!
My first sound bath for my healing business was on January 20th in the Willow Soul studio in Ostego, and was sold out with a waitlist! I felt even more encouraged about the decision to expand the reach of this healing modality. This is when I felt the word abundance.
Afterward, we had a chance to visit with guests and I remember a particular person that seemed to glow as we spoke, feeling like I was finally on my way into this next chapter as though every part and piece of my life had led to this path I had found the next purpose.
Four days later, a message came on FB messenger from that sweet person whose eyes were bright, introducing herself as April and expressing how grounded she felt and how inspiration had come back after the sound healing session. Also, her father is the CFO of New Folk Records, and April is the photographer and social media director. They were wondering if I were interested in recording a CD as my gift could help so many. My gift.
Ken and I talked and signed a contract!!! A discussion about album photos and artwork magically turned into the label flying April out to O’ahu Hawaii with me! A business trip expanded to a label promotional photo trip as well. Pictures taken, a recording has happened, and a CD release is in the works.
I am filled with awe and gratitude as my sound healing schedule now includes weekly classes, 1 to 1, and small groups, events, pop-ups, retreats, and festivals.
Courage and abundance.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have experienced that I didn’t have doubt and hesitation in how to broaden my business and work, then someone in my life did. It was suggested that I create boundaries, either soft or hard, whichever was appropriate. I did, and by creating boundaries it was as though closing one or two doors finally opened several others. Trusting who I am, after all my experiences, I knew that I had found what I was next in my life. The people who love me knew it too.
A struggle has been the question of religion or spirituality with yoga and healing. I had many long discussions with my dad over the almost 54 years we spent together, about these very important topics and I confidently and faithfully walk forward in what I do.
“Truth is one, paths are many.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in combining yoga pranayama (breath) and Reiki (energy healing) with sound healing. The sound baths and gong immersions created are built carefully and intentionally with love and light at all times. Some of the instruments I use have been collected with a combination of healing vibrations and frequencies in mind. Gongs, crystal singing and Tibetan bowls, various drums, solfeggio pipes, chimes, and tuning forks. Sound healing has ancient roots in cultures all over the world. Vibrational frequencies of instruments can invite full-body relaxation and recalibration by simply being present and listening.
The piece that I love is that all people can benefit from sound healing. My mom who has limited mobility and chronic pain, felt her body relieved and had more restful sleep. My husband has stresses, aches, and pains and he visibly relaxes, and our children and grandchildren are noticeably calmer afterward. There have been many who have come to classes and events that have shared positive benefits with their experiences as well. I hope this article will inspire you to contact me or find out more about sound healing.
We all can bring healing to the world, a gift that lives inside each of us that brings something special to do and share. Take a walk forward with courage and abundance.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson is older than I could imagine. The rest of the words can be found in several sources, but the message is; “To everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven…….
Ecclesiastes 3;1-8
Turn! Turn! Turn!
song by Pete Seeger
adapted by the Byrds
The seasons in my life, some difficult, some joyful, have brought me to this place. I know that by trusting my values, intuitive feelings, and heart, I can share my gift.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
April Onstad Light in the Valley Photography
