About Jess
Hello fellow soul.
This being human is hard. We are big spirits shoved into these clunky, beautiful, physical bodies that have the insane experiences of birth, joy, pain, anxiety, depression, death, confusion, love and more.
It’s a wonder any of us are upright.
And for the times when things feel like they’ve really gone sideways––I’m here to offer a hand and walk with you on the journey.
I’m a licensed mental health therapist, somatic and experiential life coach, yoga teacher, Reiki Master, Shamanic practitioner, TRE® practitioner, consultant, and educator. Lucky for you, I’ve had some real life experience with things going sideways and getting back up. I have undergraduate degrees in the healthcare field, sociology, three master’s degrees, EMDR 1&2 training, IFS Level 1&2 training, almost 20 years as a Yoga teacher, Reiki Master and Shamanic practitioner, GPBA ethically compliant breathwork facilitator, life-coach certifications, a birth doula certification, and a current Wilderness First Responder certification. Yes, all of this is relevant to how we’ll work together. I also have two-thirds of a law degree, but realized another degree would just be ridiculous…and I was so stressed my hair started falling out. So, I dropped out to be a yoga teacher and park ranger.
Let’s rewind and talk about how I got here and how that will help you…
There are times in life that make you stop.
And question.
Those things are usually hard. And they often leave you feeling exhausted and confused and it often gets worse before it gets better.
Why is this happening? What's the point? Why am I here? My life has to mean something, right? Is there something bigger? Am I connected to That? Can I trust It? How? Will this ever change? If things truly change, is that really going to f@#$^ things up?
That’s what happened to me.
In my early twenties, I had an accident that I refer to as the "Ass Breaking Incident". It left me bed-ridden. Literally sideways. On disability, diagnosed with chronic low back and SI pain. I was told from one of the top healthcare providers in the nation that I wouldn't be able to walk without pain and I would probably need life-time pain management. I was devastated. Because it hurt like hell, I was severely depressed, and I still had a lot of life to live. How was I going to live it from my bedroom in a pit of despair and wincing pain? WTF, Universe?!
That was the anger phase.
To make a very long story short, through many other experiences that challenged my nervous system, sense of self and purpose (deaths of family and friends from cancer and suicide, witnessing a shooting and PTSD, my (fist-shaking) conversations with the universe, meditation, Yoga, prayer, therapy, time in nature, and self-reflection) I had a spiritual awakening and a very physical realization that all of our experiences and emotions are held in this physical body.
Our experiences brand our biology. Our traumas, and our families’ and communities’ traumas, live in our bodies and nervous systems. Our spirit and something bigger are also held in this physical body. I learned to rewire my system. To speak the language of the physical, mental, emotional, spirit and energy bodies. I came to understand that as we deepen our awareness and connection to Self, we deepen our connection to our bodies, each other, our planet, and Source (...and how you experience your Source, be it Core Self, Great Spirit, God, Goddess, Higher Self, Nature, Krishna…that's your path.) That experience of connection, learning the right tools, and awareness leads to an unfolding and release that creates space for unimaginable healing and opportunities…
To be yourself.
No matter where you are or what you are doing. And that. Is our real work.
“Jess Ryan is a gift! Meeting her was timely for me as I was going through a huge life transition – all the biggies – work, children, and relationships. I was starting to feel like I was lost. I first met Jess through a local yoga studio where she brings a little something extra to each class. I would find myself pondering the messages from her classes throughout my day. I then took the “New Year’s Evolution” class that she co-facilitates which led me to take the next step – work 1:1 with Jess in her program entitled “The Real You”. This program inspired me in ways that I am still discovering. It helped me take a hard look at my life, both past and present, and let go of some things that were no longer serving me. Before starting “The Real You” I had not had much experience with Reiki but I found this energetic work with Jess to be amazing. I will continue to use Reiki in my life. I have encouraged several people in my life to look at this program – it is a game changer! “
— Marla