Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Denning.
Hi Kris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I fell in love with Yoga when I was in college, which is what began my mindfulness journey. Yoga became a tool to bring me peace and help me through difficult times in my life. After becoming a mom, I began teaching Yoga, and then Pilates at Timberhill Athletic Club in Corvallis.
Over the years I experienced various bouts of chronic pain and found I had autoimmune illness including rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. I found I could control my symptoms through eliminating certain foods from my diet. It helped, but it never offered a cure for my condition. It just seemed I would have to take more and more foods out of my diet to be able to live pain free.
In late 2019, I felt called to start meditating every day. Then Covid began, and I became more deeply involved in mindfulness practice. Eventually I would have to stop teaching at the club when everything shut down, and so I began teaching my classes online. Many people followed me from in person classes, to classes over zoom and still do today. I teach Yoga, Pilates, and Strength Training classes 4 days a week over zoom.
Meditation began to offer me glimpses of something new. I became less identified with all of my roles – mom/wife/teacher, etc – and more aware of my inner being. The soul I was beneath it all began to shine through. I felt peace, presence, and began to feel subtle energy in my body I wasn’t previously aware of. I felt the presence of other beings whom I came to know as my personal angels/spirit guides. I was being pulled toward “energy healing”, which before I knew nothing about.
I found someone nearby who taught reiki energy healing, and I pursued it. I learned I was a natural channel for this healing energy and began using it on myself every day. And I began to heal.
I realized the energetic blockages and patterns in my body I had been holding onto and carrying for my entire life. Traumas from childhood I hadn’t previously dealt with. Emotions I had buried. All of it contributed to my autoimmune disease. Soon, my physical ailments cleared and I was able to eat the foods I couldn’t eat before.
I began doing reiki for friends, family, and eventually incorporating it into my business.
Initially, I began “Healthy to the Soul” as a blog back in 2016. Again, something I felt called to start, but didn’t quite know where it was going. It became the hub for my classes, my reiki healing, and holistic spiritual life coaching.
Daily meditation changed my life. It helped me find the real me – my soul self, that was buried beneath it all. I believe our souls have the map to our best life, our most healed selves, and our greatest fulfillment. So many of us have simply been disconnected from this aspect of us. This is why it is my passion to help others learn to connect to the deeper self within.
Everything changed for me once I got quiet and learned who I really was and understood that I was not the critical voice within.
I love how one reiki energy healing sessions quiets it all and helps people realize their true nature.
I also love to write about my experiences, and I have personally journaled for more than 20 years. I believe writing is an amazing outlet for more deeply understanding the self and getting out the things we would otherwise lock up inside. Anything locked up inside of us, is putting pressure on our body both physically, mentally, and energetically.
I write a substack called, “Diary of Awakening”, (as Kristina Michelle), which follows my personal journey as I lived it from the days I first began meditating, through shedding layers of darkness, healing my inner child wounds, connecting with my angels and guides, feeling my “god self” (I was never religious or had any beliefs prior to all of this), and changing the course of my life.
So many of us are living the lives we think we are supposed to live or should live. But there is a beautiful and deeply fulfilling path for each of us when we learn to connect to ourselves and let go of the false programs we have been taught to subscribe to.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I had many struggles along the way including letting go of fears, which were simply patterns in my body associated with traumas. I never thought I could have my own business nor did I even picture it. I certainly had some imposter syndrome I had to move through.
I had to find my way through presence, and often that meant paying attention to the cues in my body. The panic, the worry, the fears all lived inside of me and I had to be with them through observing, rather than allowing them to make choices for me. Lots of inner child work.
But also, I just needed to be open to the divine guidance I was offered. Reiki healing found me when I finally got quiet and tuned in to presence and my higher self. I always knew there was something I was supposed to be doing that was greater, but I didn’t know it until I got quiet enough to hear the guidance.
I’ve learned that once you find the path that is right for you, there are fewer and fewer struggles. The greatest struggles I endured were mental, and were often associated with trying to push myself into a role I was not meant to fulfill.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Healthy to the Soul is about mind/body/soul balance and well being. I have always been passionate about health and wellness, and I teach what I know works for me. Yoga and Pilates are still part of my weekly routine and have been for decades. I teach two Yoga classes, two Pilates classes, and two Strength training classes weekly over zoom. Many people still enjoy the convenience of working out from home! I also teach meditation classes here and there.
I offer in person private lessons (yoga, pilates, and meditation).
I offer Reiki energy healing sessions in my studio in downtown Corvallis. I also offer holistic spiritual life coaching that includes reiki energy healing sessions and weekly coaching calls. I am passionate about helping others find their “soul self” and break through whatever may be holding them back from living their best life.
I am most proud of the fact that I have followed my heart. I climbed my way out of a challenging childhood and adolescence, found my true self, healed my wounds, and am now able to help others. I have created my most fulfilling job, doing what I love, and have no regrets.
When clients find me, they almost always say that they were drawn to work with me. I think that is the magic of following your guidance. There are many of us healers out there, and there is someone for everyone. Someone will speak your language.
I think one of my gifts is the fact that I have lived through significant trauma in my younger years and came from a space of being a non-believer. I spent years healing myself, and developing a deeper understanding and am still seeking. Always a student. I am passionate about what I do and believe deeply in our power to heal ourselves and create the lives we want.
I am intuitive, empathic, and am deeply proud of how far I have come on my journey. I am beyond grateful to be able to help others find their way. It is truly a gift.
What makes you happy?
Life. Seeing life for what it is makes me happy. I love being a mom to my now almost adult girls. I love connecting with the peace, love, and light that we have all around us. I love being out in nature and enjoying the moments. I love living and loving with presence and appreciating every single day.
I love the life I have built with my partner. We travel, we grow our own food, cook amazing meals, and take time every day to appreciate life and all we have.
There is so much good in the world. If we focus on the good, the love, and the light – we will all be happier and will be able to get through any dark times with greater ease.
Pricing:
- Zoom classes membership – $88/month
- Reiki healing sessions – $85 per hour
- various packages on my site
- coaching varies
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.healthytothesoul.com
- Instagram: @healthytothesoul
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthytothesoul/
- Youtube: @healthytothesoul
