We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rose Chapman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rose, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

People may think I’m in the business of luxury, and in some ways they may be right. Wild Rose Wellness is an upscale boutique wellness studio providing intimate yoga classes, massage therapy, energy healing, and women’s circles.

The magic thread connecting these modalities is regulation of the nervous system. While most of us living in this highly activated Western society could use all the balancing we can get, this is absolutely essential for people living with trauma.

Many of us encounter some form of trauma or neglect within our childhood. Most of us are not given the skills to process these experiences, so they lie unconscious within us, keeping our nervous system in a state of constant vigilance. Further traumatic experiences in adulthood can pile on, contributing to PTSD, anxiety, depression, and a host of other mental and physical effects.

Living and working adjacent to a military installation for most of my life has initiated my work with many active duty, retired, and veteran service members, and their spouses and families. While some clients come for a relaxing break from their hectic lives, some come for a rare moment of peace in an otherwise constant battle with their thoughts.

One client, a veteran of military law enforcement who suffers from PTSD, spoke to this recently after a session. They remarked that while on the table receiving Energy Work, they were unaware of their whereabouts and felt completely relaxed, for the first time in recent memory. Energy Work and Massage, along with mental health therapy, allow this client to finally let down their guard.

The benefits of this work are also apparent when working with residents of the local domestic violence center. In addition to the events and situations these women are escaping from, there is the additional burden of homelessness. Each week challenges my skill set in different ways as I teach relaxation techniques, self massage and tapping, breathing, stretching, and mindfulness.

The skills of presence, breath, and embodiment are essential to feeling and processing emotions, and maintaining our emotional equilibrium, no matter what life throws at us. Coming back onto even footing takes a combined approach of conscious movement work, body work, and energy work. Until these practices are seen as necessary medicine, many people will needlessly suffer at the mercy of their own dysregulated nervous system.

Rose, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My fascination for the human body began in high school biology class and manifested in later life as a side hustle teaching group fitness and personal training alongside my career as a cosmetologist.

In 2018, I completed my foundational yoga teacher training and began a spiritual journey that would eventually lead to sobriety from alcohol, after decades of addiction.

During this time I worked full-time as a hairstylist, and taught yoga and group fitness at multiple gyms and community centers throughout the area. I enjoyed bringing movement to different populations, but commuting all over the county did not allow extra time for other pursuits.

Of course, 2020 brought a new paradigm to our world. All the salons and gyms closed for 10 weeks, and I had excess time on my hands to ponder my future path. I knew that reconnection to ourselves and each other would be paramount as the world opened up after the pandemic. Learning that compassionate touch is so often missing in our culture, and was completely absent for many during the lockdowns, I decided to pursue a license in massage therapy.

Piggybacking off my certification as a NASM personal trainer, I envisioned my career in massage therapy leaning toward Neuromuscular Therapy and sports massage. The Universe has other plans, as my instructor in my first hands-on class recognized a natural talent for energy work within me. Pivoting, I finished massage school while simultaneously completing trainings in energy healing, Reiki, and further yoga education.

Giving and receiving regular body work and energy work, and deepening my yoga and spiritual practices, I began to understand that embodiment is key to living an authentic life. Our emotions and intuition live within the body, and ability to access them opens up a world of possibility for releasing old patterns and stepping into our divine self.

The mindful movement and awareness practices within yoga bring us home to ourselves, connecting us deeply to our inner landscape. Once we are made conscious of our movements and behaviors, we then have the choice to take a new direction. Massage compliments this by bringing connection and grounding through the body and nervous system. Energy Work adds another layer of soothing and balance to the subconscious.

All of these modalities synergize to bring a deep foundation of safety to the body. When the body feels safe, we are free to eat, pray, love, and heal. Creating an oasis for this depth work, I opened Wild Rose Wellness studio in July 2021.

As I worked on more clients and strengthened my understanding of our connection to the cycles of nature, I began to experience a spiritual awakening, and was drawn to work with the Moon. My studio practice has shifted to focus mostly on women, and the Moon carries the Divine energy of the Feminine in our solar system.

I began twice monthly Moon Circles, hosted at my studio, to explore this connection in community. These events have evolved over time, celebrating the full moon and the new moon as the beginning and ending of the lunar cycle. Aligning our actions with the current cosmic conditions can invite smoother life flow, as we work with the energy of the Universe, rather than against it.

Wild Rose Wellness has evolved from a massage and yoga studio, to a studio of Divine Embodiment. Our community continues to grow through special events and retreats. This work bridges body, mind, spirit, and heart to bring us deeply home to ourselves. In the end, all we’ve got is this body, this life. To be fully present here is to fully live.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Growing up in a non-religious household, I waffled between agnostic and atheist, and was a natural skeptic. I questioned everything, and felt only a rigorous scientific explanation would suffice.

My view of the human body was medical and mechanistic. My fitness training came through well-researched, science-backed education via well respected companies: NASM, AFAA, Les Mills International, Brookbush Institute. Entering massage school in 2020, I saw my path forward into Neuromuscular Therapy and Sports Massage.

But in my subconscious, things were shifting. Foundational Yoga Teacher Training in 2018, sobriety and the death of my beloved Grammy in 2019, and the arrival of unprecedented times in 2020… All of these were nudging me toward something different, something deeper.

I took Reiki energy healing training, and received master level attunement. I studied Quantum Touch and Light Language. Layering focused energy work into my hands-on work transformed what was once a massage into a ceremony. Working with the human body in this way led to profound awakening about the nature of human connection to each other, nature, and Source.

As my eyes were opened to concepts of vibrational healing, I began adding these to my personal practice: herbs, crystals, light, sound, Oracle cards, astrology. I opened my mind and heart to plant allies, and started rewilding as I reconnected to the Earth. The energy of these sacred tools took my healing to the next level, as I worked through past trauma and inner child wounds.

Seeing my own personal growth unfold exponentially, my clients desired this healing as well, and my personal and professional practices intertwined. Spirit is at the heart of my mission, dedicated to Divine Embodiment, guiding hearts home to the bodies of their deepest selves.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When I moved from San Diego county to Fort “Lost in the Woods”, Missouri, I thought my life was over. I was a young adult, starting over, and I thought this stop was a blip on my radar. I longed to get back to the electric energy of city life.

Having a toddler at the time meant other priorities. Since this location was near my parents, had a low crime rate and good schools, this is where we stayed. Over the years, working in different businesses as I went to cosmetology school and established a career, I networked.

A hairstylist in a busy salon with a large clientele, I had opportunities to talk to high-ranking military officials, business owners, local politicians. I made friends and connections because it was so easy to do in a small town, just be friendly and be yourself!

When opportunities arose, I took them. If I was invited to teach a yoga class to nurses, lead a meditation at a women’s meeting, bring mindfulness to the military…. I said YES! I went to local street fairs, I painted nails at Manicures & Martinis, I shaved heads for cancer fundraising.

Saying yes to the things that authentically called to me, always led to even more opportunities. Making friends and connections across industries and disciplines helped broaden my reach over 20 years in this community.

I am not for everyone, but living in integrity means those who are drawn to me know exactly who they’re working with. My talent, customer service, and work ethic speak for themselves, as my brand has become synonymous with yoga in this area.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wildroseonline.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_rose_wellness_mo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildRoseWellnessMO/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzlc-AluTPUkzD4Pc_NTcQw

Image Credits
John Bondoni – Bondoni Photography