Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Leigh Smith.
Hi Jennifer Leigh, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey to starting my business began in the Army Reserve, where I was injured on active duty in 2001 and 2002. Not properly treated for my injuries, compensation patterns led to further chronic pain for years before I understood what had been frozen within my body and mind. In 2003, I was researching alternative, holistic healing and trying herbal supplements and yoga. By 2006, I was receiving chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture while working full-time as a contractor on base and working towards my bachelor’s degree in psychology. These treatments kept me moving and able to sit at my job and in classes, though the pain was building daily.
Inspired by hope of regaining holistic wellness, I dreamt of a place that offered Body Mind Spirit therapies through a community center with natural products, classes, events and treatment sessions. I saw the need for knowledge to be easier to obtain than reading endless books, though I wanted to do that, too. After completing my degree, then having hip surgery in Jan. 2008, I discovered Pathways and absorbed as much wisdom as possible from Deborah Ann Bourbon and other teachers to help me start creating my own Wellness center from my vision.
In 2009 I got married and downsized expenses to prepare for the new life I was creating. In 2010, I registered doing business as “Holistic Journey” (sole proprietor), started a shop online, began vending at Metaphysical fairs and on Scott AF base. I also started offering Holistic Fairs with guests at my home with Readings, ear candling, detox foot baths, and chair massage. By March of 2011, I rented a brick-and-mortar storefront on Main Street in Belleville, IL and left my job on base. Holistic Journey kept growing quickly, as I worked 10-12 hours while my husband at the time was on Navy activation to Afghanistan.
HJ expanded upstairs with hosting yoga, bellydance classes, Kirtan and other community events. In March 2013, my son, Aidan, was born and that August we moved the shop to a larger location in a strip mall on Frank Scott Pkwy in Swansea. In 2014, I got divorced and worked tirelessly when my son was with his father. Monthly Holistic Fairs and Sound Bath events became the best part of my wellness and Spiritual center. In late 2014, retail sales were declining with the rise of Amazon and metaphysical supplies also available at the mall. Feeling called to continue my energy healing work in a different way through touch, I began Massage Therapy school in 2015 and planned to move the store into a new, permanent location as a Holistic Wellness Spa in O’Fallon, IL. This plan, however, was not viable for many reasons at the time, including being turned away for psychic services offered at my events. In July 2016, I closed the retail storefront and started my massage practice in O’Fallon within a chiropractic clinic. By 2018, I landed in my own private office at 7 Eagle Center.
Realizing I again needed more than just massage to keep me fulfilled in my business and active in the community as Covid was beginning to clear, I moved downstairs into a larger studio office in 2021. This gave me the space and ease to restart group soundbaths and classes like Tarot Reading. In 2023, I added mini day retreats and Breathwork to the Sound Journeys and worked in 2 different locations in O’Fallon with a Collaborative of other service practitioners. It was not the best fit for me and my energy needs, showing me past community wounds were ready to be healed. I arrived back at this cozy studio in February. There is a lovely pond and fountain on your way to find my studio nestled around the back of the building with other Wellness services.
Since 2024, two additional Massage Therapists and a Reiki Practitioner have joined Holistic Journey and we now call our studio office “Holistic Journey Healing Collective.” Sound Healing events have recently gained popularity in our local area, as well as STL. HJ continues to host monthly events, including Sacred Gong Journey, a new addition for Fall/Winter on the first Wednesday morning: Silent Self-Care + Sound, Soul-Care Circle once a month on Monday nights, Breathwork + Sound at least seasonally, as well as specialty events like Divination 101, Year End Reset or Vision Board workshop.
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?
There have been different struggles along the way, although these helped shape my ideas on how to best serve my community, while honoring my self-care needs and passion for health and healing. Moving the store was an exciting transition, however proved difficult to sustain with growing a new business, higher overhead, and decline in retail sales. I truly desired to partner with others to have a Collective and needed experience and healing to arrive where I am now.
As caregivers, holistic service providers risk burnout from working too many hours, so factoring in self-care and sharing the workload is essential to any holistic wellness center team’s success. I love where I am now, in Body-Mind-Spirit, and how I am able to show up fully for my clients, friends, and community!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Holistic Journey Healing Collective?
What sets me apart from others is that I specialize in and am well-known for combining multiple approaches: Bodywork + Energywork + Massage Therapy + Sound Healing, with optional Embodied Coaching or guidance when requested or feels aligned.
Something to know about me is I love when clients book a session online and their note to me is clear they are ready to receive the work and are healing themselves. My ideal client allows me to hold space for them while they meet themselves in what is present, receive what they need – in order to release and feel whole, and be in connection to their inner guidance. I love to watch the community shift and evolve in ways that make each person’s smile and energy brighter, or to hold calm understanding through challenges and still be able to offer support to others. In gratitude for the experiences that guide us through our inner and outer storms.
Holistic Journey is known for hosting group events on a monthly and seasonal basis. Events and classes are more accessible than 1:1 sessions or waiting 1-3 months for a private appt or class.
Soul-Care Circle is a new Monday night addition as an open group for healers/caregivers/sensitive people to offer and receive support on their Holistic wellness path.
First Wednesday A.M. Silent Self-Care + Sound is a new offering that provides a space to stretch, flow and/or simply receive energy healing plus activations from Sound though different Gongs and singing bowls.
Sacred Gong Journey is a way to come home to yourself. This is an inward journey — a time to soften, let go, and allow the sound to carry you exactly where you need to go. The sound waves ripple through your cells, helping to clear and reset your nervous system, harmonize your energy centers, and open the door to expanded states of consciousness.
Breathwork + Sound includes a guided portion of active breathwork to help energy flow through the meridians and energy centers of the body. Acknowledging and breathing through what comes up (thoughts, memories, emotions) throughout the session can result in the body feeling lighter, cleared or more open; this is especially helpful for those working with therapists and counselors to heal the “issues in the tissues”. The Sound healing portion helps you land into your body and rewire your nervous system to experience peace on a new level.
What I am most proud of, brand wise, is my ability to pivot during challenges, allow myself to dive into inner healing work so that I can understand myself better on a Holistic level, and hold myself accountable in action. I am proud to have witnessed all that I have and be authentic to myself in my Holistic Journey. I am proud to hear that participants feel safe at my group events. I offer compassion, acceptance, and connection to others through my business.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Yes, I have taken major risks with my business. These were points of growth in personal and professional development and gave me deeper trust in my intuition. I felt guided at times but also leaned on what the picture looked like on paper, and that never worked. When I went with what I thought others wanted, I always ended up learning lessons and feeling ease of pressure when I pivoted into what was more supportive to my journey and others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yourholisticjourney.com
- Instagram: holisticjourneylmt
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/holisticjourney2010
- Other: https://holisticjen.as.me
