Today we’d like to introduce you to Neale Baldyga.
Neale, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
6 years ago I got a Reiki Attunement and it changed my life. I had been seeking a spiritual connection while trying things like meditation, yoga, and other practices for a couple years before that. It was not until I saw the inherent power in each of us that I knew I wanted to work to inspire others to bring this out in themselves. I realized that everything we need to heal this world is within ourselves and throughout nature.
As I started to more deeply connect with myself and facilitate Reiki Sessions for others, I felt so natural doing it. I immediately started to blend my skills as a drummer and musician, passion for herbs and essential oils, and desire to care for others. I developed a “sensory experience” which used all 5 senses to create an experience for people.
Touch – Reiki
Smell – Essential Oils
Hearing – Live Music & Sound
Taste – Tea and/or Fresh Organic Juice
Sight – Using Colors and Intentional Aesthetic Elements
In these sessions, people were able to release emotional baggage, find relaxation, and have an easier time connecting with their inner voice. It was working and people loved it. I was starting my practice and publicly started to promote myself. I knew I was on the right path because things started to fall into place.
By luck of the universe, I was directed to a storefront in Wicker Park (Ashland/Augusta). It was raw, industrial, and absolutely beautiful. At this time, I planned to take a couple clients, create music, and live in the back. After my first gathering of friends, I started to consider the idea of opening the space to the public, I knew it would take a lot of work, but the energy was moving forward and I could feel it. I decided to ride the wave, and take the steps to make it public. We became Urban Escape Healing Studio.
We built community by offering healing modalities to the public for donation, had accessible workshops, and events. I deepened my personal practice and had a place to invite community to explore themselves and the universe in an authentic way. I was able to tap my network and give them a place to share their knowledge and skills. It was a win-win! The momentum continued to grow and grow. After 2 and a half years, we started to sell out workshops. We had several practitioners offering private sessions in everything from akashic records and acupuncture to Thai massage and shamanic cleansing. The public was coming to support from all angles. I never imagined it!
I attended Pacific College of Oriental Medicine to study bodywork and massage therapy as all of this was happening. This really allowed me to encompass the mind-body-spirit practice that I have built. At school I met Janie Crick, who was instrumental in building the studio to flourish the way it did. She offered her expertise in movement therapy, energy healing, bodywork, and so many other practical skills. She took on the role of co-owner.
In late summer of 2016, we got the news that the building was being sold. This was a transparent process and the landlord had let me know that this was the intention he had for a couple years. What I mean to say is; it was a matter of time. It was sad, but very necessary to let go of the physical space. Many say we outgrew it, and other knew that it was just “time”. We spent the winter laying low, learning, and growing to have more to offer to clients. Currently, Urban Escape Healing does its client practice at Chicago All Inclusive Health in Humboldt Park. We are also mobile, offering workshops and healing work around the city. We bring the sacred space to you!
We don’t know what is in the cards for the future, but we know it’s something big. Stay tuned and be a part of our journey!
Has it been a smooth road?
I had never started a business or run one so there were a lot of interesting challenges.
Delegating responsibilities was hard, especially at times when you didn’t even know what you wanted.
We also live in a very dense city. I mean that in a lot of ways. The idea of consciousness, reiki, and meditation are still pretty new. Our market segment was small, but growing all the time.
We didn’t have any employees. A small group of us did everything. We also worked with practitioners in a collective format. It was great, until they didn’t have the rent on time, (which meant we didn’t have the rent on time) or didn’t clean up after themselves, etc. We always made it work, though!
Money was a struggle. Figuring out what to charge and what you are worth as a practitioner. Trying to convince practitioners and people to offer their services and join the team, when you are in a really raw stage, can be hard to do. Charging for spiritual work can be an interesting thing to figure out and what you are comfortable with.
Having a studio that explored the spiritual side of life attracted many interesting characters. I think individuality and weirdness makes the world go around so it was generally pretty cool. Sometimes it was overwhelming though!
Living in the back of the storefront for the first 2-2.5 years was a challenge. I shared almost everything (bathroom, living space, etc.) with the public. Sometimes when I really wanted to be in my own space, I had to walk through and felt the need to talk and engage. When you are building, it’s hard to say “no”!
These were some of the bumps along the road. It’s been such an amazing learning experience!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Urban Escape Healing holds space for the individual seeking empowerment. We come together to deepen our understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection. Through this, we explore a variety of healing methods inspired by ancient wisdom and modern application. Our organic approach creates an experience that harnesses the healing power of nature and combines that with a variety of energetic healing methods.
We are a Chicago-based collective of healing artists, teachers, innovators, and collaborators. Our classes, workshops, and one-on-one sessions introduce the community to a holistic lifestyle, accessible to all. We provide a sacred space for people to explore themselves in a genuine way. We are a community that shares love and provides support for each in their healing path. We exist as a reminder to slow down and listen, bringing peace and a sense of greater purpose to all.
For the practitioner, we provide a hub of connection and cultivate opportunities to grow in your practice. For the individual, we provide a safe space to heal and witness your personal truth. For the community, we provide an environment to learn, grow, and connect. We are the change we seek in this world, and by living a life of compassion, we inspire. We believe that if you have a space to heal yourself, you have an opportunity to heal the world.
We specialize in the mind-body-spirit connection and helping people with this. We are all about empowerment and teaching people along the way. Everyone needs to take some accountability for what is happening to them and where they are in life.
I’m proud of the fact that we have stayed authentic through the whole process. We shared our whole journey, from being a raw space (imperfections and all) to our immense growth within the studio. We are honest with the public and the community. We don’t try to sell people things they don’t need or make outlandish claims about healing. We are vulnerable when necessary and can let people know we DON’T have it all figured out. I am proud of ALL of that.
Our ability to go above and beyond sets us apart. Whether this means staying an extra 15 minutes after a session to show people some stretches they can do, or giving them free sound meditations that we produced, or even gifting them a free bath blend because we know they really need it. We are blessed to share our knowledge and energy with others. The universe has rewarded us and we know we are on the right path!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I do because of the growth of this sector. More people are getting into yoga and mindfulness. Reiki has become more of a household name along with essential oils. I think there is a lot of potential in Chicago. I would say, start the business where you can be your most authentic self. People are looking for this kind of connection ALL over the country. When you are genuine, you attract the right clients.
Chicago is still rough around the edges. People still don’t eat too well and many men think that yoga/healthy lifestyle is not for them. We need to make it cool for some and accessible for others!
Pricing:
- Bodywork Session (Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Tui Na) $85/hr $115/90 min
- Energy Healing (Reiki, Chakra/Aura Cleanse, New Paradigm MDT) $85/hr $115/90 min
- Massage (Deep Tissue, Swedish, Integrative, Reflexology) $85/hr $115/90 min
Contact Info:
- Website: www.urbanescapehealing.com
- Phone: 872-588-7522
- Email: urbanescapehealing@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/uehealing
- Facebook: facebook.com/uehealing
- Twitter: twitter.com/uehealing
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/urban-escape-healing-chicago
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
