Meet Misty Soderholm of SoderWorld Wellness Center & Academy in Willowbrook

Today we’d like to introduce you to Misty Soderholm.

Misty, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.

Back when I was 19 in 1994, I became very sick with an immune disorder and Doctors told me there was nothing I could do but sleep to build my immune system back up. As I lay in my bed I knew there had to be other things I could do to get well, so I start researching alternative and holistic therapies and receiving treatments. During this time, I also began a spiritual journey and was lead to Dr. Deepak Chopra. I decided to attend one of his seminars with my Mom called “Seduction of Spirit” in San Diego, even though my health was not good and I was very weak. I was able to get through most of the weekend seminar and received some healing treatments. I knew then that weekend was a turning point in my life. After I returned home, I couldn’t stop reading anything and everything that had to do with alternative health, wellness, and spirituality. I also continued to get many types of energy-work, Acupuncture, and taking herbal remedies. Within a month of returning from the seminar I went for a blood test at my Doctor and he couldn’t believe how great my white blood cell count was and asked what I had been doing. I told him my journey and that I just found what I want to do with the rest of my life. He gave me the clear and I began Massage Therapy school the next week. After being in school for about 300 hours I knew I had natural abilities and I stumbled on an ad for an Ayurvedic Therapy Training in San Diego and signed up right away. Once I was out there I clicked with the instructor and caught on very fast. She then informed me that they are opening a new “Chopra Center for Well Being”, and that she is running the Panchakarma Therapy department of it. She then asked if I would I like to move out there to be a therapist. I knew it was meant to be and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. So within two weeks, I packed up all my stuff in a U-Haul with my two dogs, moved all the way across the country, and transferred to a massage school called the School of Healing Arts in San Diego. We went through a 2 week crash course training and then the Chopra Center opened their doors. It was during this time that I began to blossom and learn everything I possibly could in the healing arts field. During the two years that I worked at the Chopra Center, I also finished a 1,000 hour Holistic Health Practitioner Program which included Massage Therapy certification, Hypnotherapy, and Watsu. I saw the good and bad of the industry but was so grateful to gain such profound knowledge of the Ayurvedic way of life and the many spiritual lessons. It was out in California where I started to tap into my artistic side and began writing poetry and spending a lot of time up in the mountains and at The Self Realization Fellowship Temple a couple towns north of me. Finally, I asked my family to come out and visit and receive some treatments at the Chopra Center. After the first night, they were blown away and my Dad offered for me to come back to Chicago to bring all this wisdom back. In 1997 there were hardly any wellness centers around and holistic practices were seen as witchcraft. So, we brainstormed that night at my kitchen table and the idea of SoderWorld was born. After intense studies over those 2 years in Ayurveda, Meditation, Hypnotherapy, Watsu, Feng Shui, Holistic Health and Yoga, I ventured back to Chicago to bring the knowledge I gained to my hometown. Once my schooling was done, I moved back home and began the process of getting SoderWorld off of the ground. We started in a strip mall on Route 83 & 91st street with 1,000 square feet and over the course of 3 years expanded into 3 units and 3,000 square feet. Once we got close to our 5 year point, our landlord was going to raise our rent so jokingly my Dad says, “I could build a place for that much”. Then divine intervention happened when a first time client was late to the appointment because map quest gave her the wrong address and she showed us where the star had us. It was the corner of Route 83 & Nielson Lane, which was a few blocks south from us. Come to find out my client’s husband was a real estate agent and said that it was an empty wooded property that was for sale. When we looked into it further the property was considered a wetland and we were able to negotiate the seller down to what we could afford. After we purchased the property we all decided we wanted to do an A-Frame building to honor my Grandfather who passed away and used to build A-Frame dollhouses. We completed the 3 level, 6,000 square foot building and officially moved Soderworld there in 2004 and have evolved greatly over the years. I have also studied Hot Stone Therapy, Reflexology, Thai Yoga Massage, Sports Massage, Esalen Style Massage, Natural Child Birthing, Esthetics & Skin Care (facials, body wraps), and many various energy modalities. I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, as well as a certified Yoga Instructor & Yoga Teacher Trainer and Holistic Health Practitioner with over 20 years experience. I am director of the Advanced Training Academy at SoderWorld but I also teach groups, private tutor and perform bodywork and yoga at various locations & festivals throughout Chicagoland and the US. My focus has always been more on the spiritual side of healing in my treatments and teachings. With the help of my entire family, we have turned SoderWorld into a beautiful sanctuary for healing and for all spiritual beliefs. My Mom Ginny handles all the accounting and front desk management and my brother Chad is the mad scientist who also handles marketing. My Dad, Eric Soderholm, used to play professional baseball and a couple of the years were with the White Sox. He was known as one of the 1977 Southside Hitmen, and is well known in the Chicago land area. So because of his reputation, that is why we decided on the name SoderWorld. Even though my Dad is retired, his pride and joy is the back gardens at Soderworld. We have about 2 1/2 acres of wooded property that we have developed into our Garden of Eden that includes a pond with 2 swans and ducks, a koi fish pond, a walking path to honor all the different religions, a labyrinth, a copper pyramid to meditate under, a waterfall, organic gardens, gazebo for outdoor massage, and even a rainbow bridge. In the inside we have a Himalayan Salt Cave, screened in meditation lounge, and all our therapy rooms utilize color therapy. We offer over 30 different types of massages and energy healing, facials & skin care, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, & Ayurvedic Medicine. We also offer many Yoga and movement workshops, classes and seminars in spirituality and wellness, many continuing education classes for Massage Therapists & Yoga Instructors as well as Yoga Teacher Trainings, Native American, Moon, and Homa Ceremonies, live concerts & music jams, drum circles, open mic nights, full retail shop, and much more. We also host an annual Open House Fundraiser/Festival that includes a day of wellness and healing with many classes, vendors, healing services, kid’s activities, music and food. It is on Saturday Sept 9th, 2017 from 11am-6pm, and this year it is our 20th year anniversary so it will be bigger and better than ever.

Although I did some art at an early age, I just recently rediscovered my passion for the arts and poetry again about 3 years ago. I have been in many art shows and host many painting parties and classes as well. I am also event coordinator and administrative assistant for the Flower of Life Art Gallery in Lockport and Secretary for TAGOL (The Artists Guild of Lockport). I am a long standing member of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals & Yoga Alliance and also became a NCBTMB CEU approved provider for the massage therapy profession. We are all about building community and helping to raise the consciousness of the planet in whatever way we can and I feel blessed to have the constant love and support of my family. I truly would not be where I am today without them.

Has it been a smooth road?
Anything worth it is always hard work and a challenge. That is what I continue to tell myself. Even though many think it’s a wellness center so it should be all peace and rainbows, but it’s still a business. One of the biggest challenges has been being able to run a business right and yet still practice peace, love, compassion and all things that go along with being a spiritual leader. I have always had a hard time with hypocrites and always vowed to walk the talk and in the business word that is a big struggle. So, yes there have been many ups and downs along the way from dealing with the county for building and land improvement permits, therapists leaving and taking clients, keeping the peace among staff, weeding out the fakes in this industry, keeping all our events organized and running smoothly, and keeping clients happy and making sure the quality of our services are A+ and our reputation is high. We have been burned many times over the 20 years but I believe there was a learning experience out of every situation and I chose not to hold grudges and just move on and keep the door open for the right people.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the SoderWorld Wellness Center & Academy story. Tell us more about the business.
SoderWorld is one of the most unique wellness centers in the Midwest. We strive to make it a healing sanctuary for all regardless of race, gender, sexual preference or religious beliefs. We are a family run business and want those that come and work at SoderWorld to feel like family. I take pride in the quality of the therapists and teachers we hire and keeping our reputation the best in the healing world and in raising consciousness. I always believed different things work for different people so I wanted SoderWorld to be a one-stop shop for healing, where there was something for everyone. Also, our A-Frame log cabin building and 2 1/2 acres of gorgeous property sets us apart and gives people a getaway from the stresses of the world. Our Garden of Eden on the property includes a pond with 2 swans and ducks, a koi fish pond, a walking path to honor all the different religions, a labyrinth, a copper pyramid to meditate under, a waterfall, organic gardens, gazebo for outdoor massage, and even a rainbow bridge. In the inside we have a Himalayan Salt Cave, screened in meditation lounge, and all our therapy rooms utilize color therapy. We offer over 30 different types of massages and energy healing, facials & skin care, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, & Ayurvedic Medicine. We also offer many Yoga and movement workshops, classes and seminars in spirituality and wellness, many continuing education classes for Massage Therapists & Yoga Instructors as well as Yoga Teacher Trainings, Native American, Moon, and Homa Ceremonies, live concerts & music jams, drum circles, open mic nights, full retail shop, and much more.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The industry has changed so much over the last 20 years. It has become more respected since the government started licensing some healing art professions but unfortunately the corporations saw dollar signs and have taken over the industry and the schools so there is now a massage & yoga studio on almost every corner and the quality of services has gone down. It is about quantity not quality to the corporations. But I do see a change in more people seeking healing, wanting something more then what the western medical community is providing them, looking for spirituality and ways to tap into their own healing potential instead of taking a bunch of pills. I do feel a shift towards a higher consciousness as a whole and the demand for alternative ways to live are on the rise. The state the world is in at the moment has got others finally wanting to take responsibility and start with changing and healing themselves, which in turn will help heal the world.

Pricing:

• Himalayan Salt Cave is $5 for 15 mins and $15 for 45 mins.
• Massage & Facial Services is between $40-$200 depending on type of massage and length of session.

Contact Info:

• Address: 16 W. 501 Nielson Lane Willowbrook, IL 60527
• Website: www.soderworldwellness.com
• Phone: 630-455-5885
• Email: Solflobodywork@gmail.com / misty.soderholm@soderworldwellness.com

Image Credit:
Head shot by Lori Allen

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