Listening and Bodywork: Barb Ryan’s Holistic Healing Approach
Dec 30, 2024 12:00AM ● By Twin Cities
Barb Ryan
Barb Ryan, founder of Wisdom Sister Studio, has dedicated her life to guiding others on their journeys toward self-discovery and holistic healing. Her path to becoming a healer and spiritual guide was anything but straightforward, marked by a series of profound personal transformations that ultimately led her to establish her unique practice.
She created Wisdom Sister Studio in 2015 to help others navigate life and health with greater ease and support.
Barb’s story begins with a dutiful adherence to a rigid religious upbringing and deep family traditions. Striving to meet external standards of success, she excelled in school and found success in corporate work in a Fortune 100 company. By 1998, she felt she had achieved all she was told by the over-culture to have a good life—a nice house, fancy car, lots of travel, high paying job, vibrant social life—and still an emptiness prevailed.
A single moment in April of that year, when she failed to recognize her own reflection in the mirror, changed her course. This “mirror moment” at age 34 forced her to confront the dissonance between her external achievements and her inner dissatisfaction. It was the catalyst for a decade-long journey of self-discovery and healing on many levels.
Her journey involved an exploration of various holistic and spiritual practices, including massage therapy, acupuncture, retreats and consultations with psychics and herbalists. Though helpful, she still found herself overindulging in unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol and food. It wasn’t until she quit drinking in 2008 that her true inner wisdom began to emerge, aided by her involvement in 12-step programs and subsequent certification as a Spiritual Director. Coming to terms with the addictions, though not easy, cleared the paths for faster progress.
In 2014, Barb began her formal training in bodywork, studying massage in Costa Rica and myofascial release in the U.S. under the guidance of John Barnes. She combined these skills with her training in Health Touch and other energy healing modalities to create a comprehensive practice that integrates spiritual direction and bodywork. Her studio services were well-received and in high demand. She was lauded most for her level of attunement with clients.
Clients were shut out of in-person services by shut-downs ordered for COVID-19 pandemic in spring, 2020. Clients wanted to keep their connection, so Ryan offered Zoom sessions for energetic and emotional support which led to the creation of Wisdom Listening.
Through Wisdom Sister Studio, Barb offers two primary services: Listening and Bodywork. The Listening sessions are designed for those who need to process concerns, explore ideas, or make decisions without outside influence. These virtual sessions help clients access their inner wisdom, leading to greater self-understanding and clarity for navigating choices and life.
Bodywork sessions, held on-site in Minneapolis, incorporate gentle yet profound techniques to release fascial restrictions, balance the nervous system and improve overall physical health. Barb’s approach is uniquely attuned to each client’s needs, combining conversation and hands-on therapy to foster alignment and healing. Most recently, she is offering a session for clients experiencing anxiety. Teach Your Body Calm helps clients reacquaint their bodies with the feeling of calm. She also teaches techniques in her recently published book—Sacred Self: Simple Tools for Self-Support—which is available through Amazon.
Barb’s vision for Wisdom Sister Studio is to nurture the connection to inner wisdom for all who seek it. She believes that moments of self-realization, big or small, can awaken oneself to deeper truths, self-discovery and healing. Through holistic services, she helps clients make decisions with greater ease, connect with their bodies and live more presently and joyfully.
With a rich background in spiritual direction and bodywork, Barb Ryan continues to hold healing space for others, helping them find their own wisdom and light. Her journey from corporate success to holistic healing is an inspiring example of the transformative power of inner wisdom and self-connection.
To learn more or book a session, visit WisdomSisterStudio.com.
She created Wisdom Sister Studio in 2015 to help others navigate life and health with greater ease and support.
Barb’s story begins with a dutiful adherence to a rigid religious upbringing and deep family traditions. Striving to meet external standards of success, she excelled in school and found success in corporate work in a Fortune 100 company. By 1998, she felt she had achieved all she was told by the over-culture to have a good life—a nice house, fancy car, lots of travel, high paying job, vibrant social life—and still an emptiness prevailed.
A single moment in April of that year, when she failed to recognize her own reflection in the mirror, changed her course. This “mirror moment” at age 34 forced her to confront the dissonance between her external achievements and her inner dissatisfaction. It was the catalyst for a decade-long journey of self-discovery and healing on many levels.
In 2014, Barb began her formal training in bodywork, studying massage in Costa Rica and myofascial release in the U.S. under the guidance of John Barnes. She combined these skills with her training in Health Touch and other energy healing modalities to create a comprehensive practice that integrates spiritual direction and bodywork. Her studio services were well-received and in high demand. She was lauded most for her level of attunement with clients.
Clients were shut out of in-person services by shut-downs ordered for COVID-19 pandemic in spring, 2020. Clients wanted to keep their connection, so Ryan offered Zoom sessions for energetic and emotional support which led to the creation of Wisdom Listening.
Professional Listening
Through Wisdom Sister Studio, Barb offers two primary services: Listening and Bodywork. The Listening sessions are designed for those who need to process concerns, explore ideas, or make decisions without outside influence. These virtual sessions help clients access their inner wisdom, leading to greater self-understanding and clarity for navigating choices and life.
Bodywork and Myofascial Release
Bodywork sessions, held on-site in Minneapolis, incorporate gentle yet profound techniques to release fascial restrictions, balance the nervous system and improve overall physical health. Barb’s approach is uniquely attuned to each client’s needs, combining conversation and hands-on therapy to foster alignment and healing. Most recently, she is offering a session for clients experiencing anxiety. Teach Your Body Calm helps clients reacquaint their bodies with the feeling of calm. She also teaches techniques in her recently published book—Sacred Self: Simple Tools for Self-Support—which is available through Amazon.
Barb’s vision for Wisdom Sister Studio is to nurture the connection to inner wisdom for all who seek it. She believes that moments of self-realization, big or small, can awaken oneself to deeper truths, self-discovery and healing. Through holistic services, she helps clients make decisions with greater ease, connect with their bodies and live more presently and joyfully.
With a rich background in spiritual direction and bodywork, Barb Ryan continues to hold healing space for others, helping them find their own wisdom and light. Her journey from corporate success to holistic healing is an inspiring example of the transformative power of inner wisdom and self-connection.
To learn more or book a session, visit WisdomSisterStudio.com.
