Giant geodes are widespread for his or her purported therapeutic properties.
Soothe Your Soul clients name the nondescript warehouse on Valley Drive in Hermosa Seaside “Disneyland for the senses.” Photograph by Kevin Cody
by Elka Worner
Soothe Your Soul is extra a sanctuary than a retailer, in accordance with lots of its longtime clients.
Therapeutic massage therapist Laura Vartanian describes the warehouse crammed with crystals, aromatherapy and well being dietary supplements as “Disneyland for the senses.”
“If life is throwing you curveballs, pushing you down into the bottom and you’ve got gravel in your face, that is the place to come back to unwind and rejuvenate,” Vartanian stated.
“I like it right here,” stated healer Kathleen Kraskouskas, as tears welled up in her eyes. “The proprietor is at all times so variety and welcoming.”
The reason for Kraskouskas’ tears is Soothe Your Soul’s closing within the coming months.
After 26 years, proprietor Rena Pleasure Shamie is shifting her enterprise on-line as a result of she desires to dedicate extra time to consultations, and to her YouTube channel.
“It should permit me extra time to serve the neighborhood,” she stated.
Shamie transformed the warehouse at sixth Road and Ardmore Avenue into a spot of rest lengthy earlier than experiential procuring turned a development.
Her stamp is on each a part of the shop, from flooring to ceiling.
Handmade, mesh butterflies, in pastel colours grasp from the ceiling. The concrete flooring is painted in mystical swirls of cerulean, lavender and seafoam inexperienced. Shamie blended 120 gallons of paint into 30 completely different colours after which added glitter to create the ground canvas. She additionally positioned 2,000 crystals beneath the concrete for constructive vitality.
Whereas clients store their senses are soothed by her piped in, guided meditations and the scent of lavender, geranium, bergamot and rosemary from her widespread “Joyful Grace” mix.
“It’s a deal with for all your senses. You may odor it, contact it and hearken to the singing bowls,” stated longtime buyer Roselle Cespon. “I at all times really feel higher after being within the retailer,”
Shamie stated as a toddler she was usually sick with colds and the flu, however didn’t like taking antibiotics, choosing natural cures as a substitute.
The previous accountant opened her first Soothe Your Soul in Redondo Seaside 26 years in the past, earlier than shifting to the warehouse house on Valley Drive in Hermosa Seaside.
“I had no intention of opening a retailer, however whereas in a meditative state I had a imaginative and prescient,” she stated. “I wished to assist individuals join with their larger selves.”
Shamie stated her most difficult time was the 2008 monetary disaster when gross sales dropped by half, and she or he virtually filed for chapter.
“Nobody wished to purchase beads, fountains and jewellery throughout the recession,” she stated. “So I taught lessons on what to eat to be wholesome.”
She attributes her success to listening to her clients’ issues and freely sharing her encyclopedic data of pure therapeutic.
Throughout a typical day, she offers clients handouts on the advantages of diatomaceous earth and the dietary worth of sprouting buckwheat, and quinoa. She additionally affords free samples of her oils, and her Lovely Pores and skin Naturally anti-wrinkle moisturizer, which has a cult following.
In the event you’re stiff from a exercise, she recommends her No Extra Sore Muscle tissues. For complications, she dispenses her Migraine Mix.
“She has a therapeutic presence,” stated nurse Anisah Riaz who was identified with Stage 3 breast most cancers when she first got here to the shop. She credit the crystals she bought there, and taking over browsing with serving to with the therapeutic course of. Riaz has been most cancers free for 2 years.
Throughout a latest journey to Soothe Your Soul, Riaz purchased a number of ocean jasper and quartz items, which she stated she would place all through her dwelling as a result of “they create quite a lot of cleaning and therapeutic.”
Feng shui and crystal vitality specialist Lori Pagnucco, who teaches crystal workshops in her workplace throughout the road from the shop, stated she is going to miss bringing her college students to Soothe Your Soul for crystal procuring.
“This has been my go-to retailer,” Pagnucco stated. “They’ve all kinds of crystals at affordable costs.”
Shamie shares tons of of tumbled crystals, together with shiva lingam, sourced from a sacred river in India; ruby kyanite; and shungite, a stone that reportedly affords safety from dangerous radiation emanating from digital gadgets.
For years, clients have been capable of contact the stones and really feel their vitality on this distinctive gathering spot for like-minded people.
These sensory experiences might be misplaced when Soothe Your Soul strikes on-line. However Shamie stated her dedication to her clients will proceed.
For extra about Soothe Your Soul, go to BeautifulSkinNaturally.com. ER
