Meet Ruth Smith | Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor, Meditation facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruth Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ruth, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve never had or wanted a 9-5 grind and truly believe that there really is no guaranteed stability in any job. When I was a pre-teen my father and several of his co-workers were diagnosed with spinal meningitis, a virus that they caught in the work environment from a company that I will leave un-named. I watched my young mother in shock in the hospital alongside her ill husband as this unnamed company threatened my mother into firing my father in what seemed like efforts of retaliation. Some people were already trying to discuss funeral plans or plans for permanent disability care with my mother which was in my experience very traumatizing for me and painful to see my mother go through. Luckily for my family the world didn’t know how strong my father was, he pulled through with an amazing recovery and to this day my parents are still alive side by side with a fading memory of the horror and injustice that came along with a sudden illness such as this. I am aware that sudden illness, sudden injury, mental fatigue and other unexpected downfalls can come along with any job at any time in your life. But at that moment, seeing how a company that an individual works so hard for can have such disregard for their employees, well in that moment I knew I could not trust my future in any anyone else’s hands but my own. I got my massage license in 2016 and have been pursuing a career in wellness ever since.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I moved from Austin TX in 2023, and actually gained a ton of skills by just being a musician in a thriving city. Over the past 10 years I’ve played countless festivals, countless tours all over the US and beyond and you really learn so much with all facets of musicianship. I’ve learned how to be calm in stressful situations, how to communicate with managers, bandmates, labels, booking agencies, record distribution, PR agencies and how to utilize social media. I’ve learned how to manage merchandise profit margins, and of course scheduling with other working adults. So when I moved to the small town of Pagosa Springs I found running my own business was way easier than I ever had expected. Communication is key, and listening to others fosters continuous learning and improvement.

With my business “You Deserve This Massage + Wellness” I strive to offer easy hassle free scheduling for locals and visitors, good communication, from the booking process to the intake and afterwards, so you have the best experience we can offer. Every massage is a tailored experience for the client. Applying my knowledge of anatomy and physiology in relaxing but firm massage and bodywork is what I specialize in.  We offer couples massage, Deep tissue, Swedish, Hot Stone and more with free aromatherapy and hot towels for every session.
With my yoga and meditation offerings I strive to provide inclusive and accessible services to marginalized seniors and low income rural populations. For example traveling to rural areas to hold classes and building a sequenced class with the assistance of a chair for people with physical disabilities or aging populations. We are committed to introducing meditation as a powerful tool for self-care specifically targeting depression, anxiety and ADHD. Through our culturally sensitive and community driven approach we are welcoming all people to this LBGTQ+ friendly female owned and operated space with a focus on providing wellness for all underserved communities. Starting this summer we will be offering free guided meditation every Sunday morning at 10 am following a short walk to a park for a yoga practice in the heart of the sunbathed beauty of Pagosa Springs.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Oh wow I love this town so much and am hesitant to give all the secrets away but I think there’s plenty to go around. So a perfect day for me would be hitting Pagosa Baking, grabbing some grub and heading to Wolf Creek for some runs on the mountain, then I’d head to the prospector bar for an apres ski beer with the crew of people that happen to be up for that day. Then I’d head back down the mountain and soak in one of the many options of hot springs after grabbing a loaded Cobb Salad at Riff Raff Brewing.

If I had friends in town for the summer I may even do the same thing but I’d park at the west side of the continental divide and hike to Alberta Peak which is a pretty easy hike even for beginners with lots of switchbacks and great views.

If they were here for a week I would definitely throw an overnight backpacking trip in there. I would take them to the Pine river or the Anderson Loop Trail after we return to civilization. I’d head into town and devour a burger from Kips Grill.

Another thing I love in the summer here is stargazing from Chimney Rock hosted by the San Juan Star Gazers Astronomy Club. The open sky from Chimney Rock is so magnificent. Pairing this remote and historically significant land with the sight of the infinite cosmos is humbling and enchanting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Sage Blossom Massage in Austin Texas. I worked at this small spa in Austin Texas before moving to Pagosa Springs CO. Juliann the owner and massage therapist herself paved the way for me to grow within a community of other body work practitioners. She really listened to her team, we always were supported, listened to and had a good vibe. As a feminist I really loved that I was working for a woman owned and run business and her business was booming. I took what I learned from there and have applied to every job since.

Yoga Farm Ithica
Yoga Farm Ithica is where I received my yoga training, it is an online school that was affordable and allowed me to have a great interactive learning experience with western based teachings in yoga while still respecting the Vedic teachings and history.

Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce
I would love to just shout out to all of Pagosa Springs but the Chamber of Commerce is a good place to start. With the seasonality that plagues some small mountain towns, the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce definitely helps encourage, inform and introduce small businesses in their community, setting them up for the success that they desire.

Website: https://www.youdeservethismassage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/you_deserve_this_wellness

Facebook: facebook.com/youdeservethismassage

Other: https://g.co/kgs/SzTT9LX

Image Credits
Ruthie Smith