At 18, Ruth Haigh was in enough pain from sciatica that she was considering using a cane. She had tried nearly everything and turned to chiropractic care out of desperation.

Then she got off the treatment table and walked normally. Any thoughts of a cane disappeared.

For Ruth, that moment changed more than her back. It changed the direction of her life and began a lifelong fascination with understanding the whole story behind what the body is experiencing.

A Different Way of Viewing the Body

She had planned to pursue physical therapy, but that healing experience and working for a chiropractor during college introduced her to a different way of viewing the body. She trained in X-ray technology, learning to connect the structural problems she saw on an image with what patients were experiencing. She began to see how the body could reveal pathways toward relief.

That curiosity eventually drew Ruth to massage therapy, where she learned to feel through touch what she had once learned to see through X-rays. Ashiatsu became her signature modality. Using overhead bars for balance, she applies broad, controlled pressure with her feet in a technique that, after decades of practice, has become like a dance—fluid and deliberate for Ruth, deeply relaxing and highly effective for the client.

Wellness Journeys

That realization helped shape Wellness Journeys, Ruth’s intimate, twice-yearly retreats designed to give women more time and space to recognize what may be depleting them physically, emotionally or professionally—and to learn practical tools they can take home.

Held at an oceanside villa, Ruth conducts an intake beforehand to ensure the retreat is a good fit, then leads workshops in mindset, breathwork, nutrition and nervous system reset. Guests also experience a full mind-body-beauty spa day and excursions such as a dinner cruise.

A Carefully Selected Team

She also brings in a carefully selected team of specialists. Pilates instructor Gretchen Hall leads daily movement; Dr. Rose Littlejohn explores passion, purpose and work-life balance; holistic nurse practitioner Tara Lee shares expertise in gut health and wellness; and Nourish & Thrive provides thoughtfully prepared and tailored meals.

Growth Wherever You Are

For Ruth, the villa’s picturesque setting is nurturing, but she believes growth is still possible wherever you are if you have the right tools. She puts that belief into practice through her Bible-based ministry in the community and at a women’s prison, where she encourages women to use their difficult circumstances as an opportunity to examine patterns, learn to rely on timeless principles and make healthier choices.

That philosophy also leaves plenty of room for joy. In the Keys, Ruth loves snorkeling, pickleball, Pilates and time with friends and family, along with dancing, travel and just about anything that creates space to play, connect and enjoy life.