Kayla St. Marie, owner and founder of Ropana Wellness, is a licensed massage therapist, certified personal trainer, and certified yoga teacher. Kayla was working in the health and wellness industry for five years prior to becoming a massage therapist. Her specialties are complementary health care modalities designed to help, not hinder, individuals. Kayla emphasizes that we rely on the body’s own ability to heal itself as an alternative to pharmaceutical drug therapies. In 2017 Kayla’s journey took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that challenged her strength and resilience. Lupus seemed like an insurmountable mountain standing between her and her dreams. Yet, she knew she had to find the courage to fight back and reclaim her life. Determined not to let the disease define her, Kayla embarked on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. She began to educate herself about auto immune diseases and their management. Kayla quickly realized that taking control of her health was crucial. She embraced a healthy lifestyle, incorporating exercise, balanced nutrition, and stress-reduction techniques into her daily routine. She incorporated massage therapy into her self care routine and discovered the healing power of yoga and meditation, which calmed her mind and soothed her body's inflammatory responses. As Kayla delved deeper into understanding her condition, she connected with lupus support groups and online communities. She found solace in their stories, realizing she was not alone in her battle. In this realization she wondered if there were others like her that had not been as successful in battling this disease. Overcoming lupus became more than just a battle; it became a profound transformation of her mind, body, and spirit. Kayla emerged from the struggle with an unyielding passion to inspire others facing similar challenges. Kayla has made it her goal within her community to become a beacon of hope, sharing her story and empowering others to embrace the healing power within. Kayla founded Ropana Wellness in 2021 to help heal and inspire others facing uphill battles in their physical and mental health. In ayurvedic literature "Ropana" translates to ‘healing wounds’ or ‘the ability to heal oneself'. Kayla’s mission is to create a space where individuals can embark on a transformative journey towards holistic health, embracing balance between mind and body. Her mission is to celebrate the beauty of individuality and empower each person to unlock their fullest potential.

Katie Jackson is our Functional Nutrition practitioner specializing in gut and hormone health. She understands the interconnectedness of various bodily systems and how they influence overall health. Katie uses a patient-centered approach, considering the individual's history, genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices to develop personalized health plans. The focus is on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness, dysfunction and/or diagnosis, rather than simply symptom management.  By identifying imbalances in areas such as nutrition, digestion, hormones, immune system, and detoxification, Katie’s aim is to restore the body's natural ability to heal and maintain optimal health. Individual approaches may include lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, supplementation, stress reduction techniques, exercise, and other interventions tailored to the individual's specific needs. Katie’s ultimate goal for clients is to help them achieve and sustain optimal health, prevent future disease, and improve overall well-being by addressing the underlying factors that contribute to their health challenges.