An Inspired Chat with Emelie Woodruff

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Emelie Woodruff. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Emelie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, always. Energy shifts. Intelligence grows. But integrity is the one thing you can’t fake, outsource, or perform. From integrity comes the way you love, create, lead, and move through the world. Integrity is choosing what feels true inside. From there, how you show up comes from that truth. Integrity is your map and compass, guiding you from the truth of who you are.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Emelie Woodruff, a holistic wellness practitioner, certified yoga & meditation teacher, Reiki Master, and life force facilitator. I’m also the founder of Holy Divine Official, where I guide people through yoga, Reiki, energy work, and meditation, helping them remember who they truly are and become aware of what’s moving beneath the surface of their lives.

My work comes from my own journey through grief, trauma, and spiritual awakening, which taught me how to hold space without expectation or force. I don’t push healing or try to fix anything; I simply guide, trusting that the body and mind already know the way. Shifts unfold in their own timing, and my role is to create a grounded, safe space where people can surrender and release what they need in that moment.

I believe we’re here to share our experiences and witness each other, both in pain and in love. Connection is medicine. Right now, I’m super excited to be accepting reservations for my next retreat “The Slow Way” in May 2026 in Costa Rica, which is a soft, supportive space to slow down, connect to yourself as a whole, feel held, remember yourself, and most importantly, remember your worth.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is with my younger brother, Simon. Losing him, and still feeling him here in ways I can’t fully explain, showed me that love can’t be defeated. I think about him every single day. In the breaking of my heart, my purpose became clear: to carry him with me, to walk a new path, and to live differently because of him.

Before Simon was gone, I wasn’t truly living. I was depressed, stressed, lost, and didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. His death forced me to let go of everything I thought I was. I traveled, practiced yoga and meditation, fell, rose, and kept going, piecing myself back together slowly, unevenly, but I never stopped.

My love for Simon, and the reminder of what life actually means, fuels everything I do. Grief is love felt through pain. It’s raw, undeniable. It’s also a guide, showing me how to live, love, and hold space for others with honesty and presence.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a moment, somewhere in the middle of all that grief, where I genuinely thought, “Maybe I’m not meant for this life.” I didn’t want to die, but I didn’t know how to live.

What saved me was Simon. The way he lived, the way he loved, the way he kept reminding me that life is short and precious. I realized that giving up on myself would also mean giving up on everything he taught me.

I remember sitting on the floor, scream-crying for help, begging for anything to ease the pain. I let myself fall apart completely. And when there was nothing left, that became the turning point.

It taught me that I can rebuild from nothing. That I can start again on a ground made of love and resilience. That sometimes it’s not about being strong. Sometimes it’s just choosing to stay. Choosing to take the next step. Choosing life, even when it hurts.

And that choice changed everything for me.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, is myself. To keep learning who I am, to grow through every challenge, and to show up fully for my own life. To honor my feelings, trust my intuition, and move at my own pace. To embrace the messy, beautiful process of becoming. Knowing that each step, small or big, matters. To choose myself again and again, with patience, love, and courage, no matter what.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
I’ve spent a lot of my life keeping my story to myself… my wins, my failures, the messy middle. It started in childhood, a quiet habit of staying small, of protecting myself from being seen. For years, I celebrated alone. I struggled alone. I kept the truth of who I am tucked away, thinking it was safer that way.

Now, I’m learning to be seen without fear. To speak openly about what I’ve done, what I’ve failed at, and what I’ve learned. I’m not selling a dream; this is life, and this habit of staying small has been with me long before trauma or scars left their mark. Overcoming it is a daily choice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emeliewoodruff.com
• Instagram: @emeliewoodruff
• Facebook: @emeliewoodruff
• Other: Retreat Costa Rica May 23 – 29, 2026

  https://www.tourhero.com/en/epic-adventures/costa-rica/where-healing-meets-harmony-costa-wellness-path-with-emelie-woodruff-518966580

Image Credits
the picture with “The Slow Way” is the venue give credit to ‘Casas Kismet Boutique Retreat Center’