Meet Katherine Lash | Founder & CEO

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

Hi Katherine, what is the most important factor behind your success?
In today’s world, so many business interactions have become impersonal. From AI to automated systems, connecting to a real live human being is hard. I would say that the number one factor of a successful wellness company is trust. How can one build trust if interacting with a computer? SpiritQuest Sedona Retreats strives to provide a human interaction where the potential client feels valued, heard, and understood. Our phones are answered by office staff intent on listening, providing clarity, empathizing, and helping plan an experience that will transform lives. From the moment a person calls, the SpiritQuest staff will put aside all else and become very present on the phone. Our retreats are customized for each person who calls us. That kind of service is VERY hard to find these days. We hope that by focusing solely on the person we are talking to, trust will be built. We are a company that truly cares.

Moreover, we treat our practitioners the same way. We model the values that we emphasize for our clients. We believe that happiness is a result of integral living. When we relate to each other with kindness, presence, forgiveness, transparency, clarity, etc. we find the world a better place to live. We avoid tangled webs, manipulation, power plays, victimization, and deceit.

While branding is important (the image portrayed, the filter, the aesthetics of the logo, the marketing efforts) what is even more important is helping people feel that they matter.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a child, I was always involved in enterprise. I would call myself a young entrepreneur. As a firstborn child, I felt a calling and drive to change the world. I have written a book about my journey called, “Out of the Muck and Into the Lotus.” This is published on my website. (In audio file as well.) This is a recount of my journey to gain more confidence in myself as a woman and to believe that I am worthy and deserving. It was a hard road, at times facing issues such as divorce, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, dealing with trauma, and sickness. At one point, I left the country and traveled to over 10 countries in Asia. The people I met along the way, and the work I did on myself completely turned my life around. I learned that at the root of most agony is the inability to connect to others in a genuine way, to clearly express oneself, to believe in oneself, and to allow life to flow without needing to control it. This is what caused me to embark upon a spiritual path and a path of self-care. I realized that when I am the best that I can be for myself, I am the best for all those in my life.

When I returned from Asia, I started my company in 2007. I knew that not everyone could quit their jobs and leave the country for months at a time. Therefore, I wanted to provide support and emotional healing to be accomplished in under a week. Thus, SpiritQuest Sedona Retreats was born! There have been many challenges along the way but as long as the company sticks to its initial mission of truly caring for others then all else follows.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Sedona, Arizona is known for its breathtaking vistas and its towering red rocks. People gather from all over the globe to visit its “vortex sites.” I would definitely take visitors to Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock. I would take them hiking in West Fork, and we would visit Devil’s Bridge. SpiritQuest has a permit to visit some less-known trails as well.

I would recommend a massage and sound clearing at SpiritQuest. I would recommend a breathwork session and a walk in the medicine wheel. I would love them to experience a Chakra Balancing or a dip in the creek and a Vortex Tour Experience. SpiritQuest offers over 50 sessions to choose from!

For dining, I would suggest the Creekside American Bistro, the Mesa Grill, and Renee’s Restaurant. Up Oak Creek Canyon, I would recommend Indian Gardens Cafe.

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?
I have to give a shoutout to my wonderful parents. I am so appreciative for the patience, guidance, and leadership of my parents. Because of them I felt loved in my life. I felt supported (even as a little child). My mother modeled service, kindness, non-judgment, and spirituality. My father modeled incentive, hard work, fairness, confidence, and problem-solving.

In addition, I learned a great deal from my philosophy teachers in college. I read copiously and was exposed to the human condition and how to move forward when faced with adversity. Some of the authors who had a big impact on me are Socrates, Soren Kierkegaard, Maritn Buber, & Thomas Aquinas. Some of the many books that have influenced me are “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, “Waking the Tiger” by Peter Levine, “Tears to Triumph” by Mariann Williamson, and “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Of course, I love the great poet Rumi and the wonderful Mary Oliver. As well as the insights of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Website: retreatsinsedona.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-lash-540a0933/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpiritQuest1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritQuestSedonaRetreats

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/spiritquest-sedona-retreats-sedona-5

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/spiritualretreats1