Today we’d like to introduce you to Madaline Spinks.
Hi Madaline, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Zen Tiger Healing’s origin story started off a bit dramatically. Before creating this practice, I was living in Boston and training as a triathlete. One evening while training, I experienced what I now know were symptoms of ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac arrest. After arriving at the hospital, my heart stopped, I had a near-death experience, and the medical team performed a cardioversion to bring me back.
I was later diagnosed with a rare, degenerative heart disease and was told I could no longer compete at the level I once had without significant risks to my health. Losing something that had been such a big part of my identity forced me to completely reimagine my life and my relationship with my body.
During my recovery, I discovered Reiki and meditation, and I can truly say that they saved my life. These modalities became a powerful part of my journey back to myself. They helped me rebuild trust in my body, find strength beyond my physical abilities, and create hope for the future.
It was then that I knew I wanted to share these practices with others who were navigating their own challenges and looking for a sense of healing, connection, and hope. That was the moment Zen Tiger Healing was born.
What started as a Reiki and meditation practice has evolved into a holistic wellness practice incorporating Reiki, sound healing, meditation, hypnotherapy, forest therapy, Qigong, and community healing experiences. My mission is to support people who have walked through difficult seasons of life and help them reconnect with their strength, resilience, and inner wisdom. We all have the power of healing within – we just need to reach a place of balance and confidence, and that’s my ultimate goal with each client.
Having multiple healing modalities allows me to support each person from a variety of perspectives and create experiences that feel personalized, approachable, and aligned with their own journey. Today, I blend Reiki, sound healing, and meditation into my one-on-one sessions while also creating community experiences like sound baths, meditation hikes, forest bathing, group past life regression sessions, and Qigong gatherings.
At its core, Zen Tiger Healing was born from my own experience of rebuilding after hardship. My hope is to remind others that even after life changes us, there is always an opportunity to reconnect, heal, and rise again.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road, but then again, what meaningful journey ever is? One quote I’ve always loved is, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” Looking back, I truly believe every challenge has made both me and my practice stronger.
Beyond nearly dying and being diagnosed with a rare heart disease, I’ve navigated the unique challenges of building a small business while living a deeply spiritual lifestyle. Those experiences have required me to continually reshape the way I think, feel, and show up in the world. Every client I’ve worked with has taught me something about myself, and each session has been an opportunity for growth.
Of course, I’ve also faced the more familiar struggles of entrepreneurship – imposter syndrome, marketing, social media, and building a community from the ground up. But every obstacle has brought valuable lessons that have shaped Zen Tiger Healing into what it is today. I genuinely wouldn’t change any of it.
I see this as my life’s work. Even when I’m old and gray, I hope I’ll still be sharing these healing modalities. Every lesson I learn now only strengthens my ability to serve others with more authenticity, wisdom, and compassion.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Zen Tiger Healing?
Zen Tiger Healing is a holistic wellness practice in East Nashville centered around helping people reconnect with themselves through Reiki, meditation, sound, nature, and spiritual exploration. I specialize in Reiki, Reiki-infused sound healing, sound baths, meditation experiences, forest bathing, and past life regression sessions, creating safe, intentional spaces where people can slow down, release what no longer serves them, and reconnect with their own inner wisdom. I’m currently studying aromatherapy and Qigong to blend into my practice as well.
A major part of Zen Tiger Healing is the belief that we are deeply connected to the natural world. I intentionally align my practice and business with the rhythms and healing energy of nature, incorporating outdoor experiences, meditation hikes, and nature-based gatherings into my offerings. Nature has always been one of my greatest teachers and places of healing, and I love creating opportunities for others to reconnect with that same sense of grounding, peace, and belonging.
What sets Zen Tiger Healing apart is how I blend multiple healing modalities with a deeply personal, grounded approach. I believe healing isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about remembering who you truly are beneath the layers of stress, fear, expectations, and experiences you’ve accumulated along the way. My goal is to meet each person exactly where they are and create experiences that feel both transformative and approachable.
One of the things that makes Zen Tiger Healing unique is the way I blend multiple healing modalities into each one-on-one session. Clients experience a combination of Reiki, sound healing, meditation, and meaningful conversations before and after the session itself. This allows us to go beyond simply receiving energy work and create a deeper, more personalized healing experience.
I’m especially proud that Zen Tiger Healing was built from my own journey of healing and resilience. After facing a life-threatening health experience and navigating my own path back to balance, I became even more passionate about creating spaces where people feel supported, seen, and empowered in their own healing process. My experiences have shaped the way I hold space for others – with compassion, authenticity, and the understanding that everyone’s journey looks different.
Beyond individual sessions, I love bringing people together through community experiences like group sound baths, meditation hikes, workshops, and spiritual gatherings. Some of my favorite moments are watching someone leave a session feeling lighter, more connected, or simply more like themselves.
At its core, Zen Tiger Healing is about creating moments of peace in a busy world and reminding people that healing is not a destination. It’s a lifelong journey of coming home to yourself, reconnecting with nature, and remembering the wisdom that already exists within.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Oh man, what a tough question! Is it cheating to say, “I’m surrendering to the process?” Because honestly, that has been my experience (and my “business plan”) so far, and it has unfolded more beautifully than I could have imagined.
If you had told me many years ago that I would become a Reiki Master creating community healing experiences through my Reiki practice in Nashville, I would have been surprised, but I also would have been completely on board. Building Zen Tiger Healing in Nashville has shown me that people are seeking more meaningful ways to reconnect with themselves, find balance, and create space for healing in their lives.
I believe people are craving deeper connection, shared experiences, and intentional spaces where they can explore different aspects of themselves. A major focus I see growing within my own practice is creating more themed experiences, retreats, and collaborations that blend multiple healing modalities together. Healing can sometimes feel intimidating, overly serious, or disconnected from everyday life, but I’ve found that people are often able to go deeper when there is a meaningful intention behind the experience, a combination of different practices, and even a little bit of joy and play woven in.
As the interest in holistic wellness and energy healing continues to grow, I’m excited to see more people explore practices like Reiki, meditation, sound healing, and nature-based experiences as tools for personal growth and connection. At this point in my journey, I’ve learned something new every year of my practice, and that’s one of the things I love most about this work. I’m excited to continue learning, growing, and seeing where my life, my interests, and the needs of my community guide me next.
Pricing:
- In-Person Reiki + sound healing: $160
- Virtual classes: $33
- Private sound bath: Starting at $300
- Past Life Regression Hypnotherapy: $397
- Reiki 1 & 2 Certification: $425
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zentigerhealing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zentigerhealing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084995545434
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZenTigerHealing
