Rising Stars: Meet Anneli Virkhaus of Monteagle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anneli Virkhaus.

Hi Anneli, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I never set out to open a yoga studio. That wasn’t the plan. But sometimes, life opens a door you didn’t know you were waiting for — and your soul says, “Yes.”

I graduated from St. Andrews-Sewanee in 2003 and went on to earn degrees in Music and Music Therapy, along with certifications in sound and energy healing. I spent several years in California doing music therapy and healing work, and when my husband and I moved back to the South from San Francisco in 2017, we knew we were ready for a different kind of life.

Just before the height of COVID, I completed my yoga teacher training while also managing a garden. Like many people, I felt deeply ungrounded in 2020 — unsure of what was next. Around that time, we heard that a new building in Monteagle was being renovated, and the owners were hoping it would become a yoga or fitness studio. That planted the seed.

I had just finished my training and found myself wondering what the next step in my journey would be. Opening a studio felt like a big leap — I had never started or run a business before — but something in me knew it was time to say yes.

So, in the midst of COVID, when most studios were closing, I opened one. I took a leap of faith. People showed up and it was successful. About a year in, I learned the whole building would be expanding, and with that came the next edge — we decided to expand too. We built a beautiful infrared sauna and healing room, transforming the space into something even more nourishing.

This journey has been wild and rich — not without its challenges, but filled with so much growth. I’ve learned how to run a business, how to facilitate, how to listen, and how to trust the unfolding of something bigger than me.

It’s been one of my greatest honors to teach here… to offer yoga and sound healing in a rural town that might not otherwise have access to it. To hold space for others to breathe, feel, release, and remember themselves. To be a way-shower in a place that’s learning how to receive this kind of care. It’s been a gift to have this yoga studio.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Not exactly. Running a small business in a small town comes with its own unique set of challenges. You’d think in a close-knit community, word would travel fast — but that hasn’t always been the case. Our building had been many things over the years and, to some, it still feels invisible. Signage was limited, and despite offering something beautiful and healing, it wasn’t always easy to reach new people.

Bringing practices like yoga and sound healing to a rural area has been both a gift and a stretch. These offerings are still unfamiliar or even misunderstood by some — and there’s only so much of a population to draw from. Building awareness and trust takes time.

Financially, it’s been difficult. The expenses of running the studio, creating a beautiful space, and continuing to give so much of myself — while often receiving very little in return — has been one of the hardest parts. I poured my heart, energy, and resources into something I deeply believed in, but I never earned a sustainable income from it. I’ve heard this is the case for many yoga studios and I wish that I could offer these services for free or donation based, but when you have high rent to pay, it’s not the case.

It’s been a powerful teacher — in resilience, surrender, and what it really means to walk the path of service. I do also work at The Caverns, a music venue in a cave to financially support myself so that the studio can continue to exist on the mountain.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a musician, sound healer, psychic intuitive, and space-holder with over three decades of experience on the piano and training in music therapy, sound, and energy healing. I’ve studied music deeply and play over 12 instruments. Sound is my language.

I’m known for facilitating powerful, immersive sound experiences — from intimate one-on-one healing sessions to large-scale sound baths at festivals, retreats, and iconic venues like The Caverns, where I’ve performed solo and alongside bass DJ LSDREAM.

Whether I’m guiding a group in somatic release, offering spiritual insight in private sessions, or holding the vibration in a cave with crystal bowls, voice, and a multitude of instruments, I bring depth, presence, and finely-tuned intuition to every offering.

I’m here to share my voice, my music, and the transformative magic of sound. What sets me apart is my angelic voice and ability to help entrain people quickly into a relaxed state of being. My presence is powerful and I am able to transmute the energy of entire groups of people during my sound healing work. I am also a caver, so enjoy plunging into the darkness and unknown and seeing beautiful alien landscapes under the earth.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is connection — to myself, to others, and to something greater. I’ve walked through the fire of addiction and recovery, from drug use to anorexia, and that journey has taught me the power of self-awareness, self-love, and embodied healing.

I care deeply about community, real friendship, and creating spaces where people feel safe to be fully themselves. Dance — especially ecstatic and contact dance — is a huge part of that for me. It’s about freedom, expression, somatic release, and the beauty of platonic touch. I believe in normalizing connection in all its forms — because we all need it to thrive.

Pricing:

• Single class- $18
• Single sauna session- $28
• Sound healing 1 hour -$100
• Class packages available
• Sauna packages available

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.highvibeshealing.com
• Instagram: @anneli707
• Facebook: High Vibes Healing
• Other: https://www.issa707.com