If you’re interested in taking up yoga or trying alternative therapies like sound bath healing in the new year, Renny Ratliff is a Birminghamian you’ll want to know. She’s the founder of Tree House Birmingham, an urban retreat nestled in a Victorian mansion on 19th Street. Tree House offers both private and small-group yoga classes, guided meditation, reiki energy sessions, seven cozy guest rooms where guests can stay overnight, and more.
Free-spirited yet firmly grounded in her community, Renny has been busy for the last two years cultivating a safe, relaxing, and mindful space at Tree House. Get to know this inspiring FACE of Birmingham!
Meet Renny Ratliff, owner of Tree House Birmingham — and her trusted sidekick, Tree! Image: Rick Olivier Photography
Tell us about your relationship to the South — are you from Birmingham originally?
Renny: I am a Birmingham native, along with my dad’s side of the family. I went to college in Colorado after finishing Mt. Brook High School. I lived in Florida as a young adult and traveled often. I returned to Birmingham five years ago — it was never my plan to move back, but upon visiting my family, I knew in my heart that there were big things to do here.
I never felt like a typical “Southerner.” My choice to create Tree House in Birmingham was my vision to bring more worldly, open-minded energy to the South.
Can you tell us about your professional background and what led you to develop Tree House?
Renny: (Laughs) I have never worked in a corporate setting. I am a “wanderluster” at heart and have been creative about making a sustainable living on the road. I worked with a crew of my best friends on a traveling food truck for a few years. I sold handmade jewelry and crafts while following my favorite band, Umphrey’s Mcgee.
In total, I’ve had over 30 jobs … a candle-maker, a poet, a music blogger, a writer’s assistant, a nanny, and a barista. I have spent the majority of my adulthood crafting my skill as a professional yoga teacher and guide. I’ve led five professional retreats in my position as a 500 YTT [the highest international standard for yoga teachers], and I’ve taught over 780 formal yoga classes.
Renny is deeply devoted to her yoga practice. “Yoga was my portal into a healthier and happier lifestyle,” she says. “I became aware of my choices and destructive patterns. Through that awareness, I found an alternative, life-giving option.” Image: Alex Vu Ngo
You’ve credited yoga with saving your life. Tell us about that journey.
Renny: When I found yoga, I naturally let go of many unhealthy habits that would have surely led me on a fruitless path in the long run. As human beings, our choices create patterns and habits and eventually become our repetitive reality. The cycle of those patterns becomes harder to break with time.
Yoga was my portal into a healthier and happier lifestyle. When yoga became a priority, something in me released the desire to stay up all night partying. I became aware of my choices and destructive patterns. Through that awareness, I found an alternative, life-giving option.
As a yoga enthusiast and instructor, what advice would you give to someone considering starting their own practice?
Renny: Experience yoga. Just try it. There are endless types of asana practices offered online, in books, or at yoga studios. You can do a quick Google search about the variety of yoga and try out the one that seems most appealing.
Make a commitment that you’ll try a few different types of yoga in the near future. You might fall in love with Bikram after one class. The consistency of a heated 26-posture series really seems to work for lots of people. If you’re one of those people, great! But don’t forget that there are so many options, so if the first time or two don’t hit home, don’t give up. If walking into a group setting feels intimidating, private classes are a great entry into the practice.
How many rooms are available for booking at Birmingham Tree House? Is it common (or possible) for folks to book the entire house?
Renny: There are seven rooms available for booking. I would like to see more whole-house bookings in 2023, as Tree House is the perfect spot for family reunions or small wedding parties. There are multiple common areas ideal for 10 to 12 people to gather together.
The openness of the yoga rooms makes it an ideal party setting. I’d also love to host young professionals looking to call Birmingham home for a short time. Extended stays of up to two weeks are offered at a heavily discounted price.
Tree House is nestled in a nationally registered historic home — a Victorian mansion originally built in 1898. Image: Fernweh Lifestyle Photography
Tree House offers various other services like sound bath healing, reiki energy sessions, and guided meditation. Can you describe those offerings for our readers that may not be familiar?
Renny: Sound bath healing is a unique offering where participants find a comfortable place to lay down, cozy up with pillows and blankets, and drift into deep meditation while Mariela uses her crystal “singing bowls” to fill the space with vibrational sound that soothes the mind, body, and soul.
I think of reiki as a massage without touch. It involves a trained reiki master that has the ability to observe energetic patterns and potential blockages in the client’s body. People often report feelings of euphoria, lightness, and a deeper sense of embodiment after a session.
Guided meditation is a nice offering for those just beginning a meditation practice or who want a bit of assistance with where to direct the mind.
In her free time, Renny loves to practice yoga at Yoga Lab and The Yoga Circle. Image: Alex Vu Ngo
What are your current favorite sources of inspiration?
Renny: That’s a big list! Nature. Those closest to me. My soul sisters and yogi tribe, Pilar Taylor and Stephen Fletcher, are two iconic yoga studio owners in Birmingham — I would highly recommend checking out one of their classes at Yoga Lab or The Yoga Circle.
Books: Human Design Theory and The Power of Now. Music is the nourishment that my soul needs. When given the opportunity, I love live music like Remy Neal and Umphrey’s McGee.
What are your favorite places to eat, shop, and play in Birmingham?
Renny: In my free time, I often find myself practicing at The Yoga Circle or Yoga Lab. My favorite places to eat and drink around Birmingham are the breweries. I love Avondale Brewing Co. and the Common House restaurant. While I do like to adventure out in the Magic City, when you walk into the doors of Tree House, there’s an entire community here.
What’s the greatest challenge you’ve faced as a small business owner?
Renny: Stress management. Running your own business requires you to wear 50 hats. This wouldn’t be possible without my yoga practice coming full circle.
What’s next for Birmingham Tree House? Any lofty goals for the new year?
Renny: The first two years of my business were heavily focused on starting up, growth, and expansion. Moving forward, I want to continue to work smarter, not harder.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Renny: “Life is too short to do shit you don’t want to do” — from my dad, a native Birminghamian. The world needs more dreamers AND doers.
Tree, Renny’s beloved dog, can usually be found at Tree House! Image: Submitted
Beyond faith, family, and friends — name three things you can’t live without.
Renny: My yoga practice. It keeps me physically healthy, emotionally balanced, and mentally sane! My dog, Tree. She is my sidekick, soulmate, and favorite girl in the whole world. Art. Whether that comes in the form of live music and dancing, writing, personal creativity, or enjoying the gifts of nature’s art and beauty … I find it hard to answer this question with only three things; I am a multifaceted, passionate being.
Thanks, Renny! We can’t wait to see what’s next for Tree House!
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