Daniele Ogren, founder of Rive Pilates, leads a 45-minute Pilates class as part of the R+R Ritual event at the Surety Hotel. (Photos: Surety Hotel)
By Hailey Evans
Associate Editor
Des Moines is no stranger to fitness classes. On any given day, active locals are participating in hot yoga, barre, lagree or cardio dance classes. In a new collaboration with the Surety Hotel, a team of wellness warriors have teamed up to offer a new kind of experience called R+R Ritual, which combines fitness, mindfulness and social connection.
“R+R Ritual is designed to give people an opportunity to step away from the noise and distractions of everyday life and reconnect with themselves,” said Daniele Ogren, the founder and lead instructor of Rive Pilates.
The team consists of Ogren, Hannah Rush of Resonate Healing and Kerri “The Wheatgrass Girl” Rush.
They welcome R+R guests with wheatgrass shots from Kerri’s Fresh Wheatgrass Girl farm and calming incense floating throughout the Surety’s Midland Room, which is flooded with light and offers views of the historic courthouse across the street. The 45-minute Pilates class focuses on intentional movement and mind-body awareness, designed to be accessible and welcoming to people of any fitness level. After the exercise, guests sit for an hour-long sound bath to slow back down.
“Pilates and sound healing complement each other because they each encourage presence in different ways,” Ogren explained. “Pilates helps you reconnect with your body through movement, breath and awareness, while the sound bath creates space to slow down, rest and absorb that experience.”
“Think of a sound bath as a guided meditation,” said Hannah Rush, pictured left. “But instead of using my voice to lead you, I use instruments like quartz crystal singing bowls and Paiste Gongs.”
Many R+R participants have reported leaving the experience feeling physically better, mentally clearer and more grounded. The sound bath portion is specifically designed to invite rest, and the instrument frequencies help to lower cortisol levels and calm the nervous system, Rush said.
“A sound bath is for anyone who is ready to intentionally step into that place within themselves that is calm and peaceful amidst the movement and noise of daily life,” Rush said, emphasizing that this experience is open to everyone.
Guests also leave the experience with a gift bag that includes a curated crystal bundle to support further relaxation.
The team plans to continue the R+R experience at Surety and eventually branch out to other venues around town.
“The response to R+R Ritual has shown us that people are looking for more than just a workout. They’re craving places to connect, slow down and be part of something meaningful,” Ogren said. “I’m interested in creating those kinds of third spaces where people can build community while caring for themselves.”
The next class is set for 10 a.m. this Sunday, June 14, and spots are still available.
