Rachel Blatz, owner of Soul Iris in Winkler, says her goal is not to sell people everything on the shelf, but to help them understand what their bodies actually need.
“I really like to think of it as kind of just a safe space,” Blatz said. “People can come in, we can talk, just see what’s going on in their life, see what’s going on in their health.”
Blatz describes herself as an educator first, saying she aims to empower people to make informed decisions about their health.
“So if I can empower somebody to make the right decisions to better their health, then I feel like my job has been done,” she said.
No one-size-fits-all approach
Blatz says the wellness and supplement world can feel overwhelming, especially with constant trends on social media.
“I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all when it comes to supplements,” she said. “This space is very overwhelming. And there’s a lot of information on social media, on TikTok where it’s like, you have to take this, will change your life. And that’s not true for everybody.”
She says her approach starts with asking questions and learning about each person’s lifestyle and health concerns before making recommendations.
While certain supplements trend in popularity, Blatz cautions against assuming they work for everyone.
“Moringa had a season there for a while,” she said. “A lot of women specifically thought that Moringa was going to make them lose weight and make them have energy. And while it may do that for some people, it won’t do that for everybody.”
Personal experience led to Soul Iris
Blatz says her work in the wellness space is rooted in her own health journey.
“I went through my own health struggles,” she said. “I wasn’t getting the answers that I wanted in the medical community. And so I started exploring some other options. And that really did change my life.”
That experience ultimately led her to open Soul Iris in Winkler.
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Using iridology to guide wellness plans
One of the services offered at Soul Iris is iridology, a practice that involves examining the iris to gain insight into overall health.
“I know it comes across sometimes as new agey, but it’s actually been around for hundreds of years,” Blatz said. “They’ve been doing it since the 1800s.”
Blatz says modern research has expanded the practice, allowing practitioners to reference a detailed map of the iris.
“So I can look and I can see how is each organ doing? How is each gland doing? How are you digesting some of your food?” she said. “So that can give me a lot of information about coming up with a protocol for someone.”
She says thyroid concerns are one of the issues she works with frequently.
Long-term immunity focus
Blatz also emphasizes the importance of understanding how immune-support products work, particularly during winter.
“One of the major things I want people to know is the difference between an immune stimulant and an immune modulator,” she said.
She notes that echinacea, commonly used in winter, is an immune stimulant and not meant for long-term use.
“It can actually burn your body out over time,” Blatz said.
Instead, she says immune modulators such as astragalus and cordyceps can be taken safely over longer periods.
“They can be taken by anybody of any age and they’re completely non-toxic,” she said.
A passion rooted in the Pembina Valley
Soul Iris is located at the corner of 4th Street and Mountain Avenue in Winkler. The shop is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
