03/04/2025
I was nominated for Practitioner of the Month, through my schooling program! 🎉
🎉 Congratulations to our March 2025 Practitioner of the Month, Alexis Krause ! 🎉
We’re so proud to recognize you, Alexis, for your dedication, expertise, and exceptional care. Your hard work and passion make a difference every day in the lives of the animals you serve. 🌟
Thank you for going above and beyond — you inspire us all! 👏💙
Read below to find out more about this amazing practitioner and what makes them shine!
Pictured Left to Right
Sooner, Alexis, and Uttech
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoonerBodywork
Location?
Saint Francis, MN
Certifications through Angel's Animals?
Canine/Equine/Feline Massage
Canine/Equine Ktape
In the process of ANMR, and Canine/Equine Craniosacral
When did you decide that you wanted to work with animals?
Since I was five, I’ve told my parents, “God, created me to help his animals”. If my mother hadn’t told me this, I’d never have known I’d said that! This saying has stuck with my heart into my adult life. I originally wanted to be a veterinarian with a clinic out of her own home, over time, I realized the vet route wasn’t quite the one for me, although the body fascinated me. I then became passionate about nutrition and hoped to develop a career as a nutritionist, I learned it wasn’t as hands-on as I had hoped. I truly believed I belonged in a “hands-on” position with animals.
I attempted college, and learned so much as I was going for an Equine Degree, but COVID made my college experience horrible and I didn't return. At a loss, I wasn’t sure what to do.
Once I learned massage was possible for animals, I was intrigued! I looked into massage for my horse, Sooner. He responded so well to it. I found Angel’s Animals and loved the online aspect as it was COVID at the time. I truly felt like I found my “calling”. I reached out to The Balanced Orchid to start a mentor/apprenticeship. This truly helped me through my coursework, and allowed me to feel more confident when it came to my assignments, and case studies.
What animal influenced you the most growing up?
Horses, but specifically one has stood out. Sooner, he is a ranch horse from Oklahoma. This year, I’ve had him a whole decade, just the thought brings me to tears. I like to think Sooner picked me more than I picked him. He came to me in a time of emotional need. He was the only horse I looked at, and my gut feeling told me, “he is the one”. My grandma looked at me shocked, "Alexis, you have thousands of horses you could look at, and you are going to look at one!". Nothing would change my mind. When my grandmother and I went to look at him, he appeared “detached” when interacting with people around him. The moment I walked towards him, he “came to life”. One of the staff members picked up that. He had 3+ people, individually at a time, walk towards “Jeremiah” at the time, he wouldn’t even move, his head hung low, with a depressed appearance to his face. The staff member asked me to approach, Sooner lifted his head, his ears perked up, and he just “lit up”! That’s how I knew he was the one. My grandmother called me a few days later, informing me that he had sold. I was devastated, she then said, "TO YOU!". I burst into happy tears. I loved growing up with him, and have developed so many wonderful memories.
My favorite memory with him is when we qualified for WSCA Championship Show in Pennant, and other events too. Pennant Race was "our thing" when it came to the WSCA Games. I was against anywhere from 100-200 riders. After my run, I heard "AAANNNDDDD that's your NNNEEEWWWW LLLLEEEAADDEER!!". I couldn't even believe what I heard. I watched our name slowly drop until the last two riders. They knocked us off the board. It was extremely bittersweet. Hey, at least we got 12th. We are both in our 20’s now…Words can’t even begin to fathom or explain how he means to me. Sooner is my savior.
In Sooner’s honor, and how I say goodbye to him specifically, I wanted to name my business, “Sooner Than Later”.
What animals do you currently own?
Firstly, I have two crazy corgis, Athena & Yogi, that I dearly love. When they have the chance to join me for barn chores they can never turn down a tractor ride! They stick to me like glue and almost always have one at my side.
Secondly, two cats, Boo and Oni, both are adopted from Angel of Hope Animal Rescue. Oni is an extremely independent cat that thinks she runs the house. Despite being a little deviant, she does have her moments where she’s extremely sweet and cuddly. I love her and wouldn’t change a thing. Boo, runs the house, he’s a big guy. He is such an awesome cat, and can tell he truly appreciates my family. I love when he flops beside me while I’m playing computer games for a massage, or he will slowly extend his paw out and touch my back for attention/bodywork.
Lastly, my two horses, Sooner and Uttech. Sooner, words will never be enough to express how much he means. Uttech, is also very special. He’s out of my sister’s mare whose due date was my birthday(of course he was born two days later, so a late birthday gift). I feel we have a unique bond, he was my first foal to raise. When you raise/train a horse yourself, it's so rewarding, and the bond is unlike any other. I love that he's the reason why my riding/horsmanship skills have improved. Uttech is Sooner’s opposite in every way and I can't get enough of how they perfectly complement each other. Uttech is goofy, playful, and the more outgoing of the two. They truly have a “big brother, little brother” relationship, which makes me believe even more so that these two horses were truly meant for me.
What makes your animal bodywork practice stand out?
This question was hard for me to answer…From a business view, I could think of several things, but what truly makes my practice stand out from others? I had to ask my sister for guidance. She replied, “ You have a way with them that isn’t like anyone else. You truly connect with animals on a different, more in-tune level, and it’s noticeable. You are pulling the negativity out of them as you work, Alexis, you are using Reiki. Since we were children, you always had such a unique connection with animals where they are drawn to you. This is what makes you stand out from others!”
What message would you like to share with potential clients?
I truly want to be there for the animals. I love watching their healing journeys and how they unfold, as healing is never linear. When I think of the body, I think of it like an onion...you have to slowly "peel or unwind" the layers before going deeper. Sometimes, I see people wanting to "dig in" right away, but I believe in a softer approach that's about building trust with the animal. They don't always understand right away, as what we are doing can feel "funny" at times. We have to slowly unlock each layer before diving deeper.
What message would you like to share with others who are thinking about pursuing a career in animal health?
Go for it!
Through my journey of bodywork, I’ve come across a few therapist who weren’t as fond of sharing their knowledge, or their attitudes changed when I expressed interest in performing bodywork. I found this frustrating/discouraging…
Once I met Victoria from The Balanced Orchid, she made me realize we are there to help, and share our knowledge. We need to support each other. There are not enough of us out there! Once again, go for it, pursue a career in animal health.
Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Sooner Than Later Animal Massage & Bodywork, Pet service, Saint Francis, MN.
