Meet Jennifer ‘suki’ Otsuki | Somatic Practitioner & Luxury Retreat Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer ‘suki’ Otsuki and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer ‘Suki’, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My Journey: From Exhaustion to Balance

For nearly two decades, I thrived in the fast-paced restaurant industry in Dallas after graduating from the Texas Culinary Academy. While I gained invaluable experience in the service industry, those years also left me mentally and physically drained. The long hours, stress, and relentless pace took a toll on my health and happiness. It was a time when I felt disconnected from myself and the world around me. Then I found myself on solo on retreat and left with a job opportunity and what became an escape plan from the restaurant industry.

It wasn’t until I discovered somatic yoga that I found the path to healing. Yoga became the bridge between my internal world and the life I wanted to create. Through somatic practices, I began to reconnect with my body, my breath, and my spirit. This was the beginning of a transformation that reshaped my approach to life, work, and well-being.

As my yoga practice deepened, I started to recognize the need for balance—not just in my personal life, but in how I approached my work and the way I served others. The healing process showed me that true wellness isn’t just about physical strength or mental clarity. It’s about creating space for self-love, acceptance, and healing. This deep process of healing and integrating became the groundwork for Four Dimensions Wellness.

Work-Life Balance: How It’s Changed Over Time

Looking back, I can clearly see how my balance has shifted over the years. In my early career, I was obsessed with ‘success’ and productivity. The concept of work-life balance was absolutely foreign, especially as a young woman working her way up in the restaurant industry of Dallas. I often worked long hours, sacrificed personal and family time, and neglected my well-being in the name of ambition.

However, once I embraced the healing power of yoga, I began to realize that balance isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. At Four Dimensions Wellness, we believe that nurturing all aspects of ourselves—mental, physical, and emotional—creates a solid foundation for a balanced life. As I deepened my practice and began integrating somatic practices into my daily routine, I noticed profound changes. My physical health improved, my stress levels decreased, and I began to approach both my personal and professional life with a new sense of awareness.

Today, balance doesn’t mean achieving perfection—it’s about recognizing when something feels off, being able to pause, and recalibrate. It’s understanding that work is important, but so is rest, self-care, and meaningful relationships. By acknowledging my own needs and making intentional time for self-care, I’ve found a rhythm that allows me to serve others while honoring my own well-being. It is about one choice at a time that becomes one daily habit that before you know it becomes a whole new way of being.

What I Think About Work-Life Balance

To me, work-life balance isn’t about maintaining a rigid divide between personal and professional time. It’s about integration and flow. It’s about creating a life where work supports your personal values and well-being, rather than depleting them. Our private client work is 1:1 custom tailored to guide our clients and cultivate this type of balanced lifestyle, where they don’t just survive—they thrive.

Work-life balance is a dynamic process. It requires ongoing self-awareness, self-compassion, and a willingness to evolve. It means recognizing that you are more than your job or your role in the world. You are a whole person, deserving of love, care, and attention. When we give ourselves the gift of balance, we open the door to deeper fulfillment, both personally and professionally.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets what we share apart is the emphasis on creating a customized, integrated wellness experience. Unlike other wellness services that may focus solely on physical fitness or mental health, we focus on all aspects of being, offering a comprehensive journey that brings balance to every area of life. This includes everything from somatic yoga, mindfulness practices, and nutrition coaching, to emotional healing and spiritual guidance. It’s a layered approach that helps individuals not only improve their physical health but also cultivate self-love, healing, and personal growth.

Our core philosophy is built on self-empowerment—teaching clients how to connect with their own bodies and minds in a way that fosters lasting transformation. The experience is personal, deeply intuitive, and tailored to each individual’s needs, making it unique and transformative.

Was It Easy to Get Where I Am Today, Personally or Professionally?

No, the journey to where I am today was not easy, either personally or professionally. Like many people in the wellness space, my path has been shaped by both triumphs and challenges. In fact, it wasn’t until I reached a point of personal exhaustion—physically and mentally—that I realized I needed to make a significant shift. My years in the fast-paced restaurant industry left me burnt out, disconnected from myself, and lacking the balance I needed to truly thrive.

The transition from working in the high-stress culinary world to building a wellness business was not a straightforward one. It required me to go inward and heal, to reconnect with myself through somatic yoga and other healing practices. Along the way, I faced challenges of doubt, grief, and setbacks, especially after the passing of my partner, Andrew, last year. But it was through these difficult experiences that I gained the most clarity about my purpose.

Building Four Dimensions Wellness has involved a lot of trial and error, learning how to integrate my passions for yoga, healing, and community into a business model. It required an immense amount of personal growth, and it took time to create the balanced life I now lead. There were moments of uncertainty and times when I questioned whether I was on the right path, but I kept pushing forward because I knew I was meant to serve others in this way.

Professionally, there were hurdles in growing a business from the ground up, from understanding how to market my services to learning how to manage clients and balance the business side with the wellness side. But with each challenge came growth, and with each step forward, I felt more confident in my ability to offer something unique and deeply transformative to those who sought my guidance.

Ultimately, though, the journey has been worth every lesson, every setback, and every breakthrough. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the challenges I faced along the way, and they’ve made the work I do even more meaningful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of the things I love most about Dallas is how the wellness and food scenes intersect. I believe that true nourishment comes not only from what we put into our bodies but also from the experiences we create around food. Dallas offers the perfect opportunity to balance both—enjoying decadent meals while also prioritizing self-care and wellness. It’s about finding that harmony between indulging in life’s pleasures and honoring the need for rest, balance, and nourishment.

I LOVE a day at King spa and being transported to another world, including a lavish spa experience and delicious lunch.
I would dedicate a day to experiencing Richardson starting with a Lavender Latte at Peace in the Middle East cafe, yoga or a fun workshop at Yoga Chikitsa, perhaps strolling around central market just to checkout ingredients, and a killer burger up the way at Rodeo Goat Plano. Dim Sum or First Chinese BBQ are a couple other great offerings!

If I am itching for movement I definitely make a stop at Gaia flow Uptown for a good sweat sesh, or Session Pilates if I want a good challenge! Followed by an afternoon on a patio somewhere enjoying the vibe of the city. Mi Cocina is one of my favorites, though there are way too many restaurants to name.

I would hope to catch a sound bath or breathwork class at Breathe Meditation and Wellness and get submersed in the nourishment of healing and deep space holding.

There is so much to explore and experience in Dallas and lots to look forward to, I could go on!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Success is rarely achieved in isolation. We are all products of the people who have come before us, those who have mentored us, supported us, and believed in us when we may not have fully believed in ourselves. As I reflect on my journey to creating Four Dimensions Wellness and the life I now lead, I can’t help but think of the countless individuals and experiences that have shaped me along the way.

I have been lucky to have many mentors across my journey, from talented chefs to yoga practitioners, and the list truly is too long to name in its entirety. But I would be remiss not to highlight a few key influences that have been pivotal in my personal and professional evolution.

The Mentors Who Guided Me

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have several chefs and culinary mentors who not only taught me the technical skills of the kitchen but also the value of discipline, passion, and attention to detail. However, as my journey evolved and I began my transition into wellness, it was the yoga mentors who played a transformative role in helping me reclaim my health and find my center.

I’ve learned this lesson most profoundly in the last year, when I lost my partner, Andrew. His passing was a devastating reminder of how fragile life can be, and how vital it is to appreciate and nurture the relationships and support systems that we often take for granted. The pain and grief were overwhelming, but during this time, I was reminded of the power of community and the importance of honoring ourselves through the most difficult moments.

In this incredible tumultuous season, I found myself embraced and supported by my now Ranch family over at the Retreat Ranch. They showed up for me big time in ways I never imagined, ways I struggled to accept, and have ushered me along in the darkest moments. They gave me a place to go and have provided structure and opportunities that have molded and shaped my healing through hardship.

Website: https://www.fourdimensionswellness.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/fourdimensionswellness

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fourdimensionswellness