ABOUT US
At Meraki Chiropractic & Functional Neurology
We Believe that healing starts within-because God gave your body the innate ability to heal. Our approach is rooted in the understanding that the body is fearfully and wonderfully made, with built-in wisdom and resilience.
We hold fast to the truth that you are NEVER WITHOUT HOPE. No matter how long you’ve struggled, how complex your symptoms may be, or who has convinced you there is no hope, we walk beside you with faith, knowledge, and compassion-knowing that only God has the power to take away your hope.
Here, healing is more than clinical-it’s personal, spiritual, and empowering. Our goal is to restore function, renew your health, and remind you that hope always has a place in your journey.
Meraki
[May-rah-kee] Greek
(n.) To do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself into your work.
Meraki is a holistic care center providing brain and nervous system focused, non-invasive modalities to help ensure optimal health and wellness for the whole family.
The Elephant
The elephant is symbolic of everything we hope to provide for our patients and our community; wisdom, grace, patience, success, strength, good luck, loyalty, companionship, unity, and hope.
Behind Meraki
We are family-owned and live in the community.
We are the Rufs, made up of Jordan, Dani, and our three dogs Abigail, Meika and Enzo. We live in Oak Grove and are active members of our local community.
ABOUT THE DOCTOR
Dani Ruf, D.C.
Dr. Dani grew up in Minnesota and joined the United States military right after high school. She served for eleven years as a combat and flight medic. Her foundation for chiropractic started long before she ever started chiropractic school. From a young age, she has always had a passion for helping others. She had originally planned to attend medical school, but after years of working with and in different hospitals, alongside many medical professionals, she realized she wanted to do more. She knew there was more to healthcare than treating the body as individual parts and symptoms; it needed to be treated as a whole system. In 2016, she met her now husband, Jordan, who introduced her to his father, Dr. Ken Ruf. Dr. Ruf introduced Dr. Dani to what chiropractic care really was and showed her that it was so much more than pain management; it was holistic healthcare.
Working as a chiropractic assistant in Dr. Ruf’s office is where she truly fell in love with the profession and decided to attend chiropractic school. She graduated from Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU) in 2023. While attending NWHSU, she spent many hours shadowing offices and doctors, attending seminar after seminar trying to learn as much as she could while strengthening her adjusting skills.
Dr. Dani is a highly qualified chiropractor with a wealth of experience in pediatric and family care. She is an active member of Brain Based Health Solutions, and the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) Dr. Dani is a certified Webster practitioner and is trained through the Carrick Institute, working towards becoming a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist. She has also received advanced training in brain and nervous system-focused chiropractic techniques, functional medicine, Cranial Sacral Therapy by Lori Hendrickson, and Dynamic Body Balancing by Dr. Carol Phillips.
Dr. Dani is committed to continuing to learn, ensuring that she can provide the best possible care to her community.
Lauryn | Chiropractic Assistant & Office Administrator
Lauryn is an invaluable part of our clinic family. As our Chiropractic Assistant and Office Administrator, she brings a lifelong passion for helping others and a deep fascination with the human body to her daily work. She is dedicated to making every patient feel welcome, supported, and well-cared for from the moment they walk through our doors.
Outside of the clinic, Lauryn enjoys a vibrant life on her little homestead. She is happily married to her best friend, and together they share their home with a two lovable dogs, a cat, and a flock of chickens. An avid gardener, Lauryn tends to both vegetable beds and a beautiful cut flower garden. One of her biggest dreams is to open a small farm stand to share her fresh flowers, seasonal produce, and homemade baked goods with her community. Incredibly thankful to God for the season of life she is in, Lauryn loves being part of our team and continuing to serve our wonderful patients!
Walter | Service Dog & Office Therapy Dog
Walter, our resident morale booster and unofficial office therapy dog! At just 8 months old, this handsome XL American Bully is currently a service dog in training, but he has already mastered the art of making everyone’s day a little brighter.
Walter brings a calming, gentle energy to the office, always ready to offer a comforting presence during a busy workday. While he hasn’t completed his official therapy dog certification just yet, his natural talent for spreading love and joy is undeniable. When he isn’t hard at work practicing his service dog skills, you can usually find him requesting belly rubs, showing off his favorite squeaky toys, or catching up on his beauty sleep. Walter is a firm believer that there is no problem a good hug, a tasty treat, and a cuddle session can’t fix.
Cassie Dutton, D.C., IVCA
Dr. Cassie, the founder of River Ridge Animal Chiropractic, offers specialized chiropractic care for our animal patients. Dr. Cassie graduated from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 2016 with a Doctorate in Chiropractic and went on to complete her specialized training at Options for Animals Chiropractic College. She is certified by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) and holds active licenses to treat both people and animals in the state of Minnesota.
With a deep passion for animals of all kinds, Dr. Cassie is dedicated to providing safe, gentle care that optimizes the nervous system and ensures her patients feel comfortable and relaxed during their adjustments. Whether she is working on a family pet or focusing on the maintenance and wellness of performance animals, her expertise is a wonderful addition to our clinic.
Her connection to animals goes far beyond her practice. Dr. Cassie grew up with horses and is a lifelong equestrian. Today, she is an accomplished rider in the cutting and cow horse arenas. She and her husband, Taylor, share their lives with several horses and dogs, making her uniquely attuned to the bond between animals and their owners.