Getting to Know Us: A Blog Series (Wendy)
Hi. If we haven’t met IRL, I’m Wendy.
Today, I’m introducing myself, the story of what led me to begin a yoga practice 25 years ago, my interest in wellness, how Jax came to be, and what I believe about yoga, wellness, community, and business. For the rest of this month, I’ll be introducing the rest of our leaders and some members of our community to give you a better idea of who we are and what the Jax community is all about.
A little about me...
I live in Winchester, Illinois with my husband Stuart and our three children, Charlie (16), Caroline (12), and Violet (8). I have owned and operated Jax Yoga and Wellness Collective in Jacksonville, Illinois since April 2019. We opened our second location in Springfield earlier this year. In addition to managing the studio and teaching classes and events, I lead our Yoga Teacher Trainings, host retreats, and give one-on-one sessions. I also work part-time for our local health department as the community health educator. I’m a doula, reiki practitioner, and astrologer.
My favorite things to do besides moving my body and hanging out with friends and family are: watching my kids play sports and dance, listening to great music, traveling with my husband, and going on long walks while listening to books and podcasts. I geek out over the topics of spirituality, functional health, and overall wellness. I have a degree in writing and communications and am wildly interested in public health, gender and women’s studies, and psychosomatic healing. I am currently writing a book on divine feminism. If I could find 5 more hours in my week, I’d finally start the podcast I’ve been wanting to host for the last several years. In case you can’t tell, I’m multi-passionate (well, clinically they call it ADHD, and in the woo-woo world, I’m what’s known as a Manifesting Generator, and I’m an Aries Sun, Aries Moon, Cancer Rising).
In all seriousness, I was diagnosed with ADHD late in life and realized that I had been using movement and yoga to (fairly successfully) self medicate for years. I’m a huge proponent of teaching movement and mindfulness as a tool for young people to manage their energy and learn to feel at home in their own minds and bodies.
How I got into yoga:
I took my first yoga class in high school. I’d been practicing poses I saw in Fitness magazine because I hurt my back in gymnastics class when I was 12 and the article and corresponding routine was called “Yoga for Back Pain.” Back before Pinterest, we found our workouts and yoga routines in magazines, kids. I taped the routine to my wall and did it, along with the Pilates stomach series, every morning before school. I believe that my yoga and Pilates routine helped me stay strong and protected my back during those years of dance, cheerleading, and running.
I took yoga classes in high school and college whenever my schedule allowed, and also practiced at home, always viewing yoga as an extension of what I knew about movement – which was that it was performative and there was only one “right” way to do every pose. Most of the in-person classes I took were advanced asana practices and that idea of an ideal version of every pose was perpetuated (they usually called it the “full expression of the pose”).
I had an (unhealthy) obsession with nutrition and went to college to become a dietician. When I realized that I’d have to stay in and study long enough to actually PASS chemistry, I decided to switch majors to something that had always come easily to me – writing. I thought I’d write for health and fitness magazines like the one that started my yoga journey. I took classes on writing and communications, and minored in Gender and Women’s studies. I began teaching fitness classes to my peers at Illinois College in 2003. During my senior year, I was desperate to get out of the Midwest. I was signed up to study abroad in Australia when I got a last minute offer to do an internship in southern California at a fitness and wellness spa called The Oaks at Ojai. I took the latter opportunity. In that role, I was responsible for guest tours, spa marketing, leading workshops, leading hikes, and teaching classes (everything from water aerobics to Pilates to yoga to dance). The spa hosted 16 classes per day, so when I wasn’t teaching, I would take classes from all the other teachers to get ideas for my own classes.
I’ll never forget the day yoga “clicked” for me. I was having a bad back day (despite all the yoga, then and now, there were and still are still bad back days). I was twisted into matsyendrasana (lord of the fishes pose). I was uncomfortable and not able to reach the “full expression of the pose.” My teacher told me to back off and get comfortable, to loosen my grip on my idea of the pose, and let my body lead the way. I’d never considered such a thing. The world I was from was “no pain, no gain.” That day, I realized that yoga was not performative. The shape of my body, the shape of my poses, was not the point. Listening to my body and connecting to the needs of my own mind, body, and soul was the point. That was the beginning of making peace with my body. And that’s the lesson I’ve been learning over and over again on my mat these last 20+ years, and it’s the lesson I knew I was meant to share. It’s the lesson Jax exists to teach.
How Jax came to be:
I always wanted to create a space for people to experience yoga the way I was able to. Not just the yoga, but the community, and the idea of a heart led business. The town I trained in (Ojai) was full of yogis who had a collaborative spirit inspired by the nature of the principles of yoga.
BUT. I also came up in the “go to college, get a job, get married, and raise a few kids with debt to your eyeballs and a smile on your face” age. Owning a studio didn’t seem responsible or sustainable (still questionable lol). I worked in the hospital system as a community health educator, program coordinator, and healthcare marketing consultant, and later as a doula and lactation counselor. Throughout all of these professional roles, I continued to teach a few classes a week and practiced yoga on my own. In 2019, a friend approached me about sharing a space to teach classes in.
We opened Jax together in April 2019. We could not have foreseen the way the world would change the following year. The logistics of the pandemic led to my business partner’s move across the country, and I became the sole owner of the studio in the fall of 2020. At that time, many studios closed their doors, but it was just the beginning for us. Many people came to Jax for the first time during lockdowns (we had online and outdoor options). People began to realize the need to carve out time for themselves and their mental health, and we provided a judgment-free zone where they could do that.
We hosted our first 200-hour training later that year because we had so many students that there was a great need for more qualified teachers. That first crop of teachers has grown with us, and one of them (Gabby) is now the manager of our Springfield studio.
Since then, we have offered hundreds of yoga classes and events, trained over 30 yoga teachers, and expanded the Jacksonville studio to include adult dance, rebounding, aerial yoga, and fitness. I have developed my own proprietary class, called Flow Fit, that incorporates breathwork, dance, yoga, functional fitness, somatic release movements, and meditation. We have offered retreats, kids' camps, community classes, and have collaborated with many other businesses. We began offering classes at a satellite location in New Berlin. We opened our second location in downtown Springfield. And most of all, we have shown up over and over, day in and day out, to provide space for people to listen to and connect with their own minds, bodies, and souls through movement and meditation. We have cultivated a community of welcoming souls who have a common goal of inner and outer peace. We TRULY believe in community over competition and love to collaborate with other studios, teachers, and aligned businesses.
What I believe about yoga:
I believe in the 8 limbs of yoga and that they are for everyone. The 8 limbs are:
Yamas (universal principles: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, using your energy well, generosity)
Niyamas (personal principles: cleanliness, contentment, discipline, self-study, surrender to a higher power)
Asana (this is what most people think yoga is – it’s the physical part; the poses)
Pranayama (breathwork – the Sanskrit word for breath means to “rearrange your energy,” which is how I like to think of breathing)
Pratyahara (inward focus)
Dharana (focusing on one thing)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (bliss)
I am passionate about taking this ancient practice and all of its inherent values and making it accessible in the modern world. It’s easy to get sucked into one aspect – especially the asana.
As a white woman whose life was unexpectedly transformed by yoga, I knew I had to share this practice with others, but was painfully aware that people like me are part of the “problem” in the yoga and wellness world. Opening my own studio was a dream come true, but I was determined to do it in a way that honored the roots of yoga and respected its cultural significance. One thing that is incredibly important to me is not appropriating yoga culture. The definition of appropriation differs from person to person, and I realize that to some, we may cross the line. To which I welcome a conversation about intent, respect, and the lines between our yoga offerings and our fitness or entertainment offerings. Just know that we are always doing our best, willing to learn and admit when we are wrong, and change as needed along the way.
In my training and continual studies, I have made sure to educate myself on the history and traditions of yoga, and I am mindful of the ways in which I can honor and protect its roots. I work hard to create a space that is truly inclusive and welcoming to all, while still staying true to the essence of yoga. One of the most important aspects of our studio is that we have a diverse staff that represents a wide range of humans. Our instructors vary in size, gender, orientation, ability, age, and race. I truly believe that people learn best from those with whom they can find common ground, and having a diverse staff means that everyone who walks through our doors can find someone they relate to and connect with.
By modernizing the ancient practice of yoga while still honoring its roots and protecting its cultural significance, we are able to create a space where everyone feels welcome and included. Yoga has the power to transform lives, and I am grateful every day that I am able to share this practice with others in a way that is respectful and authentic.
What I believe about wellness:
The word “wellness” has gotten a bad rap the last few years as it’s associated with diet culture, expensive products, unattainable standards, fads, and toxic positivity. “Wellness” practices can also focus too heavily on individual responsibility, overlooking systemic issues that contribute to health disparities.
So, I GET IT. And I realize that a privileged white woman like me can be a major part of the problem. I just can’t think of a better word. So I keep using WELLNESS (suggestions for a new, better word are welcome!).
To me, wellness, in the holistic sense, encompasses the well-being of the mind, body, and spirit, aligning with the principles of the eight limbs of yoga (outlined above). This approach to wellness goes beyond just physical health and includes mental and emotional balance, spiritual connection, and overall harmony within oneself and with the world around us.
For me, this means making conscious choices that support our physical health through movement and nourishment, nurturing our mental and emotional well-being through mindfulness and self-reflection, fostering our spiritual connection through practices that cultivate inner peace and a sense of purpose, and prioritizing making wellness accessible (For evidence, SEE: my part-time job as a community health educator). When we approach wellness from an integrated perspective, we are able to nurture a deep sense of balance, harmony, and wholeness within ourselves, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
What I believe about community:
Community is essential to health and well-being. Blue Zones are regions around the world where people live significantly longer and healthier lives. These communities have been researched extensively and a common thread is that people who live long lives in blue zones have a strong sense of community that is crucial for promoting longevity and well-being. Close-knit social networks, shared values, and active community involvement provide emotional support, reduce stress, and encourage healthy lifestyles. These communal bonds create a nurturing environment that enhances both physical and mental health, contributing to the remarkable longevity seen in these regions.
We have only become so individualistic over the last hundred years or so. In the last century, people have become increasingly individualistic, prioritizing personal success and autonomy over communal living and mutual support. Historically, women especially helped each other with daily tasks and childcare, and households often included multiple generations, fostering a strong sense of community and in-person connection. While we are more “connected” than ever through technology like social media and digital communication, we are more isolated than ever.
The Jax community has evolved into a haven for people of all walks of life to find connection, friendship, and enriching ways to spend their time. Our events, retreats, and even daily classes, are an invitation to connect with other souls on a similar path to peace through yoga, movement, mindfulness, and self-discovery.
What I believe about life:
I believe I am here to learn and evolve and share wisdom along the way. I believe most people are doing their best. I believe humans have more in common than different and that if we spent more time talking to people and getting to know them, we’d understand that truth and be kinder and less divisive. I believe that when people are unkind, it’s a reflection of their pain, not me. I believe in karma. I believe that the pull of the moon and the placement of the stars affect our lives. I believe in prayer. I believe that people’s subconscious minds manifest their current realities. I believe people can change. I beleive in not taking ourselves too seriously. I believe in therapy. I believe in healing. I believe that the body keeps the score. I believe that the moments spent with my husband and kids are the best moments I’ll ever experience here on earth and those moments will always be my priority. I believe that if I am exactly the same 30 years from now, I will have wasted my time.
My mantra for life is the Maya Angelou quote: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."
Where you can find me:
Find me on Instagram and Facebook (I have been posting a lot less this summer but when the mood strikes and my schedule allows, I’ll be back). Find me at Jax teaching Flow Fit, Live Music Yoga, Yoga 2, Barre, and anything anyone needs a sub for. Find me leading Yoga Teacher Trainings and Retreats for Jax. Find me leading workplace wellness classes, and classes at my alma mater, Illinois College. Find me at the Scott County Health Department a few days a week (I’m teaching some free community classes right now). Soon – find me on our new app Studio B (you can download it at the end of this month!) with meditation and music collabs with Stuart, online classes, and workshops AND really – podcast coming in September!
If you’ve read this far and feel like you know me – reach out or come take a class with me! I wanna know you too!