Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Langsdale.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not a smooth road. My timeline consists of opening a yoga school in 2010, getting married that year, and opening my first full fledge studio with a shop, 2 wellness rooms, and 2 small studios in 2012 in Mentor right after the birth of my son. I got a surprise pregnancy right in the heat of what felt like my marriage failing in 2013, as well as navigating through a lot of ethical drama with that studio & the independent contractors working for it, total assholes for neighbors (Confectionary Cupboard), and a landlord who would not help us (feel free to edit it if you wish) for 5 years.
Then, I harnessed my power and started looking for what I truly wanted, and found the space of my dreams around the corner from the first studio and within walking distance of my home. I had amazing property managers and a great staff, I was successful for about 2 years (2017 & 2018), then it seemed the whole world wanted to open a yoga studio within just a few blocks of me, and many of them were copying our work.
My sales took a deep dive, as well as when Gmail released its marketing folder and no one knew they could not see my newsletters, that just about killed me for a few months. The other studios seemed to encroach with copying my marketing tactics as well as my unique approach to how I offered workshops and events, even though worked very hard to stay out of their business, and to be as individual as we could at the time, but it just kept happening. This is a constant challenge, even just me flying solo today.
In 2018 I separated from my husband, bought a home even closer to the studio, and moved for the 3rd time in just a couple of years into my current home. In 2019 we seemed to be crawling out of our sales dive, and creeping back up in attendance again as we headed into 2020, then you know what happened then. We closed for the pandemic. I creatively put together survival kits from our shop inventory and made a month’s rent. My property managers were amazingly supportive, but I kept paying rent. I was so scared to fall behind.
When we re-opened in June 2020, the sales and attendance were dismal for our 2,600-square-foot space. I was teaching our yoga training online, and people were so afraid to come in person, and online attendance was just ok, not nearly enough to cover rent, payroll, and my expenses. There was no way to win new business, so we trucked along until the end of July when I decided there was no way I could recover our losses, and I needed to keep my savings and my home safe, so we closed permanently.
It was the saddest feeling. Crazy really, You have no closure, no closing celebrations, no people around to share it with. I auctioned off furniture, props, and statues… took a few boxes home, and stored some pieces of furniture I wanted to keep. A decade of my life came to a close, and I closed out Awaken yoga. The day I fully left the studio, I ate pizza and drank wine with my boyfriend and best friends who helped me get the big stuff out of there, and that was it. Goodbye.
I got an influx of cards and thank you emails, which I didn’t even look at until 2021 when I opened up my box and read each one. I kept in touch with those dearest, and now I teach independently under my new business name, Wild Nurturer. I did get a Master’s in ARomatherapy that I finished in 2020, which was a huge accomplishment, but I could not attend my graduation nor celebrate it. The day I finished my last final, I got Covid! OMG!
There was a lot more in between, BUT this year around July I started to find myself again. Find my place, and now I rent space from a former teacher at my studio, and her space is lovely and she has treated me so kindly, I am almost on edge, as I am so used to having the opposite happen. I am grateful to her, my students, and my boyfriend for their support and their constant reminders of how the world needs what I offer, and through them, I am better for it all.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
With nearly two decades of teaching experience, I’ve developed a thorough understanding of yoga’s transformative powers. More importantly, I’ve witnessed those powers transform the lives of 100+ yoga professionals over the past decade. My mission is to facilitate personal and professional growth, using yoga as a springboard.
After running two successful yoga studios, I’ve taken my psychological, prenatal, therapeutic, and Hatha yoga programs online, while continuing to teach in person. So whether you’re seeking grounding and healing for yourself, or looking to add a yogic aspect to your business, there’s a program for you.
I developed and trademarked my form of Yoga Therapy, called Inner Wisdom: https://wildnurturer.com/inner-wisdom%C2%AE-1
I offer min-credential training, as well as offering 200/500-hour yoga training for over a decade and then decided this year to upgrade it to a full-fledged Integrative Wellness Training featuring specialized yoga, trauma-informed yoga, & aromatherapy all in one.
I have a Master’s in The Science of Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Research from ACHS, I think I am one of 25-30 people in the US who have this accreditated degree. I have a large online shop that I developed during the pandemic, it was a lot of work, but I am getting better and better at custom orders and creating unique formulations, I just had a salon owner reach out about a grooming clay, and this year I developed a full spa pedicure/manicure line that is almost 100% organic and natural. I also developed a massage oil line for the Womb Wellness Center. https://wildnurtureraromatherapy.com/
I can teach pretty much anyone through therapeutic yoga, chair yoga, prenatal yoga, postnatal, kids yoga, Hatha & Vinyasa. I believe yoga should be accessible to everyone. In summary, my main features are teaching regular yoga classes 3 times a week, running my Integrative Wellness Yoga & Aromatherapy training, seeing private clients for yoga therapy, working with custom & regular shop orders, and continuing to create a signature product line.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
A mentor is a way to commercialize, and we do not have a well-preserved historic area, and all of our best features lie on a busy avenue that you cannot walk, or enjoy getting to. All of our parks are not really within a walkable or bike ridable distance and you have to take super busy streets to get to them. They do not preserve or cater to small businesses at all.
There are a variety of businesses that I enjoy going to like Trader Joe’s & Barnes & Noble, but I find the places I like to eat at to be limited, not very health conscious, or giving me that plugged-in living experience. I love the mentor lagoons and veteran’s parks. I love the lake, of course, that is the best part I think.
Pricing:
- Yoga Classes – $20
- Inner Wisdom Yoga Therapy® – $120
- Customer Aromatherapy – Varies
- Spirit Blending Session – $79
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wildnurturer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildnuturer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWildNurturer/
- Other: https://wildnurtureraromatherapy.com/
Image Credits
Meghan Smith
