My Story

Flashback to age 4, little Jaclyn locked herself in her closet because she was too afraid of the guests her family had over. (Why? I cannot remember.) She was hugging her knees, staring at the line of light underneath the door for hours as she quietly listens to the voices in the house wondering when they’d leave. Until one of her loud cousins came and peeled her out of the closet. Tantrum mania happened! End of story. I continued to live most of my life that way.  I hid behind my shyness and often chose to withdraw myself from every interaction– playing small.  I held myself back every time– from connecting with new people and being fully expressed and if someone where to try to pull me out, I’d throw a tantrum. No bueno. 

Everything changed when I became a yoga teacher and taught my first class. It was finally then that I realized that when I stepped outside my self-built cage, I really had something to offer. As time went by and the more I was in front of people, helping them get their health back on track and reconnecting their body and mind, the more I realize how much I LOVE people and I’m in awe of how AMAZING they are.  Humans work hard AF and still manage to be extra kind to everyone around them and most times that also meant that they put themselves last. Seeing this everyday naturally made me develop a desire to give more joy, relaxation and peace of mind to my students and clients that it became bigger than my fear of being seen. During my yoga teacher training, having to put my shy girl identity aside again and again and then teaching that first class, I realized this important thing:

My contribution is so necessary that I have to be WILLING to be a stand for myself!

Any time I would revert back to the shy girl, I automatically had an enormous sense of guilt because that meant I wasn’t willing to be a stand for another’s health and well-being which then meant I wasn’t a stand for another’s life! I had to force myself to give up acting like a coward a ton of times in the beginning but in doing that I finally understood the power of community and connection. 

What got me through it was imagining that I was this bright, bright light that would leave sparkles everywhere I went and with whomever I interact with. Because that excites the crap out of me right now and that’s what I really want to do. On those not so good days when I really didn’t think I could do it I would imagine leaving the person more dim than when I found him/her, which is something my heart could not do. Thus, being such a shiny bright light, SPARKLES had power over the shy girl. So I kept practicing Sparkle By Choice!

Now, if you see me walking around, you’ll be enlightened by my smile and interactions with people. The energy I have now is “contagious” as the people around me would say. Almost like a whole new person!

Along with all of that work grew this passion about fitness, mental clarity and integrity because it keeps me grounded. I believe that all the answers we’re looking for is inside and those levels of therapy is a process that you put yourself through to get those answers. It’s work and showing up takes consistent practice. Good health is always a practice. And along with that a healthy mindset is always a practice. Being in 100% integrity requires consistent practice. Being in touch with your spirituality is a consistent practice. If you’re alive, you have to show up and practice. All there is to do is WORK.