Today we’d like to introduce you to Joclyn Kilpatrick
Hi Joclyn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My yoga journey began approximately 13 years ago while I was pregnant with my daughter, Willow. To support my pregnancy, I enrolled in prenatal and yoga flow classes. I vividly recall a moment at the end of a yoga session, standing in tree pose when a surge of chills coursed through my body. At that moment, I realized there was something deeper waiting for me within the practice of yoga.
Fast forward a year and a half later, I was navigating the challenges of motherhood while dealing with significant stress at work and home, which ultimately led to an injury in my left shoulder. It felt as though the burdens of life were energetically weighing me down. I began visiting a chiropractor and returned to my yoga practice with renewed dedication. This commitment sparked a transformation, and everything in my life started to change. I went through a divorce, moved into a new home, embarked on a fresh chapter, and enrolled in a 230-hour Yoga Teacher training program. Although I wasn’t certain about teaching, it felt as if the universe was guiding me toward my true passion.
Shortly after completing my training, I began teaching at Live True Yoga in St. Michael, where I experienced an unforgettable dream. In my dream, I owned a yoga studio with a vibrant green wall and operated a thriving yoga teacher training program. When I woke up, that vision lingered in my mind, as if I had manifested Willow Soul Yoga into existence. And here we are today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey has certainly not been a smooth one. Challenges frequently emerge when pursuing entrepreneurship. I often express that this experience has been immensely rewarding, yet also challenging and defeating. It’s been beautiful and terrifying, incredibly enjoyable, while at times making me want to run for the hills.
In a recent weekly email to our community, I shared a revelation I had during meditation: I’m the kind of person who thrives on the edge. When life becomes too safe, I find myself painfully bored. Yes, I do crave safety; it’s reminiscent of summer days spent swimming in the middle of a lake here in Minnesota. I love lying on my back in the deep water, feeling uncertain about what lies beneath me, and savoring every moment of that experience.
The sense of community, the dedicated teachers, and the love that envelops us in these studios are treasures I will always hold dear. Although the challenges can be stressful at times, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I am forever grateful for this experience.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Willow Soul Yoga ?
My mission for Willow Soul Yoga has consistently been to foster a safe environment where individuals can engage in yoga and reconnect with their authentic selves. Over time, this mission has expanded to challenge the stigma surrounding yoga as depicted on social media, which often showcases highly athletic individuals in luxury yoga brands performing complex poses that the majority of the world finds inaccessible. My mission is to offer a non-intimidating space where people can let go, listen to what they need within, and allow the practice to serve and accommodate them based on how they are feeling in their bodies on the given day. Creating this safe space for people truly means the world to me.
Willow Soul Yoga offers over 50 classes per week of yoga, barre, pilates, and healing modalities. We have amazing Sound Healers who conduct monthly sound healings and sound journeys that this community absolutely loves!
If you are looking for a yoga studio where you can walk in and feel immediately welcomed, where you are always offered options and encouraged to listen to your body and what you need, even if it means laying down on your mat the entire class, then this is the perfect place for you! We will always empower you to listen to what you need.
How do you think about happiness?
So many things. My kids, my husband, my dog, my family, yoga, exercise, good food, long walks outside, willow trees, pine trees, palm trees, the sounds of trees, swimming in the middle of the lake, boating, soft summer air, brink winter air, the change of the season, seeing beauty in every person who crosses my path, laughing with my best friends, colorful art, and knowing when I have positively impacted someone’s life This list could go on and on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://willowsoulyoga.com
- Instagram: @willowsoulyoga
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/willowsoulyogaotsego
