Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Nitchals.
Hi Jean, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Everyone has a point in their story where they have an ah-ha moment or more likely several as our stories continue. My story began in Finance and Technology working for both large Fortune 50 companies, and small entrepreneurial companies. What I discovered in my last corporate role at Best Buy over 15 years ago, was that I’m a powerful manifestor. When my passion, skills and curiosities collide, the seeds I planted next grew like wildflowers.
Every role I had was a series over entrepreneurial projects, including being part of the start-up of a Women’s Leadership group at Best Buy. During that time, I leaned into my strengths engaged with strong mentors, and won an industry award for business models I had designed, was featured in an article with CFO magazine, traveled the country teaching finance leaders how to look at their business differently, and became a certified coach. I learned so much through that Women’s leadership group of strong female leaders lifting up other strong female leaders that I knew our community needed more. So my first adventure began, Network Buzz. A networking group for women to create meaningful connections and learn about each other’s strengths that I started as a hobby while working full-time. Over 800 women came through these events over 8 years, and we ended the story with a fundraiser for local women dying of breast cancer raising over $50k for her family and a legacy that will love on.
At that time I decided to take a leap of faith, leaving the corporate world, to start my own consulting company, Niche Solutions. My focus: business strategy, change management & communications, executive coaching and team building, and human-centered innovation. 14 years later that journey is still going strong and the positive impact on people has been my greatest pride.
In the past 5 years, my husband had an idea to continue making an impact in our community and as such we opened CycleBar, a premium indoor cycling experience in Uptown Minneapolis and 3 years later, Ridgedale in Minnetonka. Our team is motivated to create positive change in our community, and my passion for leading inspiring classes and connecting with people and honoring who they are in the moment is fulfilled every time I clip into the bike to lead a class or walk through the doors to work or ride. Our studios have raised over $500k for local charities through fundraiser rides and donations.
The seeds for my current journey were planted quite a while ago. I’ve always been intuitive and have studied energy, crystals, intuition, and energy healing for many years. In 2020, I decided to take this practice that’s been percolating over many years and bring it to life and hence the seeds of Crystal Healing Collective were planted, watered and have started to grow. Today I have a studio where I see clients and host events, I lead Sound Healing and Reiki Meditation experiences throughout the Twin Cities, including monthly with lululemon MOA and weekly at the Salt Caves. I’ll be adding breathwork sessions this month, and am completing an Ayurvedic Health Couch certification in the upcoming month.
While all of this seems to be a winding river, to me it’s a set of mini-manifestations building on one another to create positive change within all areas of my life. Connecting with people to tap into their purpose and removing the obstacles (or weeds) from their paths.
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?
If you are all in, I don’t think any road is ever smooth. There are many plot twists in the journey. For example with our indoor cycling studios, like all small businesses no one could have predicted a pandemic, and specifically in Uptown Minneapolis the impacts of George Floyd. This is one recent example. But what I realized along the way, is that by staying true to our purpose and grounded in our connections, we can continue to make forward progress. We just need to be really crystal clear on our intentions. Plot twists will always happen, it’s how we choose to respond to them that will make the biggest impact on what’s next.
The other struggle is personal wellness and balance. As an entrepreneur and small business owner, vacations aren’t built in. It’s a conscious decision for during those times of not working, revenue is also not coming in. So the tendency is to push my own wellness needs aside. I know I’m not alone there, and it continues to be my greatest challenge.
We’ve been impressed with Crystal Healing Collective, Niche Solutions, and CycleBar, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Yes, there are three! Each of these businesses tied together with the common foundation of creating a space for people to come together, connect, and make forward progress towards their best selves.
Crystal Healing Collective (2020 to present)
Life is meant to be celebrated, laughter is medicine, and every ounce of energy around us is foundational to our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Crystal Healing Collective was founded to be a catalyst for all of the above. I use the word “Collective” with intention, as I see that healing goes beyond just one person. It’s about raising the collective consciousness of our strengths together to make positive changes for our individual lives and our communities as a whole.
I host sound baths (healing) & meditations, am an Intuitive Energy healer with a Reiki foundation, Certified in various breathwork modalities, and a life coach.
We all have our own unique strengths, however, I have an interesting blend of business background taking and coaching people through change, combined with a Master’s of Innovation and Human-Centered Design thinking. Bring this together with my lifelong teachings of energy, energy healing and sound, as well as an athlete, I have a unique way of understanding the whole person, how the body works, how the mind flows that allows me to hold space for people in a way they need at that time to make a change.
Niche Solutions, this is my business consulting hat. Interestingly my approach is an intuitive approach both as an executive coach and a consultant. I use the same basis: creating human connection and holding space to understand what is needed to help people move forward.
For both of these, I’m proud of the impact on people’s lives and movements. Based on feedback received and client referrals.
CycleBar, we inspire people through movement, coaching and music. I’m the most proud of the community that we have created. Members making friendships, finding new connections for travel, work, and exploring Minneapolis. Our team’s ability to bring people together and hold space for them as we release so much through every ride.
What makes you happy?
Honestly, I’m the most happy hiking around with my husband and our golden retriever exploring nature and the city, meeting new people and hearing their stories and learning new things about wherever I’m at through others’ lens, and bringing smiles to my aging mom and dad. Exploring new places whether locally or traveling around. Discovering the hidden gems where I live and travel: restaurants, adventures, shops. Hearing my 84-year-old mom laugh about the silliest things, cracks me up and reminds me that life is a lot more simple than what we always make it out to be. Or when I’m playing my sound bowls or gong in a sound healing meditation and I can see others truly connect to the sounds, relax and release. It’s magical.
Pricing:
- Sound Bath & Meditation $35
- Energy Healing Sessions $177
- Sliding scale for all experiences
- CycleBar – First ride free
Contact Info:
- Email: jean@jeannitchals.com
- Website: crystalhealingcollective.com uptownmpls.cyclebar.com
- Instagram: @crystalhealingcollective
- Facebook: @cyclebaruptown
