Meet Jenn Dufour, Mom of 3 kids: Noah (13), Blair (9), Lily (6), and the Founder of The Yoga Lounge, currently residing in Peachtree City. In our Q&A, Jenn shares her goals behind opening her Yoga Studio including creating a community and a space where “People can come together with a common goal to feel better in their bodies, to empower themselves, to lift each other up and to learn how to love themselves in a complete way (mind, body and spirit).”
Q&A
What is your background? Tell us about your career. I was a gymnast all growing up. When I was 24, I was introduced to yoga and aerial arts. I immediately began my yoga teacher training with YogaWorks in Los Angeles and began touring and performing with an aerial production company. In 2010, I moved to San Luis Obispo, CA and purchased a yoga studio there. Shortly after, I had my first child and wrote and developed a 200 hour, Yoga Alliance certified teacher training program. I certified over 100 teachers from 2012-2015. I had my second child, then sold the studio and moved to Georgia in 2016.
What called you to become a Yoga Instructor and to open The Yoga Lounge? I had just stopped training regularly with gymnastics and was looking to still move my body and stay active, but the gym bored me. My mother in law invited me to my first yoga class in 2010 and I absolutely loved it. We were doing handstands and backbends but in a way that felt good on my joints without the impact, and I knew then that this was exactly what I was looking for. I was newly married and broke so I got a job at the yoga studio so I could practice for free. My teacher saw my love and commitment to the practice, so she suggested that I take the teacher training. I secured a work scholarship and began my training a month later. While at that studio, I held every possible position from greeter to yoga advisor, to assistant manager and eventually manager for a short time. I was perfectly prepared for when I purchased my own studio just one month after graduating my teacher training. Fast forward to 2016, moving out here to Georgia. When we moved here, I knew I wanted to open another studio here but life had other plans. I immediately began teaching around town, missing my community back in CA but trying to plug in and teach wherever I could. I had my 3rd child in 2018, then went through a painful divorce in 2019. After taking some years to heal and get my feet back on ground, I felt like it was time, and I was ready to open The Yoga Lounge. I started looking for a location in early 2023, secured funding and starting planning. My main focus for this studio, from the very beginning, was to create a safe and fun space to grow a community of people. People who come together with a common goal to feel better in their bodies, to empower themselves, to lift each other up and to learn how to love themselves in a complete way (mind, body and spirit).
I love that you offer Aerial Yoga classes! Tell us about these and other classes you offer at The Yoga Lounge? I have always loved aerial arts in all its forms. There is something so magical about being suspended and off the ground. While my background is in an acrobatic style of aerial, I have 15 years under my belt of teaching yoga, and it just made sense to combine these two forms of physical expression into Aerial Yogaclasses. The hammocks provide a more approachable experience to aerial, perfect for beginners. It’s so fun and playful and I’m so excited to be able to share this with the community. Our traditional yoga classes (on the ground!) are taught by well-trained and experienced instructors. We offer a wide variety of styles and levels so that every person that walks through our doors can find a class that fits their specific needs. Our classes welcome all ages, and we offer special family membership rates, so families can practice together and children can be exposed to this kind of mind-body connection and awareness at an early age.
What is the best thing about your job? I get to play all day long! I get the pleasure of helping others find joy in connecting with their bodies, and assist them in removing pain and/or finding practical ways to manage it. I love to see people walk out of here feeling happy and empowered. I also really enjoy meeting all the beautiful people that walk through our doors and building relationships. Seeing students become friends and witnessing a supportive community take shape. It makes me so happy to see the community organically grow and evolve.
What is your favorite “mom hack” and/or “working mom” tip? Include the children in your dreams and goals! This is more practical with me owning my own business, and being a single parent, I don’t always have the choice to not include them! But I have seen how much they are benefiting and learning from being present at the studio on a day to day basis, and being a part of all the steps leading up to opening our doors! I have included them on decisions about design to making the class schedule, to hiring teachers and planning events. They also each have a “shift” working the desk and checking members in. My hope is that they feel that this business is as much theirs as it is mine and they see that if they can dream it, they can accomplish it!
What do you love about Peachtree City and the surrounding areas? I love how kid friendly Peachtree City is. There are so many young familes, such as ours, and so much opportunity to find a community of moms and kids to connect with. I also love all of the outdoor spaces and activities, the schools are wonderful as well!
What TV show are you loving right now? Book? Movie? Podcast? I just finished watching The Game of Thrones for the first time. I realize that I am a little late to the game here, but I absolutely loved it. I’m a sucker for historical drama types of shows, with the dresses and costumes!
Is there anything else you would like to share with our Moms? Don’t be so hard on yourself! Find 5-10 positive affirmations or phrases that really resonate with you, print them up, put them on your mirror at home and speak them out loud to yourself every day! We can loose ourselves and our own personal identity through motherhood. It’s so important to not forget who you are!!
For class schedule and/or sign up for a class, visit HERE!