Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Woodard.
Hi Jillian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As is the case for a magnitude of Black women in the world, I have experienced multiple traumatic events in my life. Having lived a seemingly privileged life, where I come from a two-parent household, have had the luxury of attending private grade schools and the number one HBCU for college, my stories were oftentimes invalidated. I was frequently gaslit, and my vulnerability was often minimized by expressions such as “It’s not that bad” or “I’ve heard worse.” These responses, coupled with my own thoughts, caused me to suppress my true inner feelings of sadness. I felt isolated and guilty for having these feelings when I was blessed with so much. My inner emotions translated into years of struggling with complex mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Once I reached my breaking point, I finally sought help through trauma therapy. I realized that when I do not take care of my mental health, I become my biggest roadblock to success and happiness.
During my time in therapy, I realized the importance of surrounding myself with people who are genuinely invested in my wellbeing. Through trial and error, I found a community of women who not only accepted my stories but also encouraged my storytelling. They supported me as I navigated my healing journey – held space when I needed to talk, validated my feelings, suggested resources to look into, and loved me when I could not love myself. Having felt the love and encouragement from so many women from my sorority, alma mater, job, and other walks of life during the most difficult moments of my healing journey, I felt as if all Black women could benefit from a community dedicated to healing. Therefore, I felt it necessary to found Namaste by Jay, which is a wellness collective for Black women focused on holistic healing through storytelling, yoga, meditation, and community building.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road at all. I don’t believe the path for any entrepreneur is easy. Some of the struggles have included balancing competing responsibilities while continuing to prioritize health, ensuring the brand is effective and impactful, and determining which direction to grow the business. The biggest struggle was and continues to be finding the courage to be vulnerable and put my work on display.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Namaste By Jay?
Namaste by Jay envisions a world where Black women are empowered to lead liberated, healed, and joyful lives – free from shame and abundant in self-compassion. What sets us apart is that we are led by a group of Black women in their early- to mid-twenties who do not claim to have it figured out. Without passing judgment or criticism, we walk alongside one another in our healing journeys. Our goal is to make healing more accessible within the Black community, which begins with having access to more leaders in this space that look like us. That said, Namaste by Jay has 8 Black women yoga instructors that offer both online and in-person yoga classes. We’re located all over the country – ranging in cities from Greensboro, North Carolina to Oakland, California. So far, we have allowed almost ten women the opportunity to tell their story and promoted more than a dozen Black-women owned businesses on our platform.
The Advisory Board of Namaste by Jay, a team, appointed for guidance and advice, is composed of women that I admire and trust. These women are leaders within their respective fields, ranging from financial analysts and consultants to therapists and wellness practitioners. We work together to ensure Namaste by Jay is effective and impactful, that the brand is strategically serving our target audience, and that we are intentionally collaborating with organizations that align with our mission. Within six months of launching, Namaste by Jay partnered with internationally recognized brands such as Therapy for Black Girls, Lululemon, and Athleta. Our inaugural in-person meditation and yoga affair in Austin, TX reached capacity in the venue at South Congress Hotel. Along with Lululemon and Athleta, we partnered with multiple local brands such as eleMINT Skin, BlackSwan Yoga, TruFusion, and Richard’s Rainwater. As we strive to uplift other Black women entrepreneurs, we continue to partner with Black women-owned businesses in our events and promote them on the website. We wholeheartedly believe in lifting as we climb. In the future, we plan to continue focusing on holistic healing through storytelling, yoga, meditation, and community building. We will continue to adapt and evolve based on the feedback of our community members.
How do you define success?
Success is long-lasting, effective, and impactful. In January 2020, six months prior to launching Namaste by Jay, I watched a sermon by Bishop TD Jakes titled “Dedication 2 Destiny.” Bishop Jakes talks about several important topics within this sermon- how he structures his goals by planning his life in decades, determining when to say “no” to opportunities, and so much more. One portion of the sermon stood out to me in particular – at the beginning of his career, Bishop Jakes asked God to make him “effective and impactful.” With Namaste by Jay, I am not motivated by seeking to generate a certain profit or host a specific amount of events. I am, however, striving to be effective and impactful. Without going into the specific goals I’ve identified, I will say that Namaste by Jay has been massively successful since its launch. We’ve been effective in helping Black women all over the world heal – reaching thousands of people across the globe. And this success would not have been possible without God and the women I have intentionally selected to be a part of the community.
Contact Info:
- Email: namastebyjay@gmail.com
- Website: www.namastebyjay.com
- Instagram: @namastebyjay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Namaste-by-Jay-100405605077666
Image Credits
Paul Scott – https://www.instagram.com/ps_slim_/
