Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Tuggle.
Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The inspiration for this journey was a promising collegiate tennis player that could have benefitted from a listening ear. She was unable to break through the mental challenges of the game and lost many of her matches. She was stuck. She lacked the support of someone who cared for her emotions compassionately. I was this young woman. I started this company to be the selfless person I needed. I wanted to help people like me surpass these barriers to get un-stuck.
I signed up for a yoga membership in graduate school that seemingly changed my life. I noticed my body felt amazing after each class. I also thought it was ironic how the instructor’s intentions aligned with literature about mindfulness and the neuroscience of breathing in my textbooks. One day, I was introduced to a Hindi word, Seva (pronounced seh-va), that can be translated to “an act of compassion and care for others above oneself”. The social work profession embodies this definition. To end many yoga classes, the instructor cues the yogis to lay flat on their mats in savasana, or corpse pose. This asana (pose) calms the mind to a state of total relaxation. Yet for me, it’s where my thoughts dance around like a salsa social. As I laid on my mat, I reflected on how much I needed this as a competitive athlete. A designated area requiring careful attention to the present moment, a physical activity with remarkable benefits for the whole person (mind, body, and spirit), and a guide to navigate this experience. I was determined to combine therapy and yoga to be a selfless servant (Seva), guiding others through their course.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There were a number of hurdles to jump along the way. The most remarkable obstacle was my own stuck-ness with starting the business and being “too tired” to put in the work. I occupied three jobs in multiple parts of Atlanta. The schedule I concocted while transitioning out of my nine-to-five and into a counseling position was ridiculous. 15+ hour workdays left me fatigued and emotionally drained, exceeding the expectations for someone else’s vision. I thought I would never muster up the energy to get started.
“Tired of being tired?” was written in bold lettering on a teal slip of paper on my vision board. “Eh… yes,” I said to myself. A big part of my stuck-ness was realizing the difference in enervation and perceived exhaustion. I evaluated these two categories but asking myself, does this thing serve me, and how will this get me one step closer to my vision? I attended a workshop for spiritual entrepreneurs and hired a business coach. This was key to help propel me to invest in my business. By letting go of the debris clogging up my mental space and energy, I was able to be liberated from the stuck-ness, moving to the beat of my own drum.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am an independent yoga instructor and a Licensed Master Social Worker. I teach individual and group yoga classes to companies, as workshops, and for events around Atlanta. I specialize in power yoga (emphasizing proper alignment) while adding counseling ideologies to my classes. I’m known for a monthly self-care workshop called, Release & Reset, which nurtures the mind and body of helping professionals such as therapists, educators, and medical personnel, etc. Release & Reset was mindfully crafted as an oasis for those who help others. This open-level yoga experience promotes stress reduction, mindful breathing, improved mobility, and an overall energy boost. The idea is to release the stress and tension of the day-to-day demands of work, by resetting the meter to continue towards the longevity of one’s career.
I am also a therapist at Atlanta Innovative Counseling Center. I work with clients anchored with depression and anxiety, self-harming behaviors, and transitional life experiences.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
You guys ask the best questions! Success is having the audacity to put your dreams into action.
Who else deserves credit – have you had mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients or teammates that have played a big role in your success or the success of the business? If so –who are they and what role did they plan / how did they help.
An abbreviated list of my supporters include:
My undergraduate academic advisor, Dr. Kathleen Lowney. She instilled in me that it’s okay to be specific on what I strive for as a career. Dr. Lowney also encouraged me to attend graduate school.
My business coach, Erin Newman. Erin has helped me breakthrough mindset blocks impeding on the growth of my business. Her authentic and magical marketing workshop offered the help I needed to move forward without allowing perfection to halt my progress.
My yoga godmother, Denise Hatch. Denise has taken me under her wing, inspiring me to keep the fervent and eager spirit of a student learning my craft.
My tribe (my family, my friends, and my beautiful partner). Thank you for supporting me along the ride.
You are all amazing humans.
Contact Info:
- Website: jessicatuggle.com
- Email: yogituggle@gmail.com
- Instagram: @yogituggle
- Twitter: @yogituggle
- Other: https://www.atlantainnovativecounseling.com/jessi-tuggle
Image Credit:
Tyler Williams & Tevin Mike
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