Today we’d like to introduce you to Joi Rychelle.
Joi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I went to India in 2015 to study the roots of yoga and get certified to be a yoga instructor. During that time in my life, I was experiencing a lot of stress working two nightlife jobs as a bottle service waitress and bartender and I knew I wanted something more for myself. I know that this path wasn’t my purpose and I was ready to leave the industry for good but always felt stuck. I also had eczema in my hair and on the right side of my face by my forehead, and my hair fell out. I knew that it was time for a change and at the time, I had a coach/trainer and I was in a fitness and transformational 1:1 coaching program, and from that I knew that I loved moving my body and wearing fitness clothes. In researching a yoga program in India for my friend, I decided to go with her like five weeks before the trip. So I cashed out my stocks, got a loan from my cousin and left for India for five weeks. That experience was life-changing and I returned to the east coast knowing that I wanted to teach yoga and dive into working in health and wellness industry. Returning to live in NJ was very hard for me because at the time, I was going through having my home foreclosed on and I was barely making any money and interning at a yoga studio because I desperately wanted to just get my foot in the door, somewhere. I need up waitressing and bartending again for another two years and started teaching private yoga in 2016, and I Loved it! I loved sharing the philosophy and teachings and the postures.
But I also knew that I wanted to earn more money and make a bigger impact and grow my private yoga business. I did grow, and then I lost most of my clients all at the same time and felt like a failure. It was devastating but I kept going. Barely having any consistent clients of my own and in the beginning of 2019, I started teaching yoga for a start-up stretch and recovery studio. Shortly after, I got trained to be a stretch trainer with them while still teaching yoga classes and again, I knew that I LOVED it! I loved being of service to people and education them about their mobility, their alignment, and I just loved connecting with people while in session with them. I learned a tremendous amount about the fitness and stretch business and also learned a lot about myself. I knew that I wanted to revamp my private yoga business but felt terribly stuck on how that was going to happen. I was still struggling to pay my bills and felt that I had all of this knowledge but had a bigger vision for myself and my business. I also noticed that many Men were being scheduled with me to be stretched and that I connected with the male clientele in many ways. By the start of 2020, I knew that if I didn’t do something drastically different, I’d never build the life that I had envisioned for myself as well as create the impact and money that I desired. The pandemic happened and business slowed and then came to a standstill. So I had to start from zero. I had just bought a program from my current coach, Emily Sussell, who at the time was teaching yoga instructors how to build a private yoga business the smart way! Honestly, the rest is history!
With all that happened last year, it was a wake-up call, more like a wake-up shake and slap in the face for me to stop being afraid and create my dreams and vision by any means necessary. But I’ve also learned I didn’t have to do it alone! I’ve now pivoted into the coaching industry, I’m a Health & Wellness Coach for Entrepreneurial Men with the support of my coach and her team, and a community of yoga and wellness entrepreneurs all walking a very challenging, fulling path of creating and growing businesses! I’ve taken all the education and training that I’ve learned this far and bring it all into programs I’ve created in my private coaching in-person business and in my group coaching, virtual business. This is my passion and it also stemmed from my grandmother, whom I was very close with who had many health problems from depression to obesity and as well as my father being an inspiration to niche down to men because of our extended disconnection from each other from when I was eight years old. We are now creating new relationships and from challenges like that I know that I’m where I’m supposed to be, this is my calling! And I will stop at nothing to serve these male entrepreneurs with tough love, passion, and commitment!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve had many struggles like everyone else. But I also believe in taking personal responsibility. Whatever happened in the past, I can’t change. But I can change how to respond and heal from those challenges. I’ve had struggles from depression (which I refused to take prescription medication for at the time), my home going into foreclosure four times, my hair falling out, heartbreak, drinking too much alcohol using it to numb myself. The struggles will come and they will go, I’ve learned so much from all of them. It’s part of the process, and now I’m reminding myself to embrace them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Health & Wellness Coach for Entrepreneurial Men. I help entrepreneurial men reclaim their time, reclaim their manhood, and show them how to take abundant care of themselves and make it a priority. I’m proud that I’ve grown my business yet again from zero and had my highest earning month in December 2020! I feel what sets me apart is my unstoppable passion and fire to be a strong stand for clients to step into their vision fully! I feel that clients are surprised at my strength (because I’m small in size…lol) but inspired by it as well. I make sure that clients to feel really safe, heard and supported!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Oh wow! Where do I begin as I’ve learned so much due to this thing. Three main lessons that come to me are:
1. ) My knowingness and belief on that we are all inter-connected was fully shown when COVOID hit because we experienced so much together globally at the same time.
2.) We are limitless in what we can co-create!!! For example, 2020 was the highest-earning and best year in business that I’ve ever experienced, so anything is possible!
3.) COVID taught me a deeper level of love, patience, compassion, and empathy for others in the process of their experience and how they are relations to this crisis. It opened my heart and also has shown me that my truth isn’t everyone else’s truth and that’s ok,
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: essentiallyconnected.fit
- Instagram: @joirychelle
- Facebook: @joirychelle
- Other: Facebook Group for Men: “The Wellness Joint” : https://www.facebook.com/groups/2385129295118185/?ref=share
Image Credits:
Headshot: Denton Adams Athletic Photos: Pierre George, Jr.
