Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Jo Place and Emily Beaupre.
Emily has over 15 years of experience in massage therapy and specializes in Swedish, deep tissue, chair massage, and energy work.
She is the owner of the Zen Loft Wellness Center & Sunshine Massage and Body Works. She is Licensed Massage Therapist who has massage experience in diverse environments. In addition to her private practice, she has worked in spas, chiropractic offices, elderly clients’ homes, as well as providing independent contract work to companies such as Zeel, Soothe, Working Well, and Infinite Massage.
She is based out of Zen Loft for massage and also teaches the monthly Partner Massage Workshop at Zen Loft.
She is a state certified and Montessori certified Elementary teacher and holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.
Mary Jo Place is the Lead Yoga/Aerial Yoga Instructor at the Zen Loft that helps manage the studio. She is a Registered 200 hour Certified Yoga Instructor, recognized by the Yoga Alliance in Vinyasa Flow. She obtained her certification at Sense of Samadhi, a registered studio recognized by the Yoga Alliance located in Yorkville, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Blackburn College located in Carlinville, Illinois. Mary Jo played competitive college basketball at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois and at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.
Also, she obtained her Aviana Aerial Yoga Certification in 2017 and has been teaching Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga since 2015 in the summer months. As a former athlete, she turned to yoga in order to help her achieve her fitness goals after suffering an injury. “It was during my yoga journey that I discovered Aerial Yoga and fell in love with it and how the hammock can help with achieving certain poses that I couldn’t do on my mat practice”. She understands that every individual has different levels of fitness goals and body types. She teaches with compassion and grace to her students in yoga class at any fitness level.
Mary Jo’s yoga philosophy is to help you understand your body and treat it with patience and kindness. Regular yoga practice helps in achieving overall balance of the mind, body and spirit. When connecting the breath with each pose it builds strength, endurance and balance throughout the entire body. Come experience the benefits of yoga with Mary Jo and see yourself transform.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One challenge has been getting the word out about us and all the services that we offer at the Zen Loft. We participate in First Fridays in downtown Aurora every month and other headline events which has help and it keeps marketing cost down.
Please tell us about Zen Loft Wellness Center.
We are a cooperative minded wellness center dedicated to providing a variety of yoga, dance, meditation classes, variety of holistic workshops, Reiki, and therapeutic massage to the Aurora and surrounding communities for a more holistic lifestyle. Currently, we have 15 different independent companies working out of the Zen Loft Wellness Center all working together to make this business model work.
We offer an open space for community events, and host private parties, lady’s nights, bridal and baby showers, and weekend seminars for continuing education. Instructors, students and clients working together to be a part of our mission to bring peace, learning, and wellness to the City of Aurora and surrounding communities.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I think asking for help and delegating studio tasks. In the beginning, it was a challenge because I only had a few businesses working out of the Zen Loft. Now we have 15 business which means more people to help out so we maintain a clean and inviting space that offers a variety of holistic services.
Pricing:
- Regular Classes – Yoga, Belly Dance, Hoop Dance, Poi and Meditation (First class is free, Unlimited weekly $20. 4 pack pass $60, 8 pack class $100, Unlimited monthly $ 120).
- Premium Class – Aerial Yoga (Single class $25, Aerial 4 pack class $80, First week all inclusive $50 includes Regular & Premium classes).
- Add a massage to your monthly membership for $50
- Combine regular monthly class pass with premium monthly class pass $150
Contact Info:
- Address: 6 West Downer Place,
Aurora, IL 60506 - Website: www.zenloftwellnesscenter.com
- Phone: 630-465-5638
- Email: zenloftwellness@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenLoftWellnessCenter
- Other: https://www.meetup.com/Zen-Loft-Community-Group/events/243828068/
Image Credit:
AK Portraits
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