Jennifer Bijoux began working as a private yoga instructor in New York City in 2001. She gained experience providing services at several studios in and around Manhattan. Furthermore, she developed a personal client base and provided specialized in-home yoga instruction. Jennifer Bijoux has worked in many different yogic disciplines during her career, including vinyasa yoga, hatha yoga, yin yoga, and power yoga. She achieved certification with the Yoga Alliance and completed a 500-hour yoga instructor certification program at the Sukha Yoga School. In addition to her yoga background, she has trained in aerial hoop and aerial silk.
Jennifer Bijoux also holds a theater degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her areas of focus included singing and voice, acting, and dancing. She is interested in a diversity of artists, from performance artist Marina Abramovic to portrait painter John Singer Sargent. She also enjoys reading classic literature, particularly the works of Colombian magical realist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, such as 100 Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I prefer to work out first thing in the morning before other responsibilities get in the way. I’ve found that if I put off my workout in the morning, there exists a real possibility that it will never get done. Whether it’s working out in the gym with weights or taking a yoga or Pilates class, moving my body first thing in the morning gives me energy, focus, and puts me in a happy mood for the day. The rest of my day is typically spent teaching yoga to my clients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I am a planner by nature. When I have an idea, I tend to become hyper-focused on how to make it happen. I can’t stop thinking about it and planning how to execute it. I become almost obsessed with the details until it’s complete.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I love the fact that Gen Z is drinking less alcohol than previous generations. They are more health conscious, in general. I have a son who is part of this generation and I am incredibly proud of the fact that he works out regularly, eats healthily, and doesn’t drink.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Planning and keeping notes in my calendar. Every evening, I refer to my notes and calendar so that I know what the following day will look like. During the day, I enjoy a sense of satisfaction from completing various tasks and deleting them from my calendar. Staying organized helps me immensely.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would reassure my younger self that everything would work out just fine and to have fun on the journey. Worrying is incredibly unproductive and the very worst way to use your imagination.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I believe it is imperative that we move our bodies in a deliberate way every day. That can be anything from resistance training, yoga, or going for a walk—anything that we enjoy. Moving our bodies increases longevity, alleviates pain, helps us look and feel amazing, and increases the brain’s ability to function at peak levels.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I move my body. Being physical helps me to stop thinking or ruminating. The act of physically moving my body also helps my brain focus better, so I can solve problems or view a situation with a fresh perspective when I come back to it later.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I had to become more outgoing early in my career. I had to learn how to take on the risk of rejection in order to gain clients and business partnerships.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
In the beginning, growth was slow, because I was too shy about approaching potential clients and partners. I had to become comfortable putting myself out there. With practice I found that a lot of people were receptive to my ideas, and that rejection was just a redirection.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
We live in an incredible time. Information has never before been so available, and the ability to connect and communicate with others has never been so easy. This enables us to chase our dreams and create like never before. People are generally happy to collaborate or help in any way they can. We don’t have to do it all alone. In fact, there is more success and better outcomes when we work together, so be brave enough to approach people for advice, assistance, partnerships, or whatever you need to reach your goals.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
My calendar. I’m often running from studio to studio or from one client’s home to the next. Staying organized helps!
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?/
Well, it was more than $100, but I love taking my son on vacation to create special memories together. He is really into baseball, so recently we spent a few days in Chicago and saw the Cubs play.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I love to read, so I have many favorite books. One of my favourites is Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Márquez. I find value in reading as an escape into a different time or world, and I learn so much from it. It’s truly my favorite thing to do.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I don’t watch much TV, but I recently watched Orange is the New Black. I found it interesting to explore the lives of these women and how they ended up in prison. Although it is fiction, I believe it accurately portrays the real-life circumstances of many people. I believe people are inherently good and that life circumstances can often cause behavior that is difficult to understand from the outside looking in. Instead of judging each other, becoming curious about one another’s motivations and circumstances can create compassion, something the world could certainly use more of.
Key learnings
- Practice compassion.
- Care about people and about helping them be healthy and happy.
- Value intellectual and physical stimulation.
- Value health and wellness.