Daily Inspiration: Meet Jenn Smyth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Smyth. Them and their team share their story with us below:

“After teaching English internationally, Jenn decided to blend her passions for people, fitness, and teaching by becoming an E-RYT 200 Yoga Instructor. She primarily teaches in northern Colorado and also travels extensively in pursuit of furthering her yoga experiences. As a daughter of Korean immigrant parents, she strives for inclusiveness and equality both inside and outside of the yoga studio. When not teaching, Jenn loves exploring beautiful Colorado with her husband and rescue dog.” 

But, of course, there is much more to tell. To elaborate… 

My parents immigrated to the US from South Korea in the 80s and my younger sister and I were the first to be American-born in our family. As immigrants, my parents were adamant that we know the Korean language, culture, and traditions and insisted we only speak Korean at home. I even attended Korean School on Saturdays all the way through high school – something I abhorred in those early days. It didn’t make sense to me then that I would go to regular school M-F then have to also go to Korean School on Saturdays. I often had to miss Friday night sleepovers with friends and would be so sad about it! I would argue with my mom and say things like, “Why do I have to learn Korean?! I’m AMERICAN!” But now, as an adult, I’m so grateful my parents sent me all those years because I’m proudly bilingual and can read, speak, and write in Korean. 

The pressures and difficulties tied to the adjustments to life in America were very difficult for my parents, and I especially saw a deterioration in my father paired with mental illness. As a result, my entire childhood and upbringing are riddled with lots of fighting, abuse, and trauma in our household – all of which took me many years of hard work and healing but have made me a stronger individual today. 

Never in a million years, especially as the daughter of immigrants, would I have imagined to be where I am today – living in northern Colorado, not using either of my two degrees in Education (B.A. in Elementary and M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages & Intercultural Studies), and a yoga instructor who also works remotely as an Executive Assistant/Operations Manager for an online influencer and health coach. 

Because of the brokenness at home, my only goal throughout high school was to get out of my hometown in Georgia and go to college out of state. This brought me to attend Penn State University. After graduation, I moved overseas to teach English in China for 3 years to university students, and even after returning home to the States, I thought I’d be a teacher until I retired. Little did I know that I would be teaching something else! 

I had found yoga in high school in the midst of all the turmoil and trauma going on at home. Working out was a solace for me, but I didn’t understand the mind-body connection yoga provided until years later; I just knew I enjoyed it and it felt good. Even during my years living in China post-college, I would pop in Jillian Michaels’s “Yoga Meltdown” DVD once or twice a week and practice in my apartment. It wasn’t until I had moved back to America and settled in Colorado with my husband that I found yoga consistently and the magic began. I went from teaching as an Adjunct Instructor in the English Department at Colorado State University in Fort Collins to getting my 200-hour yoga certification and making the switch completely to the health, fitness, and wellness industry in 2015. 

Since then, I’ve taught yoga and other group exercise classes, been a fitness manager overseeing 4 different health club locations, planned city-wide fitness festivals, co-led a yoga and adventure retreat in the country of Panama, volunteered and worked for many yoga festivals, and conferences, managed a yoga studio, and finally, as mentioned, currently work remotely. 

After 9 years of marriage, my husband and I finally decided we were ready to have a baby! I’m currently 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant with our first child (a baby boy!), so I am due any day now. So much has changed and evolved over the last 9 months, including my yoga practice. I’ve learned to slow down, practice yoga in so many different ways, and to truly go with the flow. But my passions remain the same: people/community, fitness, and teaching. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. The abuse and trauma of my childhood mentioned in my story affected me tremendously. I struggled with my own mental illness and had suicidal thoughts to be ‘free’ of all the pain in those years. Once out of the house and at my out-of-state college, I had perspective and amazing mentors. I knew life didn’t have to be so hard and that I could resolutely create the life that I wanted. I worked very hard to get the help that I needed and began a long healing journey. 

Also being in the fitness industry has brought on its own challenges. Being in spaces where I’m often the only non-white person brings about insecurities and even fear. In northern Colorado, I’ve consistently been the only (or just one of a couple) non-white yoga/fitness instructors. Inclusion and diversity is extremely hard to come by, but I now see through the struggle that my work is to have the hard conversations and bring about awareness to these spaces. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am in the Virtual Assistant space as an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager to an online influencer and health coach. In my day to day, my work spans across administrative tasks (emails, scheduling/calendar management, support with clients) to running all the behind-the-scenes for operating all the different programming and ensuring partnerships and deliverables are running smoothly and met. 

I am known to be tech-savvy, an enthusiastic go-getter, a quick learner, and have a keen eye for details and organization. 

As a Yoga Instructor, I’m known to be inclusive, joy-filled, and creative. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Many of my summer vacations were spent in South Korea visiting my grandparents and relatives. I have fond memories of running around with my cousins, catching dragonflies, and eating my grandmother’s delicious cooking. 

Contact Info:

• Email: jennsmythyoga@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogawithjenn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrsjennsmyth/ 

Image Credits
John Robson Photography
Lindsey Spallone