Jacqueline Forth's love of yoga was born out of a stressful time eight years ago.
The 29-year-old Barrie woman was working as a mining engineer in the North West Territories and got hooked on the practice.
"I had periods of a lot of stress in my life - jobs, moves, school - but after yoga class I have never felt so good. It just clears my mind. I struggled with weight issues when I was younger and that just completely went away."
"Whenever I start my day with yoga, which is most days, I just have the best day ever. I feel awesome. You've got that unstoppable feeling in your mind."
Forth worked as a mining engineer all over Canada including the Arctic Circle, New Brunswick and northern Saskatchewan.
She spent the past five years in Australia where she realized engineering wasn't for her.
"It turns out I don't enjoy mining engineering," she said. "I hated my job but was stuck in a contract and had to see it through. So I started a company in my spare time because I needed an outlet, something that I was passionate about."
Enter Pure Glow Cold Pressed Juice, Forth's company in Australia that she still runs while back in Barrie.
Amidst all of this, the driven young woman went to Bali for yoga training.
Now she's launching her own yoga business with classes at a space on Dunlop Street East.
"I'm just starting to share my kind of yoga with Barrie because it is a bit different from what I've seen in Barrie," explains Forth. "My yoga is very much flow yoga. It's about unravelling. You move super slowly so you feel all the muscles working and things stretching and strength building."
"You leave feeling different from those types of classes. Everything is light. Everything is activated, energized."
Her goal is to help people feel it like she does and she encourages everyone to try something new - step out of your comfort zone.
"When you make a flow consciously and with everything unfolding, the body, step by step, that's just like the secret sauce. You can't help but feel awesome. It is totally addictive and it's something no matter what's going on in your life, you don't even need a mat. Just fall back into yourself. You can figure out the problems in your life without thinking about them."
Change is the hallmark of Forth's life with all her travels and three careers under her belt before she turns thirty.
She puts it down to an adventurous spirit and zest for a challenge.
"I love these projects and starting something from scratch and building it," said Forth. "I was planning on being an engineer my entire life but I quickly realized the corporate lifestyle doesn't really work for me."
"I think its because I'm more creative than I let myself believe."
Engineering was an outlet for her logical side, says Forth but says a love of math and solving problems left her 'metaphorically empty.'
"I could have a great job right now and a really great salary but I choose to make it on my own for whatever crazy reason. I wouldn't change a thing."
JCQULN Yoga is located at the Waterview Space at 150 Dunlop St. East.
For more information and class schedules visit jcqulnyoga.com or text (705) 790-5427.
