Today we’d like to introduce you to Taryn Lagonigro

Hi Taryn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I was born and raised in New Jersey and met my husband Raffaele in high school, although we were friends for years and didn’t start dating until after college. We got married in 2009 and welcomed our first daughter, Sofia, in 2011. Two more girls followed in 2013 (Layla) and 2017 (Genevieve) and we thought our family was complete. I became a certified yoga instructor after yoga saved my mental health, and co-founded Iris Yoga in Bloomfield, NJ. In 2019 we learned not only that we would be welcoming one more daughter, but that she was coming with an extra chromosome. We did not know much about Down syndrome so this was a really scary and confusing time in our lives. Rhea was born in March 2020 (yes, THAT, March 2020) and she changed our whole world. After Rhea conquered open heart surgery at just 2 months old, I set out on a new path of advocacy for the disability community. I have since published three books, Ups, Downs and Silver Linings, Dear Mama: Stories of an Extra Lucky Life and the children’s book Strong, Beautiful, Brave & Smart. I co-founded Extra Lucky Moms with Jess Quarello, an organization that elevates voices in the disability community through our podcast, corporate programs and media spotlights. I have created inclusive yoga programs at my studio in efforts to bring yoga to the under-served disability population. The goal of all the work that I do is to make an impact for the disability community while showing all my girls that they can do anything they set their minds to!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Everything that I’ve built has been on sweat equity and there have been many bumps in the road! Being an entrepreneur is never a linear journey, you have to learn to ebb and flow and follow the tides.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I’d like to think that what sets me apart is that I am good at identifying ways that change can be made. In the example of my yoga studio, I saw several gaps – the lack of classes in traditional spaces for individuals with disabilities and the lack of employment opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome. I was able to create a program so that a woman with Down syndrome could graduate as a certified yoga instructor, and now she runs a class for individuals with disabilities.
I am doing the same with my publishing company. I found the gap in literature by and for the disability community and how traditional publishers weren’t seeing the value. I work with authors now to get their works out there and am working towards growing a community of authors who support each other and elevate each other’s works.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

For anyone starting out on an entrepreneur journey, just be realistic to the timeline. Very, very few people find success quickly. It often takes a lot of time, pivots and patience before you hit a stride. Success may look different than you originally thought, so try to measure you impact as much as you measure your revenue!

Pricing:

• Strong, Beautiful, Brave & Smart: $16.99
• Ups, Downs & Silver Linings: $18.95
• Dear Mama: Stories of an Extra Lucky Life: $22.95

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tarynlagonigro.com
• Instagram: @tarynlagonigro

Image Credits

Moments with Merry
Carley Storm Branding Company