We recently connected with Carrie Lehtonen and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Carrie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I grew up in a small town of about 3,000 people in southwest New Hampshire with my parents, Carl and Debra, and my brother, Keith. My dad worked blue collar jobs, and painted cars on the side to make extra money. Carl is good with his hands and anything mechanical – he has always learned by doing.

Carl grew up with four brothers on a farm in rural NH, where they were constantly tinkering with cars – rebuilding them, and then racing them. My dad, with the help of his brothers and some friends, built the house that we moved into when I was around six or seven years old. Everything from the foundation to the finishing touches.

Even though neither of my parents went to college, they knew the value of education. They weren’t religious, but chose to send Keith and me to the local private Catholic school for elementary and middle school. They felt we would get a better education, since the public schools didn’t have the best reputation. Sending us to private school required not only a financial investment, but time as well, since the school required the parents of students to volunteer.

My parents worked hard to be sure my brother and I had everything that we needed and wanted, but also that we understood the value of a dollar. We both had jobs in high school, and bought and insured our own cars. Although, it was helpful that we could get inexpensive cars that my dad could fix up.

They taught us that with some effort, we could be whatever we wanted to be. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both my brother and I went on to start our own businesses. My parents never put pressure on us to be anything other than exactly who we are. They encourage us to do what makes us happy, and not worry about what others expect.

During my second year of college, after signing up for my second semester classes, I called my mom crying because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do anymore, and I disliked the college I was attending. She calmly told me that  no one would think any less of me if I took some time off. It was a huge relief to know that I could decide my own path. I ended up taking a one-semester break, and returned to a different college with a major that better suited me.

Although they rarely traveled themselves, my parents never discouraged me from venturing out to see the world. As soon as I could travel on my own, I started going wherever I could. I tried new things and took risks, knowing that even though my mom worried about my safety when I would head out on a solo adventure, that we both knew she had raised a daughter who could take care of herself and make good choices. Even though moving across the country to Colorado took me 2,000 miles away from them, they supported my decision.

No matter what, I always know that I have support from, and cheerleaders in, my parents. I’m grateful to have such strong role models who taught me the importance of working hard for what makes me happy, and also to explore possibilities and be proud of my achievements.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got my wake-up call at 31 years old when I survived a heart attack while on a 60-mile bike ride.
At the time, I was working hard, climbing the corporate ladder, in a stressful Human Resources job that no longer inspired me. I was caught up in the common belief in our society that the measure of your life is how busy you are. Even though I was in good physical shape as a triathlete, I felt disconnected from myself and on the verge of burnout.

After learning more about heart disease – the #1 killer of all Americans and 80% preventable with lifestyle changes – I decided to pursue a second career in health and wellness. Too many people die from heart disease, and I believe we can change that!

I embarked on a long journey that included education in nutrition and life-coaching methods to become a holistic health practitioner. Around the same time, I discovered yoga, and that’s when it all came together for me – the connection between mind, body, and spirit.

I completed yoga teacher training, and continued expanding my skills as an instructor with training in vinyasa yoga, yin yoga, anatomy, Self Awakening Yoga (SAY), yoga therapeutics and Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) yoga. I started teaching yoga in 2012, and three years later, hosted my first yoga retreat in Costa Rica.

In 2018, I left my corporate job to focus full-time on operating my business, Firefly Community LLC. Firefly’s mission is to help you to ignite your inner light, and gain resources and tools so you can thrive, because the world needs us all to shine.

Firefly provides services and events for individuals, wellness leaders, and groups. We lead and coordinate yoga and wellness retreats internationally and domestically, and provide a supportive community and resources so our clients can thrive at home. We do this by offering one-on-one coaching programs, yoga classes, and wellness workshops. Firefly serves the corporate community by offering virtual and onsite yoga classes, wellness program consulting, and workshops focused on nutrition, mindfulness, and stress management.

Community is in our name for a reason. We believe that being in community supports its members in living their passion and purpose, because they have support and a sense of belonging. We cultivate community via our private membership group, and local and online events and workshops. Our clients and students feel supported and cared for, because they are not just a number, they are part of our community.

On retreat, Firefly’s goal is to create an environment for transformation and connection. Firefly’s retreats are capped at 15 people to ensure participants receive personalized attention, and the opportunity to truly connect with the retreat leader and fellow travelers.

Through our retreats and services, we aim to help our clients develop a deeper connection with mind, body and spirit, ignite their souls, and provide them with opportunities to connect with other people, get out in nature, and improve their relationship with what nourishes them.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

COVID-19 changed things for all of us. A large part of my business prior to 2020 was leading yoga retreats around the world. When all travel stopped, I had to pivot to be able to continue to operate my business.

I spent much of 2020 building an online option for my holistic wellness program, and teaching online yoga classes. I was able to continue to provide my services in a way that was safe for all. I taught multiple online workshops to keep interacting with my community.

I worked with the retreat venues that I had contracts with to create a plan to get back to in-person retreats in 2021. That year, I hosted three sold out retreats.

I’ve continued to offer online classes and workshops, and include an online option for Firefly’s wellness program, so that clients can participate from wherever they are.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Even though I studied Business Administration in college, my degree didn’t prepare me for being an entrepreneur. When I first decided to start my own business, I was happy to find the Small Business Development Center, which provides free resources and consulting for everything you need as a small business owner. I completed a program that they ran with Colorado Lending Source called Leading Edge. Through that program, I developed new skills, and had a shift in mindset that helped me to move from being an employee to being a leader. I also hired a business coach to help me learn how I could utilize my strengths in a new way, and determine where I needed help.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fireflycommunity.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fireflycommunity
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/fireflyyogacommunity
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/firefly-community/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fireflycommunityllc

Image Credits
Carrie Lehtonen