We were lucky to catch up with Élena Jouhari recently and have shared our conversation below.

Élena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I feel like She-Zen Studio has always existed in my inner world — a sacred space just for me where I could be myself, practice my rituals, burn incense, enjoy my teas, my books, my candles. I often invited my friends to join me and we shared a deep connection that made our mundane lives feel just a little more magical.
That circle ended in 2011 when I moved to the States. For the next decade I felt physically alone. My husband was always by my side but I longed for true female friendship — not just superficial acquaintances but deep soul-level connection. I didn’t realize how hard that would be to find in a new country.
When my son was born in 2015 that isolation deepened. Without my “village” the first two years of motherhood pulled me into postpartum depression. I felt like I was disappearing — invisible not just to others but to myself. I couldn’t remember what music I liked or what I used to enjoy doing. One day I looked around my home and realized something shocking: not a single candle in sight. I had lived for candles, rituals, incense and Feng Shui since my teens — and now even those had vanished from my life.
That small moment hit me hard. I began to slowly climb out of the blues: lighting candles again, clearing space with intention, making room for magic, shifting the energy around me. Bit by bit I found my way back to myself.
But one thing was still missing: an honest space for women to connect. Somewhere to show up without explanation to be held without judgment.
That’s when I knew there was a bigger calling here — not just to heal myself but to create something for other women who were feeling the same disconnection. I realized there were plenty of options for a quick spa day or an expensive destination retreat but nothing local, affordable and deeply transformative. That gap was exactly what She-Zen could fill.
That’s why I created She-Zen Studio — to meet women’s need for connection, acceptance, self-discovery and magic. I know I’m not the only one who’s felt alone in a room full of people or drained by the endless roles we’re expected to play. I built the kind of space I wish I’d had — a place to rest your body, reconnect with your inner self and remember who you are beneath the noise. Not just alone but in the company of women doing the same.
When we moved into our house by the river in 2021 my vision snapped into focus. Nature surrounded us far from highways and to-do lists. The river — ancient, steady and clearing — set the perfect backdrop for transformation. With layers of texture, candlelight, Moroccan incense and sweet treats the space became an intimate sanctuary for women’s circles.
Here women gather for soulful ceremonies, seasonal circles, Moroccan cooking classes, tea parties and creative workshops that transform self-care into self-love. I weave mindfulness, gentle coaching and ancient rituals into exclusive immersive experiences.
What excites me most is watching the shift happen in real time — the moment a woman walks in heavy with stress and leaves lighter, brighter and more herself.
She-Zen Studio isn’t just a business — it’s a community. It’s a local retreat for the greater Seattle area offering the benefits of a three-day getaway in a single day. Here women rest, recharge and reconnect with the most important person in their lives — themselves.

Élena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Élena, founder and curator of She-Zen Studio — an intimate, by-the-river retreat space in Maple Valley (40 minute drive from Seattle), designed exclusively for women who want more than surface-level self-care. Here, personal transformation is both an art and an experience. Every gathering is crafted to be as restorative as it is unforgettable.
My path into this work has been both personal and professional. I’m trained in NLP psychology (neuro-linguistic programming) and I’ve spent a lifetime immersed in rituals, metaphysics and the creation of intentional spaces. I built She-Zen to fill a gap I saw for women who craved real connection, deep rest and meaningful self-discovery — without having to commit to an expensive, week-long destination retreat.
At She-Zen, I design curated one-day retreats and immersive experiences that merge Moroccan-inspired elegance — candlelit ambiance, rich textures, the scent of incense and tea — with curated mindfulness practices, therapeutic coaching and ancient rituals. From seasonal women’s circles and soulful ceremonies to Moroccan cooking classes and creative workshops, each event is designed to engage all five senses and open space for meaningful inner work. This is not about escaping reality; it’s about re-entering it renewed, centered and deeply connected to your own inner power.
The women who come here often lead busy, high-pressure lives — they are professionals, business owners, mothers, caregivers. They are strong and capable, yet rarely have a place where they can truly exhale. She-Zen gives them that space. In one immersive day, they experience the clarity, connection and inner recalibration of a multi-day retreat — without boarding a plane or disappearing from their lives for a week.
What sets She-Zen apart is the level of curation behind every detail. I design experiences that feel intimate, beautiful and deeply personal — not mass-produced or one-size-fits-all. Guests are not simply participants, they are welcomed as honored members of a circle, held in an atmosphere where vulnerability is safe, conversations matter and transformation is woven into every moment.
I am most proud of the moments when I witness a woman reclaim a part of herself she didn’t even realize she had lost. It might be the way her shoulders drop during a guided meditation, the spark in her eyes as she speaks her truth aloud or the laughter that bursts out unexpectedly in the middle of a shared story. These are the transformations that last.
What I want potential clients to know is this: She-Zen is not about checking off a self-care box. It is a unique space, created for women who value depth, beauty and real connection. Here, you are more than welcome — you are celebrated. And you will leave not only rested and renewed but reminded of the magic and strength that has always been yours.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The most difficult lesson I had to unlearn — in both running She-Zen Studio and balancing my family life — was striving for perfection.
Like many women, I grew up in a household with strict discipline. My main job was to study and study well. At the same time, I saw the women in my family juggle endless responsibilities under constant pressure to do everything flawlessly. If the house wasn’t spotless, it was a failure. If dinner wasn’t beautiful, you weren’t a good cook. If you missed a bedtime story, you weren’t a good mother.
Perfectionism stole the joy from everyday life — and I wore that badge with pride, convinced it was the only way to succeed. My motto seemed to be: Do it perfectly or die trying.
That mindset nearly broke me when I prepared for my first open house at the Studio. For two months, I obsessed over every detail. My family barely saw me, I lived on coffee alone and my mental health crumbled under this self-imposed stress. The night before the event, I collapsed in the driveway, sobbing, completely drained, both my brain and my body refused to function under such pressure. I was ready to cancel it all because I simply did not have the energy to guide it as perfectly as I had planned.
In that moment, I realized something had to give — and it wasn’t going to be my health, my family or my dream. The perfectionist in me had to go.
It didn’t happen overnight, but through deliberate action, I learned that joy fuels sustainability. I now run my business, my household and my life from a place of presence, not pressure. Because for any transformation to last, the need to change must be greater than the fear of change — and for me, that moment made the choice clear.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Having lived on three different continents, building my life and my village from scratch each time, I’ve come to deeply value the power and necessity of “my circle” — genuine connection among women.
I was born and raised in Ukraine where I had a close-knit group of friends — a true sisterhood. When I married a Moroccan man I left that behind and moved to Morocco for a while. Later, we relocated to the United States. Here, for nearly a decade I was physically and emotionally lonely.
Building meaningful connections in a new country proved much harder than I ever imagined. You see, true women’s friendship isn’t just a value to me — it’s an innate need. That’s why for years of being alone, I questioned myself — Was I interesting enough? Worthy enough? Good enough?
Through it all, my circle in Ukraine remained my lifeline. Their support gave me the courage to try again. Slowly, I built a new circle in Maple Valley — a community of women bonded by shared longing and mutual support.
From that circle She-Zen Studio was born — a sacred space where women come not only to rest and recharge but to rise together, reminding each other of their inherent strength and magic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shezenstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shezenstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheZenStudio

Image Credits

Kristina Pearl Photography, LLC
Miranda Adejare with Inspire Me Photography