We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jocelyn Solomon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jocelyn below.
Jocelyn, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I have been sober over twenty-six years so I have seen the evolution of many different modalities and strategies for helping people through that process, but none of them felt exactly right to me. We have so much science now to prove that drinking alcohol in any amount for anyone is simply not aligned with health and presence. I wanted to create a space that was for everyone – not just a “problem drinker” necessarily, but for anyone who wants to evaluate their habits around drinking. The exciting part of this process is that most folks sign up thinking they may be quitting drinking, but in actuality they are gaining so much more- greater health and fitness, better sleep, clarity in relationships, clear mornings, a sense of pride and purpose. It is so much deeper than just not drinking! I created my sober curious groups in the spirit of knowing that any task, while potentially do-able alone, is a thousand times easier, richer, and wiser in community. We don’t count days (unless you want to), no failing, no shame and no rules – other than an open heart and mind. The idea is to wonder how we can show up fully for our lives, ourselves, and our people!
My retreat partner/BFF Steph Crochet and I bring this same level of curiosity, joy and awareness to the yoga and mindfulness retreats we create as well. While our all of retreats are not labeled sober curious (yet!) we encourage our clients to engage in the practice of wondering and evaluating how they show up for their lives. Many times people realize greater, more authentic connection and wellness is just not in alignment with drinking alcohol.
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 bring compassion and advocacy for my clients into everything I do. I segued from a career as a criminal trial attorney to full time yoga teacher and retreat leader with the same goal in mind – freedom and liberation. I have spoken for years about taking yoga “off the mat” and realized that living alcohol free is in greatest alignment with presence, yoga and health. I started running sober curious groups online before Covid, but the uptick in drinking and people developing habits during lockdown prompted me to create even more. So many people reached for more wine, more cocktails as a way to “cope” when in reality this strategy backfired and left them with a really unhealthy, often shameful-feeling habit. What is different about my groups is that you set your own rules -there is truly no requirement other than an open heart and mind and honest communication. Examining habits takes time, consistency and may include falling flat several times, and that is OK! The idea is to investigate and unpack our experiences so we learn from them, gather intel and move forward! Some people come to my groups and stay for years; others come in for a month or two. I fold in the best of what I have learned from other modalities and ditch the parts (often masculine and shame-based) that never resonated with me. All are welcome!
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
I create and co-lead my retreats with the amazing Steph Crochet. We met years ago in our first 200 hour yoga teacher training. We became good friends and shared similar career trajectories in the yoga world, but only truly cemented our business relationship in recent years when we realized we wanted to create retreat experiences that were founded on deep self-inquiry, presence, yoga, deep relaxation, and central nervous system resetting. Time in the pandemic and the deep work demanded by that time in history, solidified our alignment to yoga, justice in how we teach and lead, as well as a call to empower our clients to live a life rich with inquiry. Our business is successful not only because we are good at and love what we do, but also because Steph folds in years of expertise as a top recruiter/negotiator and I have years of experience as an attorney. These tools empower us to broker and create excellent relationships with venue and to negotiate contracts. Plus, I just love and admire who she is and know that our clients are so lucky to learn from her.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
I have found that showing up with complete authenticity is the very best way to build the right client base. I am absolutely transparent in life and on social media in my messaging to my clients. I am vocal about living alcohol free in a society that can often shame or challenge that choice. I strive to be an example that living sober is not just for people who have had problems but is actually a power move for everyone to live a live of maximum purpose, clarity, productivity and joy! Many of my clients come to me through word of mouth because they see profound changes in a friend or colleague who has worked with me. Because I am authentic in all I do, I feel like I am a living, breathing example for how a person’s quality of life and health is absolutely multiplied by living alcohol-free.
Contact Info:
- Website: jocelynsolomonyoga.com
- Instagram: jocelynsolomonyoga
- Facebook: Jocelyn Denison Solomon