Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good
Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Thank you, charlie.
Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host ofthe Good Neighbor Podcast.
The podcast is intended tointroduce Northern Kentucky
residents to the local businessowners that serve them, and we
want you to know local businessowners as humans and not just a
logo on a business card.
(00:32):
So the person I have with metoday is a local business owner.
She owns a yoga studio inIndependence.
Her name is Jamie McGee.
She owns Just Breathe YogaStudio in Independence, and so
Jamie is going to tell us allabout her yoga studio that I'm
sure she's very proud of as well.
She should be, and so, thatbeing said, jamie, welcome to
(00:53):
the show.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Thank you.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So tell us all about
Just Breathe Yoga Studio, what
you got going on there.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Oh my goodness, I
don't know if you have enough
time.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You tell the part of
the story that you want.
You want to make sure we know.
Ok, we'll just go from there.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
All right.
We opened our doors March 31st.
We offer different styles ofyoga.
We are always looking forinnovative ways to bring
different things to thecommunity.
We're in the process of findingout what the community needs.
You know what their wellnessneeds at the time.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
So when you say the
different types of yoga,
different disciplines, I have alittle bit of a you know, a
knowledge base of differenttypes, Like I know, for instance
, hot yoga, Okay, and then youknow there are other types.
So tell us what are thedifferent categories of yoga?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Okay, so hot yoga is
not something that we offer.
I know that's, that's a trendright now.
Actually, at my age I'm notlooking for hot yoga.
I produce enough heat of my ownand I'm sure there's plenty of
women out there just like me.
So that is, and it's a wholeother animal, both financially
(02:08):
and space-wise.
But we offer vinyasa flows, weoffer yin restorative classes.
All of the instructors are verygood at meeting you where
you're at in your practice.
So, although we do offer abeginner's workshop once a month
(02:32):
, you can come to basically anyof our classes.
You let the instructor knowbefore class begins that you're
a beginner you've never been ona mat or maybe you've practiced
a couple times and they willmeet you where you're at and
make sure that they offer plentyof modifications.
You know, for your level, foryour skill level.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Okay.
So when you're talking skilllevels, if somebody is walking
in and they're like I've heardof yoga, I know about yoga.
I've never been to a yoga class.
It's always intrigued me.
Somebody who's just startingout, how do you handle?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
them.
So you know we would.
It depends on what class theywalk into.
There are certain classes thatI would suggest for them More of
a, maybe a gentle yoga andstretch, restorative yin.
The best place to start ifyou've never been on a yoga mat
(03:30):
would be like a restorativestyle class, where you are
instructed on the pose but youhold the pose longer.
So there's less poses that youknow you would have in a class.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
There's less poses
that you know you would have in
a class and it would reallyallow your body to, you know,
get acclimated to poses at atime.
Yeah, okay, so when you're, youknow, practicing yoga, is it
geared towards building strengthor flexibility, or both?
Is there a mental aspect to it?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yes, there is a
multitude of things that yoga
helps.
Yoga helps.
There's definitely like yourvinyasa flows, that's strength
building.
We are going to bring Pilatesto our studio here soon,
starting up a running club.
But there's definitely somestrength building and, like I
(04:28):
said, a vinyasa flow a slow flowis still a vinyasa flow, it
just slows it down.
Those are good for beginnersbecause there's time in between
transitioning from pose to pose.
That you can, you know, feelthe pose in your body.
(04:48):
Your yin classes restorative yin, then to yin classes those are
more for stretching that reallygets into your fascia tissue.
It takes 90 seconds for yourfascia tissue to loosen up.
So you're going to hold posesin yin for like three minutes at
a time approximately and that,will, you know, give your body
(05:12):
time to really get into thattissue.
That's tight and obviously withwith stretching, you know that
helps, like with your joints andthings like that your mobility,
your range of motion.
Restorative classes are yourpermission to rest.
In restorative classes you aregoing to be completely supported
(05:32):
by props, whether that be yogablocks, blankets, bolsters we
offer eye pillows, you know, tojust totally black out and your
body, your muscles, beingsupported by these props, gives
your body permission to rest andget the rest that,
(05:53):
unfortunately, we don't giveourselves permission to do.
And then, as far as the mental,every class typically starts
with like a meditation, like agrounding um where you clear
your mind.
Um, the only thing you'refocused on is the four corners
of your mat, the four corners ofthe room that you're in.
(06:14):
A lot of the instructors willwalk you through um, like a, a
guided meditation for things foryou to focus on, to clear your
mind of all of the otherthoughts that race through it
throughout the day.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
So you're using some
other terminology that I've
never really heard.
Now it doesn't really matter,because you know you're the
expert.
If somebody comes to you,they're just coming to you
because you know they're at apoint in their life where
they're just coming to youbecause, um, you know they're at
a point in their life wherethey're just needing, you know,
exercise, flexibility.
You know, maybe, maybe themental part of it, because some
(06:54):
of it, you know, I have to sayit kind of sounds like, um, the
mental discipline that you canget from like martial arts.
There's maybe some of thathappening within the yoga world
as well.
So you are kind of there, justkind of guiding them on their
journey and telling them, ifyou've never done it before,
(07:14):
here's where you start, and thenyou just kind of grow and you
build, which I think means thatif you say, if you have 20
people in a class, you have 20different levels of you know
people, wherever they might bein their journey, everybody's at
a different place, so you haveto be there, I imagine, to just
(07:36):
sort of facilitate them growingin that journey.
Is that correct?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That is correct.
A few things you said prompteda few things in my mind.
At the beginner's workshop andI am the one who does the
beginner's workshop myself asthe owner of the studio and we
do cover yoga terminology.
That's part of our beginner'sworkshop because I think fear of
(08:02):
the unknown, you know, happensfor a lot of people.
So I try to help them withencouraging.
Like you know, I try to helpthat in the beginner's workshop
by maybe explaining what some ofthese terms you're going to
hear in the studio mean, so youdon't feel uncomfortable for
lack of a better word, dumbright when you go to yoga, or
intimidated maybe?
(08:24):
Right, more intimidated.
You know.
I think confidence is power andthe more confident and
comfortable you feel you knowwalking into the studio, the
better you know you feel.
So that was one of the thingsthat kind of came across my mind
when you were talking.
But, as far as you know, eachof our classes, so our studio,
(08:45):
hold 18, 20, if we, you know,can squeeze them in there.
Yes, essentially you could endup with 18 different levels of
people that walk into the studiofor one class.
One thing I do encourage peopleto do is to read the class
(09:05):
descriptions.
I am a huge believer and I'veshared this with every one of my
instructors, whether they writetheir class description or I
write it for them and give it tothem.
I am a huge believer in makingsure that the description that
is provided online is exactlywhat the person can expect when
(09:26):
they walk into the studio.
So there are no surprises.
I have been doing yoga andPilates for 20 years myself.
I have taken everything that Ihave loved over the last 20
years imported into this studio,and I have taken everything
that I didn't necessarily likeimported into the studio.
Right, and one of the thingsthat I have come across in my
(09:48):
years is walking into a classand thinking I'm getting one
thing and I get another for me.
And I don't want that to happento someone, because my worst
fear is this A beginner walksinto a class and it's not on
their level and they're soscared of yoga and I can't do
that, and they go away and theynever try yoga again.
(10:10):
I've heard that multitude oftimes from people.
I tried it.
I can't do that.
It's not that you can't do it,everybody can do yoga.
It's that you weren't in theright class.
You see what I'm saying.
And then my other fear would besomeone is a very skilled
practitioner who's deep intotheir practice and they walk
(10:31):
into something that they thoughtwas going to meet them where
they're at and it's morebeginners and they're bored out
of their minds.
And I'm not going back to thatyoga studio because that is not
where I'm at Right.
So I do encourage people toreach out to me.
They can, you know, tell mewhere they're at in their
practice and I will suggest tothem where I think they should
(10:52):
start.
If they don't want to startwith the beginners workshop,
I'll give them the classes thatthey can, you know, start with.
But I'm always here.
I'm always open for questionsand comments, suggestions,
concerns.
I'm more than happy to talkwith anybody.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Okay, so you've got
decades of experience.
Now I assume that means thatyou have family that has watched
you do this through the years.
Has yoga rubbed off on yourfamily?
How about your husband?
Has yoga rubbed off on your?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
family.
How about your husband, yourkids?
Do they do yoga at all?
Nope, can't get my head.
Actually, my husband was havinglower back pain and he went to
physical therapy and they senthim home with you know, sheets
(11:49):
of exercises to do.
And I said, honey, all of thoseare yoga poses.
You've got a built in you knowphysical therapist with you know
, built into the house here Ican show you all those poses, I
can help you.
So he's trying to convince me todo this, create this class for
men who have lower back problems, and based it on these
exercises that he was sent homewith um, the physical therapy
place, um, my daughters, um,I've tortured them with having
(12:14):
to be my students, um, but asfar as trying to get them to
practice on a daily basis, now,you know, my biggest thing is I
want to do yoga when I don'tnecessarily need it.
I don't want to try to startwhen I do need it.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
So I know there are a
lot of professional athletes
where yoga is a big part oftheir routine.
Yes, without yoga they wouldn'tbe the they wouldn't have the
ability to do what they doprofessionally.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yeah, I'm hearing
more and more about just, you
know, college level,professional level.
They've got their own yogainstructors that are
incorporating it.
Actually, it's funny you saidthat this Thursday.
So we are in our dead period asfar as school sports are
concerned right now and the somy youngest plays volleyball at
(13:09):
Simon Kenton High School and thevolleyball coach there
encourages them to continueconditioning right even during
dead period.
So I extended an offer to all ofthe volleyball girls for this
Thursday to come join us at thestudio for for back to back
classes.
One is called Booty, which isjust a blast.
(13:32):
It is yoga poses, cardio, alittle bit of dancing, like I
think the girls will reallyenjoy, and then we're going to
get a break and they're going toenjoy some better blends and
then restorative yen, which willhelp them stretch and stuff.
So that is something we'reoffering this Thursday.
Actually, both classes forfifteen dollars.
(13:54):
It is open to the community aswell, but it was just something
we put together in honor of thedead period for the high school,
you know it's a good idea, yeah, and we put together in honor
of the dead period for the highschool.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
You know it's a good
idea, yeah, so.
So if we're going to talk aboutyour youngest, we might as well
shout her out.
That would be Piper, correct?
That is Piper, okay, piper.
And then Maya is your otherdaughter, correct?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yep so.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Piper is going on 15.
She's going to be a sophomoreat Simon Kenton High School and
she is big into volleyball soshe plays school ball.
And then our club season justended, so it's kind of a
year-round thing Club.
We're doing that from Januaryto June and then we start up
school in July, takes us throughthe beginning of November.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
What's Maya got going
on?
Takes us through beginning ofNovember.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
So what's Maya going
on?
Maya just graduated fromnursing school in December and
she is in labor and delivery atSt E.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Wow.
Well, I mean, you know, I'veI've known plenty of, uh, young
ladies that have um moregentlemen too that have gone
through nursing school, andthat's very common.
Top of the list is I want to bein the labor and delivery ward.
So the fact that she got to bein labor and delivery, um good
(15:12):
for her.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
We are so blessed, so
grateful, yeah, for her to walk
right into that aftergraduating.
We were just yeah.
Yeah, nursing school is noteasy, so no, I watched her go
through it and I'm super superproud of her for sticking with
it and getting through it.
And, yeah, we are super proudof her.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Good job Maya.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
All right.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
So then your husband,
who we talked about earlier.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Darren, is that
correct?
Darren, yep, yep, Darren.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Darren Darren, I
think talking to you earlier, he
owns his own business, is thatcorrect?
Speaker 3 (15:48):
He does.
It is called McGee Mobile RVService.
We started that company in 2021.
He was in constructionmanagement for 35 years of his
life.
During COVID, he got furloughedand we decided to accelerate
(16:09):
our retirement plan.
So when we retired, we weregoing to we still are going to
travel and Darren's going towork on campers, um, and I'm
going to teach yoga in thecommunity center of the
campground.
Um, but anyway, um, I thinkCOVID gave him a minute to
realize that he needed a careerchange.
Um, so we started that businessin 21 and we are going strong.
(16:33):
We're in our fifth season, sowe come to you, we come to your
driveway, we come to thecampground, we come to storage
units.
We can typically get to you alot quicker than a dealership
can.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
So, yeah, so when
someone needs you, they need you
and they're just so happy tosee you when you show up.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Yes, yes, well,
they're a little aggravated
because you know it could ruinyour whole trip if you can't get
it going.
But Darren is really good abouthe's.
He's really good about gettinga lot of people going.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Yeah, well, he gets
to be their superhero in the
moment.
I mean right, he's the saver ofvacations.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yes, yes, he is Good.
Now he's the saver of vacations.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Yes, yes, he is good.
Now, one thing I want to bringup is people might notice in our
background, you and I, we havethe same, the same picture
behind us.
We're not in the same room,we're not now, but um, we just
we noticed that we each had thesame uh photo in the in our
background, so we just thoughtit'd be fun just to kind of you
know that's the universe.
(17:39):
I'm telling you the universespeaks exactly, yeah we just
have to make sure not to make itlook like we have horns coming
out of our heads but we're, yeah, okay, so back to business.
Talk, um, so, uh, if people say, all right, I'm in independence
(17:59):
, yoga sounds pretty cool.
I would like to try it.
You know, jamie seems like avery nice woman.
I want to go and I want to trya yoga class.
How do they reach you?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Let me start by
telling you where we're located.
We're located at the corner ofWalton, nicholson and 17, where
16 and 17 meet.
We're in like a reddish,brownish, brick and mortar
little strip mall.
There You'll notice there's aSunoco station and it's called
TikTok Food Mart.
I call it TikTok, but it's likean AmeriStop.
So, that's where we're located.
(18:38):
You can reach me.
Definitely, call me or text me.
Should I give my number?
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Yeah, go ahead, Okay
okay 859-727-2464.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Feel free to email me
at justbreathyog at yahoocom,
or you can visit our website aswwwjust breathe yoga cocom yeah,
yeah, I'm sure that's tough tofind a good url that hasn't
already been taken, so yes, yeah, so we got.
(19:15):
Yeah, we're thewwwjustbreathyogacocom.
Um.
I did also want to mention weare partnered with ClassPass.
I know ClassPass is huge, umright now, so you can find us on
ClassPass as well.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Okay, so that's a
separate site that they can go
and they can schedule themselves, right?
Yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Um, do you have such
a thing as a like a rate sheet
in terms of the per?
Speaker 1 (19:44):
class.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Is it dependent on
the type of class?
How do you?
How do you?
Speaker 3 (19:51):
how do you the way
our pricing works on schedule
bliss is where you'll whereyou'll find our schedule.
Racing Works on Schedule Blissis where you'll find our
schedule.
So we have two new clientoffers and you can take
advantage of both of them once.
So we have our first new clientspecial is three classes for
(20:12):
$30.
So we want you to come in andtry different classes, different
instructors, and then, if youfeel like you want to continue,
you know, continue your journey.
We have an unlimited pass for 69for a month where you can
continue to explore and continueon your journey and then from
there you will go, you know,into either a five we call it
the casual yogi five class pass,which is good for a year.
(20:36):
So you've got five visits youcan use in a year.
We've got the 10 flow andbreathe class pass.
You've got 10 visits, you knowyou can do for a year.
We've got an unlimited monthlywhere you can come unlimited
times but come to every class amonth and then we do have a drop
(20:57):
in, you know, if you just wantto drop into classes.
But if you visit our website,we have, you know, we're always
running some sort of special aswell.
So I know in June we had $8Thursdays in June, right?
So every class on Thursdays inJune was $8 each.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Okay, I know there
are various different offers
that you might run specials,whatever.
Given the nature of a podcast,we never really know when
somebody is going to be watchingthis or listening to the audio
version.
So I guess we would just sortof like to let people know if
(21:49):
they're listening to thispodcast.
They can call you up and justsort of inquire about whatever
special you have going on in themoment, you know.
So I know you want people to atleast come and try a class and
just learn what it is that youdo and go from there.
Learn what it is that you doand go from there.
So I'm not saying that they cancall you and get a free class,
but we certainly want them tocall you or come in and meet you
and just start their journey,whatever that might mean for
them, Correct?
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Yes, and actually
give me a call, and if you are a
new person, we do have promoswhere you do get your first
class for free.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
So right now we have
a flyer out there that has a
promo code it does expire July5th, but it is promo code flyer
2025.
And you can get your firstclass free.
And then, in the declarationsof independence, we have a promo
code where you can get yourfirst class free.
(22:40):
The other thing we have to goon is our referral program.
So if you are, if you arealready coming to just breathe
or you you know, begin yourjourney with us and you refer
someone, all you have to do isemail me or text me or call me
and give me your name and theperson you referred and you get
a free class put on your account.
Oh nice, so we do have thatreferral program.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I just realized I'm
not even sure like how long a
class lasts.
What's the typical length of aclass?
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Typical class is 60
minutes.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
OK, 60 minutes.
How about your staff there?
Who do you have on staff?
We'll shout them out.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Absolutely Cause I am
.
I am so grateful for myinstructors.
I have got the best team.
I wish I could be on theschedule more teaching myself,
but I've got a great team to doit for me.
I'm.
I'm handling the business sideof things right now Takes up all
of my time I have got.
(23:41):
Do you want me to use firstnames, last names?
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Yeah, I mean that's
going to make sure you know
they're working hard and you'revery proud of them and you're
blessed to have them.
I want to make sure that theyget their props.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
Absolutely so I've
got and some of the last names I
don't even know if I know howto pronounce, so maybe I'll just
use first name I've got.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Sarah.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
She's wonderful.
You can see her on Mondayevenings for just gentle yoga
and stretch.
I've got Stacy.
That offers a slow flow once aweek on Wednesdays Absolutely
wonderful.
I've got Jill.
She's on the schedule severaltimes a week.
She offers one of our vinyasaflows.
She offers a candlelitrestorative class on Wednesday
(24:25):
nights at eight o'clock.
Give yourself that permissionto just rest.
I've got Miriam.
She actually offers Reiki.
So we do offer Reiki, which islike an energy healing type
class.
We collaborate that withrestorative.
She does that.
Let's see.
(24:46):
I've got Parker.
He does vinyasa flows.
He is our Thursday morninginstructor and our Saturday at
8am instructor.
I've got Jeff, who offers avent again, and he is also
heading up our running club.
That's getting ready to startup in July.
I heard a lot of buzz aboutthat.
(25:06):
Lots of people are loving thatidea of having a running club.
So they're going to run once aweek and then they're going to
get together for an hour of ayoga class once a week and
strengthen those muscles thatrunners need to keep their lower
, lower body going.
We've got a new instructorcoming on journey.
She is going to offer Pilates.
I know I'm missing somebody.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
I know I'm missing
somebody.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
And I don't want to
leave anybody out because
they're all so great.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
They'll show you some
grace.
The point is, you've got apretty substantial staff, oh my
gosh Brandy.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
I can't forget Brandy
Brandy, Brandy Brandy she is
our booty expert.
See her on Thursday nights.
And Lindsay I can't forgetLindsay.
Lindsay is just a beautifulperson.
She offers a slow flow onWednesdays.
Yes, they're coming to me.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Do you think you have
covered everybody?
Speaker 3 (26:15):
I hope Okay, because
they all deserve it.
They really, really do.
Yeah, and if I could share whywe have such a diverse group,
your people find you right soyou could have two instructors
that offer the same style classand people just connect with one
other than the other.
So my goal at Just Breathe YogaStudio is to give the community
(26:39):
all these differentpersonalities, all these
different people and all thesegifts.
They each have such awesomegifts to offer and I think their
people will find them andreally connect with them.
And some of my instructorsteach elsewhere and people will
follow them.
You know where they go becausethey just they.
(27:01):
You know they really connectwith that instructor, so they'll
go where that instructor isgoing to teach.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yeah, yeah.
The universe brings us thepeople that we're supposed to
have in our lives for variousdifferent reasons.
So you're building community,you're helping people become
better versions of themselves,and so we wish you all the best
in those endeavors.
And I want people inIndependence Walton, northern
(27:28):
Kentucky in general, to come andvisit with you and see what you
have going on there at JustBreathe Yoga Studio.
One more time, give the address.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
The address is 11988
Joseph E Schmiaty Road,
Independence, Kentucky, 41051.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
That's a mouthful,
but people who live out there
know exactly what you're talkingabout.
Perfect, all right.
Well, jamie, thanks forspending time with us and
letting us get to know you alittle bit better.
And Darren and Maya and Piperoh, you got doggos too.
You got those little doggies.
I want to make sure you get toshout them out, because those
(28:12):
dogs are an important part ofyour life, correct?
Speaker 3 (28:15):
They are my boys and
my little girls.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Your shirt is, you
know, talking about dog hair.
Dog hair is my glitter it is myglitter.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Dog hair is my
glitter.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
So shout your dogs
out.
I've got dogs.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Sure, I've got an
English bulldog named Buford,
who is seven.
I've got an English bulldognamed Oscar, who is six.
They think they're brothers,but Buford is actually Oscar's
uncle.
And then I have sweet littleEloise.
She's our French bulldog, sheis three and she rules the roost
, okay.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
Well, you know, dog
people love other dog people.
So just by virtue of you beingyou know such a dog person,
you're going to make some fansout there, you know, just by
being a good dog mom, thank youAll right.
So thanks for joining us andletting us get to know your
family and a little bit moreabout Just Breathe Yoga Studio.
(29:13):
I'm looking forward to meetingyou in person and maybe coming
out and trying a class.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Great.
Good luck to have you.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah, I'll come visit
you.
I know you've met my daughterbefore, and so maybe I will
bring her for a class as well,there we go.
We'll come out and do youtogether, being the Good
Neighbor Podcast.
One thing that I'll always sayto you as we sign off is
everybody out there.
Be good to your neighbors Untilnext time.
See you everybody, bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Thanks for listening
to the Good Neighbor Podcast
Union.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPUnioncom.
That's GNPUnioncom, or call usat 859-651-8330.