Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Bukowski.
Jennifer, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When the opportunity presented for me to become the “caretaker” of my friends 70+ acre farm in Chester, NH I knew the universe had its hand in opening an amazing door for me! I am now the self-titled “Chief Life Style Officer” of Just Be – Yoga & Wellness Center at Field To Fork Farm. Like many people, I definitely didn’t follow a straight line to get here! Around the age of 35, after having gone through a divorce and moving into the role of a full-time working single mom of 3 small children, I started to ask myself age-old questions like “why am I here?” “what is my purpose?” “how can I bring more peace into my life?” The divorce was a blessing. It knocked me out of my comfort zone and was the beginning of my reckoning. I enrolled in a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training program at YogaLife Institute in Exeter, NH. I had no intention of becoming a teacher, only hopes of healing my wounds through Self-study. As each month passed, years of buried memories (the “issues”) made their way to the surface, and finally out of my body (the “tissues”) The process enabled me to understand why, up until that point, I had been making decisions and choices that were not healthy for me. The process “connected the dots” and provided so many “ah-ha” moments.
The process was messy, painful, and joyful all at once, similar to childbirth. Instead of bringing a new life into the world, this time, I birthed my Self. The process allowed me to step into my power, which was something I used to believe came from external relationships and situations. It allowed me to understand that Self-worth is an inherent right and doesn’t increase or decrease based on what other people think of you. Most importantly, the process enabled me to realize there’s no fear in love! Now how could I not share all of that with the world? My purpose is to serve others with my yoga classes and workshops here on the farm, through my social media sites and by taking my message on the road via “Yogi-Take-Out” parties. The most important thing I want to share my story is how critical a healthy relationship with yourself is. If this relationship is not rooted in self-love, self-compassion, self-care and trusting yourself than you will never be able to fully offer any of those things to another human being. Why? Because you can not give what you do not have.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The roads I’ve taken have rarely been paved. I grew up believing objects held more value than me due to my mother’s illness of hoarding. As a young child, throwing away what others recognized as trash would result in my mother withholding her love and affection from me as punishment. Telling her how her condition made me feel (sad, scared, ashamed, confused, worthless) also resulted in her withdrawing from me so “don’t upset mom” became my mantra anytime the thought of expressing my own feelings would surface.
The impact of growing up this way resulted in my seeking validation and worth through other people and situations. I remember telling my best friend the summer before we started high school that I couldn’t wait to get a reputation and she was horrified. She had older brothers and sisters, which I didn’t, so quickly informed me that having a reputation meant you “got around.” I was horrified. What I wanted out of a reputation was recognition that I had value, that people liked me, that I mattered. Going into high school and then college with such a desperate need to feel loved set me up for unhealthy relationships with both people and alcohol.
I’m now rounding the corner to 50, and have a decade of Self-study under my belt. I’ve acquired the grace to understand that those rocky roads are the catalyst for growth, the most important lessons happen there. The true mastery of self-happens when you are able to walk any road from a place of neutrality knowing there will always be struggle, victory, joy and sadness and you can meet them with acceptance, knowing you are exactly where you are meant to be every second of the day!
Please tell us about Just Be – Yoga & Wellness Center.
I am now the self-titled “Chief Life Style Officer” of Just Be – Yoga & Wellness Center at Field To Fork Farm. It is from this 70 acre, 200-year-old farmhouse that I am able to offer Gentle Yoga classes, “Feed Your Body, Feed Your Soul” workshops, host “on-farm” Yoga parties and launch my “Yogi-Take-Out” business. In the spirit of community, I have worked out several old-fashion barter arrangements with local farmers. Two of which are UNH grads, Shane Devanney & Stefan Trogisch who are affectionately referred to as our “hipster farmers.” They maintain the hoop house and garden beds. In exchange, I am able to have some offerings at my events that are grown on-site. I also have a heard of Registered Red Devon Cattle here via Dan Fournier of New England Heritage Farm.
They ensure the integrity of the land and are a big hit when local school children visit on field trips. In the summer, Kate Kretschmer, of Om Mama Yoga, hosts “Taking Root Yoga Camp” for kids. They spend their days practicing yoga & mindfulness, creating arts and crafts, going on nature walks and getting their hands dirty helping Shane and Stefan with their farm chores. Another wonderful partnership that grew from this venture is with Sharon Simpson, Sharon T. Simpson Creative Photography, LLC. Sharon is a gifted photographer as you will see from some of the pictures in this story. She has full access to the farm for photo shoots in exchange for capturing images from my various events. The one word most people usually use when they visit is “magical.” It is a one-of-a-kind space that promotes healing, exploration and personal growth!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I used to think if I could have done things differently I would have “embrace my inner nerd”, “I never would have dated “so and so” “I would have stood up to the bullies who terrorized me in middle school” “I never would have taken that job” but I know now that I wouldn’t change a thing. If I did, I wouldn’t be the me that I am today. I wouldn’t have my 3 little guru’s; my sons Joseph and Declan and my daughter, Brayden. I wouldn’t have my husband Ted who has supported me 100% in all of my ventures and his 3 big guru’s (my step-children Michael, Ashley and Casey). Sure, there are still times when the voice that tries to keep me small whispers “you don’t have any credentials after your name, you should go back to school if you want to be taken seriously.” This usually happens right around the time when something big is about to open up to me.
Fortunately, I can see that now and that voice rides in the trunk and not the driver’s seat. My lessons growing up with a hoarder, my parents divorce, all of the horrible decisions I made when I was drinking, having an autistic child, multiple miscarriages, navigating divorce, remarriage, a step-family, being by my dads side when he took his last breath; these are the lessons I needed to learn in order to be the instrument of peace, love and compassion that I was sent here to be. I wouldn’t know how to forgive if I was never betrayed. I wouldn’t know love if I didn’t know fear and I certainly couldn’t experience joy if I never knew sadness. Besides, you don’t need to know everything to help another person heal!
Pricing:
- Monthly Workshops including yoga, healing modality, and meal $100
- Yogi-Take-Out Party on farm; including yoga and meal, free for hostess, $35/per guest
- Yogi-Take-Out party at your home or office: including yoga and meal, free for hostess, $35/per guest, possible travel charge
Contact Info:
- Address: 522 Haverhill Road
Chester, NH 03036 - Website: www.justbeyoga.me
- Phone: 617-733-2011
- Email: jboylan1@hotmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbukowski/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justbeyogaguru/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/farmtherapy/
Image Credit:
Sharon T. Simpson
Creative Photography
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