Yoga Enterprise

Lindsay Smith, 39 | Business Observer

When Lindsay Smith killed it for Corporate America and opened Marriott and Hilton hotels across the country, her looks didn’t match her inside. She was successful, sure, but she was also stressed out. So badly, she suffered six mini-strokes, also known as TIA, or Strokes with Transient Ischemic Attack. While not a full stroke, TIAs can last for hours and require medical attention to differentiate between this and a full stroke.

After the TIA # 7 stroke in late summer 2017, just as Hurricane Irma hit Florida, Smith knew it was time to change his career. “It was a very stressful time,” she says, “and the last one where I thought, ‘I’m going to die.'”

Instead, Smith made a significant career change – he opened a yoga studio in Fort Myers, Vibe Yoga, with an emphasis on movements for managing and overcoming stress and trauma. (In addition to the stress of her job, Smith faced a life tragedy: she carried twins and one died; she now has four children, ages nine months to 15 years.)

Smith first taught yoga in a studio in Fort Myers and then opened Vibe Yoga in May. Not only does Smith fit into the studio’s niche with her life experience, but her husband and mentor Daniel Smith is in the military and has been on multiple missions with the Marines and the Army in Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar. Every teacher in her studio is paid to offer a free “karma” class monthly to a nonprofit of her choice. And their Warriors at Ease and meditation classes are offered free of charge. “Our focus is on bringing trauma-infused yoga and breathing exercises to the community,” says Smith, citing the example of the work the studio recently did with the Cape Coral Police Department.

While Smith preaches the chill and namaste atmosphere, she immediately points out that she is not a stereotypical “hippie or cereal yogi”. She was very proud and satisfied with her corporate hotel appearance, the management of teams and the creative solution to problems – putting out fires – in moments of high commitment to new hotel properties. She also had a six-figure salary and realized that running a business would mean a significant cut in salaries, at least for the first few years. “I didn’t want to be a housewife,” she says, “and in the beginning I had a little identity crisis. But I quickly realized that it wasn’t about a title. “

Smith says her husband was an important resource in overcoming these fears and worries, and was also a good sounding board for her Vibe Yoga business plan and other issues. “He gives his life for his family and his career and the most important thing he has taught me,” she writes in her 40 out of 40 survey responses, “is to follow my dreams, and with all the passion in my heart. ”

Place of residence: Fort Myers

Employer: Vibe yoga

Title: Owner & Instructor

Place of birth: New Jersey

Years in the field: Five

Marital status / children: Married, four children (15, 13, 2, 9 months)

Alma Mater / Degree: Florida Atlantic Univ.

Which community group or organization are you most involved with? Warrior at rest

What was the craziest job you ever had? Life nanny

What’s your top tip for being productive? Time management. Work smart, not hard. Delegate.

If you could have a sideline, what would it be? Uber drivers

What is your favorite thing to do outside of business hours? Participating in my children’s sports games

Did you go to the cinema in 2021? If so, what did you see? Nope

What’s the top of your bucket list? Fiji paddleboarding and diving

What’s your favorite podcast? Ted speaks

Where is your happy place On my paddleboard

Describe yourself in three words: Ambitious mindful care

Who is your mentor for your career and why? My husband Daniel. He is extremely selfless, caring, smart, and loving. He inspires me to follow my passions and supports me in every way to realize them.

What are the biggest lessons you learned from your mentor? Since my mentor has served in the military for 21 years, he has experience, knowledge, and perceptions like no other person I have ever known. He gives his life for his family and his career and the most important thing he taught me is to follow my dreams and do so with all the passion in my heart. He supports me in every possible way and without him I wouldn’t be who I am.

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