Meet Lauren Jeffcoat | Yoga and Fitness Instructor, Energy Worker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Jeffcoat and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think the thing that makes Be Soulfish such a successfull brand is the honesty and integrity of the leaders and particpants. The group has grown organically and like attracts like. We have people from all ages, sizes and backgrounds but the thing that everyone has in common is kindness, acceptance and open mindedness. This makes anyone feel welcome coming to an event or class. It’s simply unacceptable for anyone to attend a yoga class for the first time and be made to feel inadequate. My goal is to make everyone feel more than welcome. I accomplish this by keeping classes light hearted and modifying for all levels of practice. Whether we are learning to paddle on the water or working up a sweat in a sculpt class, you will most likely hear laughter, see people smiling, and leave feeling like you “belong”. It’s more than just coming to a class; we have found friendships, loyalty and trust amongst our members.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Coming to a Be Soulfish class is most likely going to be different than any other class you have been to. In some classes, you can expect laughter, loud music and workouts that will push you to the limit, such as a SoulSCULPT or SoulBEATS class. In others, you may find yourself drifting off in a peaceful meditative state, such as our Yoga and Reiki Class, or SoulFLOW restorative yoga. Each event and class is a unique experience. I use music to set the mood for all of my classes. Almost everything I do is music driven. From sound healing sessions, pumped up workouts, or relaxing yoga, I use music and sound to create the perfect setting. But it doesn’t stop there! You will often find me including props to elevate the experience. I’ll bring tuning forks to beach yoga, or a tongue drum to a paddle board meditation, or essential oils to an energy session. These are the little things that set Be Soulfish apart.

It wasn’t necessarily easy to get were I am today professionally. It has taken years of learning from my mistakes and determination to continue creating new experiences. Having an unconventional method of teaching classes can often lead me to doubt my ideas. But the support of my students and the encouragement of our group has continuously pushed me forward. I get so much joy from witnessing someone fall in love with paddle boarding on the water, or being able to support someone through hardships by guiding them through energy work. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to bring a smile to someone’s face and I’m most grateful to be able to do that through my work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well I would of course take them paddle boarding in Murrells Inlet! It’s not only my favorite thing to do, but also my favorite thing to introduce others to. After paddle boarding, we would stop at one of the restaurants along the marsh, such as Sara Js, The Quay, or Inlet Provision Company, depending on where we paddled. Another must is a trip to the beach in Surfside. After enjoying a relaxing day on the beach, I’d take them to happy hour at Neal & Pams or Pizza Hyena for dinner and drinks with an ocean view. One day I would take a road trip down to Pawleys Island and visit the Pawleys Island Point for more sand and sea, as well as shelling. The drive along Pawleys Island is always a spectacular view for visitors. We would have to check out Chive Blossom while visiting the south end, and perhaps a stop at the Pawleis Island Tavern on the way back to Surfside. To spoil my friend, I would set her up with a massage and facial at the Be Soulfish Center, and after that, finish with dinner at one of my favorite local Mexican Restaurants, like El Cerro or Los Cabos. We have so many wonderful places to eat, the options are literally endless!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been so many people contributing to the success of Be Soulfish, it’s impossible to pick just one! Everyone who attends our events or joins our classes brings something to the table. Whether it’s suggesting new class ideas, bringing new friends to a class, or spreading the word about our events, I really do believe that the success of Be Soulfish comes completely from our members. Not only have they built me up as the founder of Be Soulfish, but they build each other up by cheering each other on and being a supportive group. We have laughed, cried and celebrated so much together. Everyone is inclusive and welcoming, which is why we continue to expand and grow like we have over the past few years.

Website: https://www.besoulfish.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/besoulfish/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulfishandSoulFIT/