Jenny Mayo, RYT- 200
HealthWorks Wellness Educator/Instructor
A full-time self-care champion and wellness educator, Jenny is committed to helping busy people lower their stress and find more peace and joy in their daily lives through restorative practices like mindfulness, meditation, yoga and dance. She shares tools and techniques that are not only scientifically proven, but also that had and continue to have a profound impact on her own life. Her goal is to demystify these practices and make them easy and accessible so more people can feel better, too. She is a lifelong dancer, longtime dance teacher and yogi, and former journalist and nonprofit communications professional.
Jenny completed her 200-hour meditation teacher training with celebrated LA-based studio and app Unplug Meditation, 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Bhakti Yoga DC, restorative yoga training with renowned expert Jillian Pransky, and Reiki Levels I and II with Jessica Mahler. Additionally, she has been teaching movement for more than two decades across the DC region.
What wellness programs do you feel employees would benefit the most from at this current time?
With so much on our to-do lists, minds and hearts these days, mind-body practices are so important. Critical, really. Taking some time out of the workday to meditate, breathe, stretch mindfully or engage in a similar practice just feels really good for brain and body alike, and it's an incredibly effective way to reduce stress, recharge and build great self-care tools to take into your everyday life. Other powerful benefits include boosting focus, resilience, immunity and so much more.
What is your favorite part about corporate/employee wellness?
Being able to bring some reset and restoration into people's workdays is such a gift. Folks are so appreciative of this opportunity to refresh, learn some helpful new things, and reconnect with the goodness that lies within. I really treasure this chance to help them slow down and breathe, get out of their thoughts and into their bodies for a little while, and remember the calm and joy that lie beneath our busy lives.
What is your go to wellness tip for your corporate clients?
People often get tripped up in "should's" about wellness practices. These are often linked to self-judgement and prevent people from doing things that feel really good and that are really, really good for them, so I always encourage people to try to let go of preconceptions about how these efforts "should look" and how long they "should take." Make them work for you in your life and celebrate every small victory. For instance, any amount of mind-body practice is beneficial and restorative, even just 10 deep breaths, a 3-minute mindful walk around the office (or better yet outside!), or slowing down a little to really take in the smells and flavors of your lunch and feel gratitude for the many inputs and efforts that went into growing and getting that food to you.
What self-care activity do you find benefits you the most?
My hands-down favorite practice is restorative yoga, a resting yoga practice of long-held, mostly reclining poses on the floor supported by comfy props. It's not about stretching or sweating; it's about doing less, about scanning the body and letting go of tension, about downshifting the nervous system from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest (and repair) mode. I love more traditional "top-down" meditation, but actually prefer this incredibly grounding "meditation of the body." It never fails to shift my energy and nourish me when I'm stressed or overtired.
What do you love to do with your free time?
I love playing board games, being silly and exploring the DC area's awesome cultural offerings and natural beauty with my elementary-aged son and husband. When I get solo time, I really enjoy catching up with great friends and taking others' yoga and wellness classes, especially slow flow yoga, sound baths or sound healing (another beautiful meditative relaxation practice which typically involves chimes and crystal and Tibetan metal bowls) and dance.
