WANDER / SPRING 19 / LIVE WELL
Nourish Your Practice
e spoke with Jillian Mariani, founder and general manager of Niyama Yoga Wellness, about nutrition and wellness for yogis. In 2017, I left my corporate role as Vice President of Marketing at Jamieson Wellness to take time with my family – I was really burnt-out and knew I needed to figure out a new path. I’d always wanted to take a Yoga Teacher Training course, not necessarily to teach but to deepen my own practice.
What inspired you to create Niyama Yoga Wellness? I started practicing yoga around the same time I started my career in the natural health products category in Canada – over 20 years ago! Like many, I first came to yoga looking for an exercise regimen that I would actually enjoy; I just wasn’t a gym girl. I was immediately hooked on both the physical and emotional benefits of a sweaty, vigorous class and I haven’t been back to a gym since.
It was during that physically demanding course (I was in my mid 40’s, not my 20’s!) that I realized the combination of supplements and nutrients I was using to maintain my health and support my needs before and after yoga really weren’t common knowledge. Plus, a lot of active yoga practitioners and teachers follow a plant-based lifestyle, making their protein needs more challenging to meet. It was my lightbulb moment – I could combine my love for yoga with my passion and knowledge for natural health, actually helping to make yogis healthier and, just maybe, even happier!
I had an amazing 20-year corporate career in sales, marketing and innovation with some of the best natural health brands in Canada. I worked with incredible teams and inspiring mentors, learning so much. With young kids and a demanding work schedule, I did a lot less yoga but still went when I could and also practiced at home. 13
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