Meet Stephanie Stapler | Yoga Instructor & Data Analyst & Handmade Jewelry Maker

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

Hi Stephanie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Covid-19 shutdown ignited my thought process to start my own business. Prior to the pandemic I worked full time in corporate America and also taught at local yoga studios. I’d teach 5-7 yoga classes a week so when the pandemic caused the yoga studios and gyms to close I was left with so much extra time. With that time I was also missing my personal yoga practice and teaching practice so that’s what really set the thought in motion. After contemplating on the idea I decided to “test” the vision so I gave myself a deadline to create a website and begin teaching virtually. I spent one full weekend building my own website to offer those yoga classes virtually. From there the idea expanded. First it was simple questions to myself; do you like to work for others? Can you see yourself doing this same thing for another 25 years? Are you using your gifts properly? What else can you offer that will allow for multiple streams of income? Etc. As I began to answer those questions I realized that I really do not enjoy working in corporate America and if I ever want to get out of that space I need to start creating and cultivating the space to do so. With that I also thought about utilizing my creativity, skills and talent to its fullest to support my own vision. That’s when I introduced handmade jewelry and other tangible items to sell through my business so id have multiple avenues to access and I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts to come.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My offering is two-fold. I am a certified yoga instructor with that I also believe in wholistic health so I blend essential oils and also hand make jewelry using various crystals and gemstones. That is where the creativity comes in. When hand wrapping stones I operate out of pure creative intuition, meaning I don’t just wrap stones to wrap I also don’t duplicate designs very frequently. When I create a piece sometimes there’s an image or meaning in my head that I know I’m going to bring to life. Other times I’m drawn to a stone where I have no clue what it’s going to be until I actually begin bending wire. This sets me apart bc each piece is unique, has a message and a certain energy so even if I wanted to mass duplicate my designs the energy of the piece will be different. This is one of my favorite things about hand making jewelry I get to create something new each time and it’s also a great marketing point for me bc it’s like if you like it you better buy it because there won’t be another. This was a learning for me that I had to embrace very quickly, see when I first began id duplicate pieces once they sold to gain another customer. However I realized not only was there was more value to create once I didn’t even like remaking the same thing over and over. I’m A creative and well creatives create not copy. That is the biggest I want people to know about my jewelry pieces they are divinely wrapped with creative intuition more than fashion or look but an energy a realness

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I like vegan food so we’d go to slutty vegan for sure. We’d visit some museums Trap Museum would be one of them. We’d also hang out downtown atl ride the Farris wheel Amongst Other things like the park. We’d also go to underground Atl. I Enjoy downtown Decatur and 5 points. we may even take a road trip to Savannah and spend day or two there on the Beach. Back to the city though we’d have to go Eastside to skate Golden Glide and hit up A few malls. Lenox for the scene and people watching but not shopping we’d go to a much more urban mall For that. I grew up on the eastside so I’d Have to take them to Glennwood flea
Market and maybe get fitted for a grill (gold teeth) and American Deli for hot wings with the lemon pepper sprinkles (my friends aren’t vegan and that’s a staple- wings).

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?
I have to give a shout-out to my friends who introduced me to yoga in the first place. If it wasn’t for that igniting I know I would not be in this space today. I’d also like to shoutout everyone who has purchased anything from my website, anyone who donated to me, taken a class with me; your support is truly appreciated. You are the reason I keep going.

Website: www.sayogawisdom.com/shop

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