Jennifer, a Pisces, considers herself a “Palessippian” as she has
roots in Palestine and Mississippi. She spent her childhood across
the South before moving to New Jersey then Illinois for school and
has spent nearly the last 20 years split between Washington, DC and
different countries in the Middle East and North Africa. She chose
to move to North Carolina in 2019.
Jennifer is a career foreign policy and global development
specialist, focused on economic growth, tech innovation, national
security, and the Middle East/North Africa. She currently runs her
own business consultancy - Inara Strategies LLC - and is writing a
memoir - (working title) “Waves of One Sea”.
The water and the mountains are where Jennifer feels most at home,
and together they remind her of her family home in Haifa. Since
moving to North Carolina, she has spent as much time as possible
hiking and exploring the Eastern coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains
- hiking, swimming, and adventuring as much as possible. At home
and under the supervision of her two cats Baloo and Za'atar,
Jennifer enjoys cooking up a storm - learning new recipes, baking
as healthily as possible, and (finally) making more of my family's
traditional Palestinian/Lebanese cuisine.
Jennifer began her yoga practice in graduate school in DC, but
really launched into a regular practice upon returning to DC after
working in Egypt. Seeking healthier life habits amid a grueling
work schedule, she aimed to create greater mind-body-spirit
balance, which she found at t Flow Yoga Center in DC - initially
through a Jivamukti practice - which felt like “yoga church”. Her
experience there inspired her to deepen her practice, going on to
work at the studio and later obtain her yoga teacher
certification.
She received her 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher Certification
through Flow Yoga
Center, with a particular emphasis on Jivamukti. Her
vinyasa (flow) and hatha classes are influenced by Jivamukti, prana
flow, and (occasionally) power yoga.
Jennifer has completed specialized training on teaching yoga
to trauma-affected communities with Hala Khouri, the
co-founder of Off the Mat Into the
World - bridging the tools of yoga with sustainable,
conscious activism. She also holds a Yin Yoga teaching
certificate (20 hr) from Sky House Yoga in Maryland. Jennifer feels
blessed to have had the opportunity to train with amazing teachers
around the world and is especially inspired by her time spent
with Yogeswari, Shiva Rea, Kathryn Budig, Hala
Khouri, and Mira Shani.
Jennifer is excited to connect with the Greenville, NC community,
and share the space that was awakened in her heart, mind, and body
as well as the practice of non-judgemental living in the present
moment that was so transformative for her.