Meet Jessenia Acuna | Therapist, Holistic Coach, and Yoga Instructor

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

Hi Jessenia, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My brand is all about work life balance and designing a life you love. At first, it was more about focusing on the positive, creating, and manifesting but that doesn’t always reflect the life we live or situations we are in. The idea was centered on work and life as separate and when we look at it that way, we tend to miss the beauty work can provide us. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy and esoteric traditions now made accessible, work life balance now means two parts of a whole to me. Similar to the yin and yang concept. One not being better than the other but two parts that support and complement each other. This has transformed the way I speak about “balance.” We tend to think of it as equal or in equilibrium, which is its technical definition, but I don’t think that it was meant in that way. I have conceptualized it to mean something more like “in alignment.” Meaning alignment with ourselves, our values, and our goals as opposed to work and life in balance with each other. This way even if they are “out of balance” they may still be in alignment with our goals and values. This also helps us identify when is not in alignment and we are able to readjust by looking at things such as intrinsic motivations, self-limiting beliefs, and core problems as opposed to simple scheduling issues or surface level barriers.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am so grateful that I get to do and live what I love! I say live because it is build in integrity and self-reflection. My dream is to help shift people’s lives to be what they envision. I am so excited that I get to travel, learn, and grow while building teams and helping individuals support others. I always knew that I wanted to have a big impact, so I decided to work from the ground up. I started with myself–the one place I knew I could start to make a difference, perhaps because it was the easiest and seemed the least intrusive. I didn’t aspire to tells others how to live, I wanted to learn what it meant to live happily and how that looks very different for everyone. My tools and techniques are tools that I have used in my process but are of universal nature, meaning they can be used to create whatever masterpiece you desire, almost like a paint brush or a map. Neither tell you what to do or where to go. It simply gives you options and help you create (and reach) your most desired outcome. From this concept, I put in the sweat and tears that come along with personal development. The reflecting, processing, undoing, and rebuilding of a life I envisioned. My focus is on unlocking the potential of young adults and underserved communities who also aspire to make the world a better place, even if they don’t know it yet. That is what Acuna Wellness is all about–growth, passion, community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would have to stop at all of the cute coffee shops that have popped up around downtown West Palm Beach. Subculture and Alchemy are two of my favorites, oh and cannot forget Cholo Soy Cocina. I love traveling and even when I am not, I love to find places that transport me to a place I’ve been to. Cholo Soy Cocina in West Palm Beach is a blend of Mexico and Burma, the food is amazing! I would then take a drive down to Fort Lauderdale and go indoor rock climbing. The itinerary would also include the wonderful south Florida beaches and snorkeling adventures in the Florida. She would not miss all that south Florida has to offer!

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?
My shoutout is to all of the professor at New York University’s Social Work Department that worked with me in shaping my wild ideas. And my partner. I grew up thinking, “I can do anything I want to do” and as great as this is, it tends to lead you down a path of seeking and searching for the next best thing– a head in the clouds, daydreaming of what life could be. With their help, I have come to understand how all of my seemingly disparate ideas come together to actually build something. I just had to unlearn a lot of ideas around business, career, and money. Their support and continued belief in me have pushed me to become more grounded in order to really learn manifestation.

Website: https://www.acunawellness.com

Instagram: @wellnessyogijess