Jenny Sauer-Klein - Ignite Your Global Vision: Lessons from ACROYOGA's Co-Founder and Serial Entrepreneur
Jenny Sauer-Klein's journey is nothing short of inspirational. In this episode, we delve into the life of a serial entrepreneur who has revolutionized the wellness and experiential learning industries. From her roots in musical theater to her co-founding of the global Acroyoga movement, Jenny’s story is a testament to the power of innovation and connection.
Jenny began her career in musical theater, a competitive field that often focuses on external validation. Seeking a more internal connection, she discovered yoga in the late 1990s. This shift from a performative art to a practice of mindfulness marked the beginning of her transformative journey. Her travels in Central America introduced her to circus arts, which eventually led her to New York and then to San Francisco, where a serendipitous meeting with an acrobat led to the birth of Acroyoga. This unique blend of acrobatics and yoga quickly captivated a worldwide audience.
The evolution of Acroyoga was not without its challenges. Initially, the practice was taught through a co-facilitation model and aimed at advanced practitioners. However, as the community grew, Jenny and her co-founder realized the need for more structured training programs. They introduced prerequisites to ensure that participants had a solid foundation in yoga before advancing to the more complex elements of Acroyoga. This decision, along with the controversial move to trademark the brand, was met with mixed reactions from the community. Despite these challenges, Acroyoga continued to grow organically, eventually becoming a generic term within the yoga community.
After a decade of building and nurturing the Acroyoga community, Jenny faced signs of burnout. The constant travel and high-profile nature of her role led to an identity crisis. This pivotal moment forced her to rediscover her core values of trust, connection, and playfulness. These values now form the foundation of her work in corporate team building and experiential learning. Jenny's transition from Acroyoga to corporate settings involved significant emotional and physical adjustments. She faced feelings of loss and grief but eventually found a more balanced and fulfilling life.
One of the key insights Jenny shares in this episode is the importance of connection in maintaining audience engagement. Whether in virtual settings or live events, interactive elements every five minutes can keep participants attentive and involved. Jenny's collaboration with Adam Rosendahl from Late Night Art provided her with invaluable experience in leading workshops and understanding corporate needs. Through these collaborations, she learned that people in corporate environments crave deep meaning and connection just as much as those in the wellness community.
Jenny’s approach to revolutionizing events and conferences emphasizes interactive and engaging presentations. She believes that the era of passive, one-way lectures is over. Instead, she advocates for a participatory atmosphere that incorporates movement, reflection, and peer feedback. Her experience in experiential learning has taught her that engaging audiences through multi-directional dialogue rather than monologues leads to more meaningful and lasting impacts.
The Culture Conference, one of Jenny’s initiatives, aims to transform organizational leaders and teams from the inside out. This annual event focuses on reinventing the traditional conference paradigm by fostering deep connections and learning among participants. Jenny's other ventures, like Play On Purpose and the Scaling Intimacy School of Experience Design, further her mission to create engaging and transformational experiences. Play On Purpose, for example, offers a virtual library of games and activities designed to facilitate team building and meaningful connections.
Jenny’s ultimate goal is to revolutionize the events industry by providing leaders with the skills and tools needed to create engaging and transformational experiences. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience's needs and designing events that foster deep connections and meaningful learning. Her approach combines the dramatic arc from theater with event design principles, creating a template that can be applied to any event, regardless of its duration or topic.
In summary, Jenny Sauer-Klein's journey from musical theater to wellness pioneer is a testament to the power of innovation, connection, and resilience. Her work in Acroyoga and experiential learning has touched millions worldwide, and her insights into engaging audiences are invaluable for anyone looking to create memorable experiences. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, event planners, and anyone interested in the transformative power of wellness and experiential learning.
