About our project
The problem we solve: We must educate people on how to care for themselves consequently lowering the cost of healthcare by using yoga & meditation to resolve common issues like depression, fatigue, low energy, poor concentration, asthma, moodswings, insomnia, productivity, high blood pressure, joint pain, and headaches/migraine to name a few. Health issues that can lead to more serious & costly concerns like chronic diseases, addictions, dependency to pain medications, surgeries and death.
About our solution:
Magnolia Yoga Studio aims to increase the participation in health & wellness practices of hospitality workers such as keeping doctor/clinic appointments & incorporating preventative practices like yoga & meditation. The focus on preventative practices is key to the future of health. Our solution involves: Technology- Creating an app for participants to use, retrieve & store data to track progress.
Marketing/Outreach- Creating a campaign & scheduled visits onsite at their hotels or other FQ venues to speak & sign up the hospitality worker population.
Incentives- Presented for their participation like lowering insurance costs, reducing doctor visits, needing less medication over time.
Information- On preventative care services & benefits of yoga for several health concerns.
Doctor/Clinic- Regular visits must be followed to remain receiving partially covered or fully covered monthly yoga & meditation services.
Progress to
date:The Team MedYogaTech
The Team is a group of professionals each representing different fields:
Medicine: Lauren Teverbaugh, MD
Software Engineer: Eddie Smith
Yoga Teacher/Entrepreneur: Adrianne “Ajax” Jackson
This team has collaborated on numerous projects mainly as advisers for Magnolia Yoga, which have led to the growth of both business and people’s health success. This group has a understanding of the benefits of yoga, the demographics involved and using technology to bring all three components together facilitating a new approach to medicine and wellness .
The team represents a trifecta of views on how to address more health & wellness using best practices in medicine, technology and services.
Important to note the marketing and outreach efforts are a key component to the success of this program. Magnolia Yoga Studio already has a positive reputation with hotels, businesses in the French Quarter and the New Orleans community at large. We have built a new demographic in New Orleans, that did not exist, both of these efforts have been intentional and included smart marketing, information & delivery of high quality services. We pride ourselves in making health & wellness diverse, inclusive and affordable which have lowered some barriers to good lifestyle practices. Our experienced & proven approach, central location and our diverse community appeals to many. The trend throughout the world in medicine is unification of knowledge, practices & perspectives. Incorporating the best yoga & meditation practices with the western medical world is the future.
Yoga has been researched for over 80 years many doctors and clinics recommend yoga because of its proven benefits. More collaboration between the western medical establishments and yoga studios like Magnolia Yoga Studio would allow for more successful studies & stories of healing. Some of the best parts of yoga have to do with its wholistic approach to healing & its preventive measures. Both subjects need more advocacy and focus and should be pushed to the forefront of any conversation concerning true health & wellness.
A merger of east and west best practices will continue to be on the menu of options for patients and their families because the medical system needs support in its delivery of health. Yoga & meditation are the ideal contenders for a holistic approach to healing.
With an active yoga practice it has been our experience that clients/students continue to visit the doctor and take medication but soon with consistency improve. Doctors encourage them to keep attending class and often lower and or eliminate their medication. This allows for a win-win situation where people improve and need less attention and medication.
Yoga is medicine and like any medicine you must take it regularly to reap the benefits. Community supports that need for consistency in practicing yoga for good health. Yoga is a practice that can be done daily, we support & understand the need for our clients/students to continue doctor and clinics visits. However, for people’s day to day health a yoga regime is ideal. Benefits include improvement in energy, breathing, mobility and sleeping-- all basic yet fundamental needs that improves the whole person.
Although we fully understand where the line is drawn between western medicine and alternative practices like yoga they do work very well together. Lifestyle changes are key to good health in the long run which are considered and explored within the yoga teachings and within the hearts and minds of the students during classes. These small yet significant changes to eat better, rest and sleep more, reduce smoking & drinking due to less pain and stress are part of the path to a healthier lifestyle.
Feedback from Hospitality Workers Currently Attending MYS
- Better energy
- More focus
- More alert
- Balanced mood
- Can work better long arduous hours
- Improved sleep
- Improved eating
- Destress
- Reduce Back Pain, Headaches, Joint pain
- Improved Breathing
- Weight loss
- Improved mobility
About Our Team
Creator: Adrianne Jackson
Location: Louisiana
Bio: Ajax considers herself a “Yoga Entrepreneur” at Magnolia Yoga, she is also the owner, visionary and lead teacher. Her main purpose is to help facilitate your yoga experience!
Ajax is of mixed heritage--Spanish & African-American and ultimately considers herself a modern-day woman of the world. She has an extensive background in Arts Education, a B.A. degree from the University of Southern California in Socio Cultural Anthropology and much experience in the non-profit sector along with having traveled to 30+ countries around the world finding her purpose and place within it.
Ajax loves New Orleans for the music, culture and people and feels an ancestral connection to NOLA and therefore is happy to live, serve and enjoy this mecca of culture & celebration!
Early on Ajax felt the calling for teaching yoga and has taught for 10 years straight almost every day since becoming certified! She believes, “when you are fortunate enough to find what you were born to do in life, putting in the effort to study, learn and seek knowledge is an honor and pleasure!” Her passion for life, people and yoga is apparent and her vibrant energy is contagious.
Ajax teaches from experience having practiced yoga for 15 years consistently. She has used the healing art form to quit smoking, manage her weight, improve her relationship to self and with family, reduce severe joint pain in her knees, eliminate her asthma condition, migraines, reduce her annual bouts of bronchitis and strengthen her resolve and confidence.
One of her best attributes is helping people feel comfortable and welcomed. Ajax is also a great example of how to use yoga to fulfill a robust active and balanced lifestyle, as you will often find her teaching yoga, practicing yoga, socializing, resting, reading, cooking, studying, volunteering, networking, planning, dining out, enjoying live music, traveling, swimming, writing, dancing and living life to its fullest!She believes in the human potential and her commitment to
Title: Owner-Visionary-Lead Teacher
About Team Members
Lauren Teverbaugh
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, MD
Biography: Dr. Lauren A. Teverbaugh is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine. She is a Triple Board trained physician who has completed her training in Pediatrics, General Psychiatry, and Child Psychiatry. She has a diverse background in research and work centered around social and community activism including the behavioral effects of lead poisoning on children in Kingston, Jamaica, perinatally HIV infected children and their families, health care disparities among the medially underserved, global health, sickle cell anemia, trauma-affected youth, and public health and policy. Her career interests include medically complex children and children with chronic medical illnesses and psychosocial dysfunction. She utilizes an interdisciplinary treatment model that is culturally sensitive and uniquely tailored address the health needs of communities of color.
Title: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry
Advanced Degree(s): MD
Eddie Smith
Software Engineer, Operation Spark, Advanced Software Engineering Immersion Program 2018, Southern University at New Orleans, Computer Information Systems 2012
Biography: I’m a native son of New Orleans, LA. I enjoy tackling difficult algorithmic challenges, exploring ways to visualize large data sets, and applying my love of software engineering to the world around me. As a singer/songwriter, I’m most passionate about the intersection of software development and the arts.
Title: Software Engineer
Advanced Degree(s): Operation Spark, Advanced Software Engineering Immersion Program 2018, Southern University at New Orleans, Computer Information Systems 2012
LinkedIn:
http://linkdeIn.com/in/eddie-lee-smith-jr
Challenge Mission
How We Address the Mission of The Challenge(s)
As a minority owned health and wellness business very accessible to the population involved we feel very confident in being able to identify and reach out. We have a great building reputation for creating more awareness and healthy life style practices. We highly value the hospitality community and we already serve them in-directly and feel confident we could make an even bigger positive impact in their health & wellness for many generations to come.
New Orleans and Our Company
We were founded in New Orleans and proudly serve New Orleans, the long term goal is to have a positive impact on Louisiana and the region.
Innovation Details
Intellectual Property Summary
N/A
Clinical Information
Depression
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yoga-could-complement-traditional-treatment-for-depression-2017090712369
Anxiety
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga by Marlynn Wei, M.D. J.D and James E. Groves M.D., J.D.
Insomnia
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga by Marlynn Wei, M.D. J.D and James E. Groves M.D., J.D.
Blood Pressure & Heart Health
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga by Marlynn Wei, M.D. J.D and James E. Groves M.D. J.D.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30384420
Migraines
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097897/
Health Care Savings
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yoga-and-meditation-offer-health-care-savings-and-you-can-do-them-at-home-201511188616
Fight Inflammation
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yoga-could-slow-the-harmful-effects-of-stress-and-inflammation-2017101912588
Regulatory Status
N/A
How we will use the funds raised
N/A
Thank You
Support our mission to expand the menu of offerings for people who want natural, efficient and alternative methods to improve overall quality of their life. We have 10 years experience in providing high quality yoga & meditation services to the general public. We are delighted at the prospect of expanding our reach to hospitality workers offering them affordable, accessible and innovative preventative care as well as a regular health routines for their day to day health.
