by Kelly Nickerson.
Caroline Joyner is the Founder and President of Cielo Yoga and Fitness Studios, located in Dorval, QC. This busy working Mom and dog-lover resides in Beaconsfield, QC.
READING
I’ve always got a few inspirational business books on the go at any one time. Right now I’m reading “Being of Power” by Baron Baptiste, whom I met once. It’s all about finding balance in your life with yoga as a key ingredient. I’m also enjoying “Money: Master The Game” by Tony Robbins. “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson is also a standby classic on my nightstand.
LISTENING
Everything! Ravi Shankar, Bob Marley, Nicki Minaj…my beats run the gamut. My 8-year-old son likes the Black Eyed Peas. I’m constantly on an ‘explicit content’ alert!
ADMIRING
Marilyn Monroe, for many reasons. She had tremendous beauty, determination and success…and a magnetic power over a generation. I have a collection of her coffee table books, and there’s a portrait of her hanging in my bedroom. A local businesswoman I really admire is Kirstin Schell. She is a personal trainer and fitness consultant, and speaks at events across Canada on topics of nutrition and exercise.
ENJOYING
A favorite treat of mine is to spend the afternoon at Aqua Spa Lyne Giroux on St. John’s Boulevard in DDO. Their beautiful space competes with the fanciest of high-end establishments, but is located right here in the West Island. Sipping tea by their fireplace after a relaxing massage is a blissful mind-body-soul experience. And then I hop next door to Restaurant Mozza, and enjoy a slice of their fragrant pizza with a chilled glass of wine out on their terrasse.
BUYING
I just bought a bathroom vanity set from varagesale.com that I adore. Varagesale is like an online garage sale; they come to your house and pick up stuff the you want to sell, or deliver an item you’re purchased from someone else. It’s brilliant.
MARKETING
I’m always on the lookout for ways to better promote and expand our fitness studio offerings. Since the beginning we featured hot yoga (which is especially popular!), Zumba and pole dancing, and have now expanded into TRX, aerial yoga and sandbag training. I’m organizing an overnight group retreat in Stowe, Vermont this coming fall; I’ve teamed up with a couple of fitness partners, and plan to offer 2-3 yoga classes per day, with healthy meals, hiking, special events and accommodations included in the single rate. I love the mountains; the sky is so intensely black in Stowe…it reminds me of camping in Magog when I was a kid. The longer you look at the night sky, the more stars you see.
LIVING
For me, running Cielo Studios is not just a career; helping people with their health and life goals is an absolute passion of mine. I’ve received letters from customers who say their experience with us helped them emerge from an abusive relationship or beat problems with alcohol, so I know my staff and I help make a positive impact in people’s lives. By far, though, the most important job I have is being a Mom. Yesterday I was playing checkers with my son, and when I started losing badly, he asked me to switch sides across the board with him. “Mom, you take my place; I’ll teach you how to 
come back from losing.” I love that kid so much.
EVOLVING
One of my next projects is to start a Cielo Studios blog. I’m big into posting on Facebook (as anyone who knows me will tell you), but I want to find a way to develop a deeper and more personal connection with clients. Maybe I should get your advice!
About the author:
Kelly Nickerson works full-time as Senior Director of Marketing & Analytics for a Fortune 500 company, and writes in her spare time. She lives in Beaconsfield, QC.
