Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Medlock.
Hi Chelsea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Before I started my business, Sevana Wren Studio, I trained as a geneticist and, later, as a historian. I completed my doctorate in European history in 2015 at Oklahoma State University, specializing in memory studies and human-animal relations during the First World War.
While in graduate school, I dabbled in yoga and meditation to find relief from my stress, anxiety, and depression. I initially came to yoga after the birth of my first set of twins in 2009, returning to it again in 2014 after the birth of my second set; however, it was through my interest in yogic philosophies and love of ceremonies that kept me coming back for more.
I loved the idea of chakras, meditation labyrinths, and combining other metaphysical fields, such as astrology, with my practice. In the years following graduation, I explored embodiment principles and shadow work to help me reconnect with myself after decades of mental and physical health struggles due to undiagnosed ADHD and Autism. Yoga and shadow work helped me navigate my traumatic past as a neurodivergent to heal my present.
In 2018, I decided to take my meditation and 200-hour yoga teacher training in Kansas City while I pursued a career at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Yet, as I progressed, I realized that yoga and shadow work was where I wanted to be; I felt more connected to myself and others through this work. For the first time in my life, I truly felt like I was helping others, more so than I ever did as a history professor.
I received my meditation certification from Ananda Yoga in 2018 and my 200-hour yoga certification from Karma Tribe Yoga, now True Love Yoga, in 2019. Since then, I have focused on trauma-informed and metaphysical services, including yoga, meditation, shadow work, chakra therapy, and photography.
I started Sevana Wren Studio in October 2019 to support my passion to help others reconnect to themselves and find their own path to healing. I named my business “Sevana Wren” because of its connection to my own healing journey; Sevana means “to serve or to honor” while Wren is a part of my spiritual name, Shadow Wren.
Creating this studio was about honoring myself, my path, and my desire to serve the community through self-discovery and self-empowerment.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to finding my purpose and expressing it definitely has not been easy. As I stated, I originally went to school to become a geneticist. I left that field after a number of traumatic events happened to me while I was an undergraduate. I changed my major and continued on to receive my degrees and training as a historian and professor.
Prior to 2019, I was not even thinking about becoming a full-time yoga and shadow work facilitator. I was still applying for positions in my academic field, desperately hoping to work for the National World War I Museum and Memorial in the future. It wasn’t until I took a job with the Department of Human Services right before the pandemic that I realized that I truly loved my work as a mentor and healer and that my main focus needed to be on my business and my mission of service.
With the pandemic starting a mere six months after the created Sevana Wren Studio, there have been a lot of obstacles, but most of those challenges stemmed from my own expectations and assumptions. Since the realization, I have felt more in tune with my purpose as a business owner and a healer.
Challenges and obstacles will always be there, but if I believe in myself and my mission, I can face whatever comes my way with compassion and understanding.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Sevana Wren Studio is a trauma-conscious, healing-centered studio that specializes in trauma-informed healing modalities including yoga, meditation, shadow work, photography, and metaphysical services. The mission of the studio is to provide support and accessibility to a wealth of healing tools to everybody that needs its support services.
My business focuses on providing alternative paths for whole health healing. This means that services are created to support one’s mental, physical, and spiritual health in a variety of ways, built specifically for each unique client.
As a healing provider, I design yoga sequences, somatic experiences, embodiment activities, and meditations to help clients bring awareness to their shadows so that they have the choice to process, release, or reset their relationship to these habits, thoughts, energies, and traumas while working to accept and align with their true selves.
Whether it is creating astrology yoga classes, leading shadow work sensory activities, or setting up an empowering photo session, as a business owner, I strive to be a missing support link to the community by providing inclusive and accessible services to everyone, no matter where they are in life or on their path.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My understanding of trauma and my innate ability to empathize with the journeys of others. Because of my own traumatic past as a neurodivergent, I acutely understand the long-lasting effects of trauma and how trauma support and healing are not one-size-fits-all.
I hold space for the honesty, vulnerability, and darkness that comes with healing. And, I do not attach expectations or assumptions when it comes to my client and their journey.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.sevanawrenstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevanawrenstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SevanaWrenStudio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDi2m0kdYej4jTIpoPDuTIQ/featured
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/sevanawrenstudio
