Meet Jacqueline Jarrett
Meet Jacqueline, a Saltwater Descendant of the Sydney Coastal people, a proud Dharawal and Gumbaynggirr woman, and an Elder and Traditional Custodian with multiple kinship links to the Sydney Basin. Born on Country and deeply connected to her community, Jacqui combines over 30 years of experience across community, educational, and legal sectors with her passion for yoga and social-emotional wellbeing. She is the founder of Nura Yoga, a 100% Indigenous woman-owned business that connects mind, body, and spirit to Country through unique yoga classes and yoga walks.
Jacqui’s yoga approach is guided by First Nations cultural and spiritual practices, affirming their therapeutic value. She integrates trauma-informed and mental health-aware yoga, teaching holistic wellbeing that encompasses mental, physical, social, cultural, and spiritual health while acknowledging the relationship to Country. Nura Yoga connects people with ancestral wisdom and cultural practices, offering both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students opportunities for education, healing, and self-empowerment. Jacqui is also part of the Yoga Impact Charity and Mental Health Aware Yoga teacher directories, supporting frontline workers, survivors, and vulnerable communities, and is a member of the Yamurrah Collective, bringing together culturally and professionally diverse First Nations perspectives.
“Many Rivers helped me with guidance on developing my business model and understanding the business side of things. They supported me in aligning my passion for yoga and First Nations cultural practices with a sustainable business framework.” – Jacqueline
Read more about Jacqueline’s business journey so far:
Jacqueline’s Business
My business is called Nura Yoga. It’s a yoga business that operates on Country, combining First Nations cultural and spiritual practices with yoga teachings. The classes and yoga walks are guided by me, a Traditional Custodian and Elder, integrating local knowledge and cultural practices alongside trauma-informed and mental health-aware yoga.
The concept comes from the strong matriarchs in my family, who have been doing business pre-colonially, and it’s very much about honouring their strength, wisdom, and knowledge. I established Nura Yoga in 2023, although I’ve been working on the concept and teaching yoga in different forms since 2022. My approach affirms that First Nations knowledge and cultural practices are therapeutic and can be shared with others to promote holistic wellbeing.
Before starting Nura Yoga, I worked across community, educational, and legal sectors for about 30 years. I also have a teaching degree, and during that time I focused on social-emotional wellbeing and supporting community initiatives. While I was grateful for those roles, I wanted more flexibility and the ability to spend time with family, friends, and community. I wanted to take control of my life, focus on self-empowerment, and grow as an individual. Starting Nura Yoga allowed me to combine my passion for yoga, my cultural knowledge, and my commitment to wellbeing into a professional offering.
I wanted to start Nura Yoga to honour my cultural heritage, share First Nations spiritual and cultural practices, and teach yoga on my ancestral lands. It was about self-empowerment and creating a business that aligned with my values, allowed me to evolve personally, and helped educate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people about the therapeutic benefits of our knowledge and practices.
Working with Many Rivers
I found Many Rivers through a Google search and a Facebook advertisement. I was drawn to them because they support other First Nations businesses, and I felt that their approach understood the importance of keeping my cultural, spiritual, and social-emotional wellbeing practices at the forefront of Nura Yoga.
Many Rivers helped me with guidance on developing my business model and understanding the business side of things. They supported me in aligning my passion for yoga and First Nations cultural practices with a sustainable business framework.
The mentorship allowed me to receive the information I needed at the right time, giving me autonomy in deciding how to apply business knowledge. They helped with pricing, defining my services, and understanding my target audience, which was incredibly useful in shaping Nura Yoga’s offerings.
The most useful aspect was the knowledge I gained around pricing, service delivery, and audience targeting. Many Rivers provided guidance in a way that respected my cultural and spiritual approach, which helped me put my ideas into practice while maintaining authenticity in Nura Yoga.
I did not take a loan from Many Rivers. I wasn’t in a financial position to take one, and I wanted to ensure that I could fund Nura Yoga sustainably on my own terms.
Biggest Challenge
My biggest challenge has been transitioning from a collective, community-focused mindset to operating as a Western-style sole trader business. Promoting myself and my services was difficult at first, especially when balancing financial uncertainty in the early stages. But I remained committed to my purpose, which is teaching yoga on Country and sharing First Nations cultural and spiritual practices. Understanding that I could collaborate while maintaining my autonomy has helped me navigate these challenges.
Biggest Success
My biggest success has been highlighting and sharing cultural and spiritual practices that have existed for over 65,000 years. Integrating First Nations knowledge with trauma-informed and mental health-aware yoga, and educating both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people about the therapeutic benefits, has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing people engage with and learn from Nura Yoga’s teachings is the ultimate success.
Biggest Change
Starting Nura Yoga has given me a better work-life balance and more flexible timing. I can prioritize my family, community, and personal wellbeing while living my passion. It doesn’t feel like work instead it feels like fulfilling my purpose. This balance has brought a positive shift for me and my family.
Future Goals
My goals are to expand Nura Yoga, develop additional skills and training, and potentially conduct academic research into the services I provide. I want to continue sharing First Nations cultural and spiritual practices through yoga and wellness, reaching a broader audience while maintaining authenticity. My long-term aim is to further integrate trauma-informed and mental health-aware approaches with cultural teachings, helping more people experience holistic wellbeing.
Thank you Jacqueline for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
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