Case Study: Jeffrey Smith, Stylist and salon owner

Located in a sumptuously restored historic Lawrenceville building, Jeffrey Smith Studio bears the motto, “Find Beauty Everywhere.” It’s asimple philosophy, yet one that resonates with Smith’s 21 years as apersonal stylist, paying attention to his clients’ individual, uniqueneeds, and his equally considerable study of yoga and meditation. Forthe last 12 years, he’s hosted weekly public meditation at his home —techniques learned while studying in India with his teacher Grumayi —and he started practicing hatha yoga in 1987.

In recent years, Smith drifted away from the practice, and realized itwould take extra, more focused efforts to get him back in shape. Ayear ago, he found exactly what he needed through sessions with LilithBailey-Kroll, whose individualized, compassionate attention mirrorsthe type of experience he tries to create for his salon clients.

“When I stopped doing yoga, and I thought about rejoining, I was alittle embarrassed about going into the system because I was out ofshape and out of practice,” Smith says. “Lilith is very good at makingyou feel comfortable, understanding where you are in time and space,and sensitive to what your needs are. And I try to do that with myclients, especially new clients.”

“I thought one-on-one would be great to put me in a position where Icould start back in a group class,” he says. “She pushed me to getback into yoga, and I needed that little edge.”

“My expectations were greater than my physical ability,” he addswryly. “She brought me back to earth — age, weight, there’s certainfactors” to consider, “but I could advance a little bit more.” Theindividual sessions help him focus on fundamentals, slowly buildinghis stamina and strength, instead of scrambling to keep up with agroup class. “It brings you back into the center of holding thepositions for longer times, and feeling where your body should be,where your posture should be.”

Smith has long found yoga a powerful aid in his professional life:Working as a stylist means long hours on your feet, repetitivemovements, and a posture that puts stress on the body. “In ourprofession, we’re leaning over a lot, so yoga does the opposite — itopens,” he says. “The occupational hazards that you have in thisprofession are back, lower back, leg, shoulder — yoga doesn’teliminate them, but it helps the body adapt better.”

“There’s a subtlety to yoga that I don’t think we have a language todescribe,” he concludes. “It works on so many levels, and on thehighest, subtle level, it’s not hokey to say that it does change yourlife — because it really does, in ways you’re not capable ofarticulating. But there’s a subtle vibration to your everydaywell-being that it does affect.”