From Weight Loss to Life Purpose

So now that you all know the story of my life, how I lost 125 pounds, and how I finally decided to start choosing myself, I thought I would dive a little deeper into how I came to be where I am today. Not just as a lighter version of myself, but how I found yoga, Reiki, and reflexology, and ultimately discovered that helping people was my true purpose. That purpose has since grown into the business I proudly own today.

Over ten years ago, I found yoga. I started by attending random classes and following along with online videos, and I quickly fell in love with the way it made me feel. I noticed I was calmer, clearer, and more in tune with myself. Every time I stepped off my mat, I felt reset, relaxed, and like a better human being.

At the time, I was working out seven days a week. Yoga became my recovery day, but more importantly, it became the day I looked forward to the most. I knew that if I could just make it to yoga day, I could reset my mind and body before tackling another week.

Over the years I continued attending classes here and there, but I never really committed to one studio or one teacher. I like to joke that I was a bit of a yoga slut. I bounced around from class to class, happily trying everything without ever picking a favourite.

Eventually, I met Jodi, an instructor at my local gym. I attended her weekly classes whenever I could, and that is when I truly fell deeper in love with yoga. I knew it was finally time to earn my 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification so I could share this incredible gift with others.

One day, while chatting with my wonderful friend Sue Evert, she introduced me to Yoga Renew, an online platform where I could complete my certification. It immediately felt like the right fit. I already had a solid foundation in the physical practice of yoga, but I wanted to understand the theory, anatomy, philosophy, and deeper meaning behind it all.

I enrolled at the end of June feeling excited, confident, and completely ready for the journey ahead.

To say I threw myself into the training would be an understatement. I wanted to learn absolutely everything. I devoted several hours every day to studying the course material, practicing asanas, learning anatomy, and diving into the philosophy behind yoga. I worked on my certification while on vacation, during breaks, and whenever I could find a little bit of free time between juggling Lilly's busy summer schedule.

I also continued attending classes so I could nurture my own practice while learning how to guide others.

One of the biggest lessons I learned throughout my training was that choosing myself had become more important than ever. Slowing down, breathing deeply, learning who I truly was, and discovering who I wanted to become transformed every part of my life.

Today I feel incredibly blessed to share the gift of yoga with others.

So that is my little yoga story and how I became the yogi I am today.

But my story certainly does not end there.

In many ways, my business was only just beginning to evolve.

Enter someone I had known for years, my beautiful friend Kelly Vettor.

What can I say about Kelly? She is one of the strongest, kindest, most genuine, and naturally beautiful people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She was also the person who introduced me to Reiki.

Did I research other Reiki Masters before making my decision? Absolutely. I wanted to make sure my connection with Kelly was more than just friendship. I wanted to know that learning from her was truly the right path for me.

Without question, it was.

I completed Reiki Level One with Kelly in December 2025, and once again I threw my whole heart into learning. I read everything I could, practiced constantly, and immersed myself in this beautiful healing modality.

Not only did I discover the incredible healing power of Reiki, but I also unlocked a part of myself that had always been there. My intuition.

I have always been able to read people like a book, but I never fully understood why. Reiki gave me permission to trust that gift and helped me understand it on a much deeper level.

Adding Reiki to my business has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Through it, I have been able to help people relax, reset, and begin calming their nervous systems so healing can happen. Watching that transformation is something I will never take for granted.

In March 2026, I completed Reiki Level Two with Kelly. Once again, I am so incredibly grateful for her guidance. Level Two expanded my confidence, strengthened my intuition, and opened doors I never imagined possible.

One day, when the time feels right, I hope to become a Reiki Master so I can continue sharing everything this beautiful practice has given me.

The final piece of my little trio is reflexology.

Yep. I rub your feet.

Some people hear that and immediately think, "Ew, no thanks."

To those people I simply say, girl...just give it a try.

Time after time I watch clients leave my treatment room feeling lighter, more relaxed, and experiencing less pain in their knees, hips, and legs. Many also notice improvements with digestion and simply feel better in their bodies overall.

I completed my reflexology training online and chose not to pursue my certification exam. Honestly, I could not justify spending another fifteen hundred dollars just to write one more exam. The education I received was incredibly thorough, practical, and packed with knowledge. It gave me the confidence to begin working with clients almost immediately.

Throughout my case studies I became fascinated by how much our feet can tell us. They truly are a roadmap of the body. Every area of the foot corresponds with a different part of the body, and over time I have learned to recognize areas that may need a little extra attention.

Now, before anyone gets too excited, let me be very clear. I am not a medical professional, and I am always completely upfront about that.

What I can offer is a natural, holistic approach that may help your body relax, release tension, and simply feel a little better.

If you have never experienced reflexology, I encourage you to give it a chance. You might just end up like my stepdad, who has become one of its biggest believers.

So there you have it.

That is the story behind Water Lilly Holistic Healing.

When I first opened my business in September, I was simply Water Lilly Yoga. As I continued adding different healing modalities, I realized I needed a name that truly reflected everything I had to offer. That is how Water Lilly Holistic Healing was born.

I created the name, the logo, and even my business plan with a little help from ChatGPT. I still laugh about that.

Honestly, I do not know how I would have navigated those early days without it. But that is a story for another blog.

If you have not yet experienced what I have to offer, I invite you to come see me. Whether it is yoga, Reiki, or reflexology, my hope is that you leave feeling lighter, calmer, and more connected to yourself than when you arrived.

Maybe, just maybe, I will make a believer out of you too.

Namaste,

Jackalynn Westman

Owner of Water Lilly Holistic Healing