She found her groove and boy she is not looking back! Kylie Reed juggles being a "Jungle Body" instructor while looking after three young boys and shows us exactly why it is SO important to make time for yourself. As women, mothers, girlfriends, wives etc, our time can become consumed looking after those we love and we forget our own identity. Underneath that label of "mother" per se, are still women who love to dance, women who love to go ride dirt bikes, women who love to compete in triathlons.... Kylie loves to dance and prioritise her health, and so she introduced The Jungle Body to Geelong to show women that that little bit of "me-time" is ridiculously well deserved.
What kind of environment do you want to provide for people taking your classes?
I understand how terrifying it can be to try something new, to step out of your comfort zone and into the unknown. I hope I make everyone feel welcome at their first class. I hope they feel relaxed. I hope that at some point in that hour, even if It’s for 1 minute, they are fully absolved in the music and movement.
Seriously you have come so far! Compare your business now to when you first started. Are you super proud?
I’ve had some wins; some fails and most of all a whole lot of self-discovery and self-growth. I want to make my business as least stressful as possible. Keep it fun. I have learned not to force it, not to expect bigger and better, etc. Just to do what feels right. When I started, I was scheduling in social media posts for every second day. I was constantly checking engagement; I was thinking of how else I could gain exposure. It’s a lot of work in the beginning. Now I have people emailing me for community events and classes through other venues. I only post on social media when I feel like I have something worth posting. Not because I “have” to.
For the readers who have never tried a class (and who may be a bit nervous) and really want to, what would you like them to know?
Just come along!! The beauty of this class is – 1.) It’s in the dark, 2.) It’s go-at-your own pace, 3.) No pressure to keep up, it is 100% your workout. 4.) The music is AWESOME! 5.) This class is all about mental health, we move to have fun and celebrate ourselves.
Which tracks from class are your all-time favourites?
Ahhh this is a hard question, I have so many favs… ‘Dinero’ by J-Lo. ‘Like It Like That’ by Cardi B. ‘Taste’ by Tyga. Also, I feel obligated to say ‘Proud Mary’ because I have never NOT had a class go nuts when I drop that tune on them.
As women, wives, mothers, etc, naturally it is so easy for us to put others needs before our own and we can lose a sense of who we are. Does the Jungle Body have something to offer all women, from all walks of life?
I like to hope so. I do have to admit that when trying to decide on a time for my class to start, I put it at a time that’s kinda in the middle of the nightly routine for mums. I want to inspire mothers to put themselves first, even if it is one night a week. I thought my class might be the class where they decide, “you know what, I’m going to handball this bath and bedtime routine to my partner for tonight.” I’m happy to say I have quite a few mums who do just that!!! Wednesday night is their Jungle Body night, it’s often a social outing where they decide to grab dinner after class also. If you need to bring the little munchkins to class though, it’s also not too late to have them out and about.
What was your life like before the Jungle Body?
I can’t really remember! I know I was completely blissed out after having my third child. Despite having three boys aged four, two, and a newborn, I loved my life. I did start to feel that sense though that I’d lost myself. I struggled a little socially, spending so much time at home in my own head, also just feeling that need for something that was mine. Between my three sons and my husband, I felt a little smothered, someone was always needing me for something and I just wanted to have my own thing. Hence why Jungle Body Geelong was born.
I believe your success has boomed because of how real you are, just saying…. How important do you think it is to stay true to yourself?
The most important thing! When I had hard days as a mum, I found solace following people like Constance Hall, Sophie Cachia (formerly The Young Mummy), Em Rusciano and the like. These people shared their fails and their wins on their social media platforms. I do endeavour to share more of my moments on social media. I think it’s important for women to know they’re not alone in their struggles, even though the isolation is so real sometimes. The beauty of social media now is that there is a group/page out there for everyone. Find your tribe and unfollow anyone who makes you feel less than perfect, exactly AS YOU ARE!
Lastly, if you could sit down to dinner with ANYONE in the world (dead or alive) and have a serious D&M who would it be with?
So hard!! My first pick would be an ancestor. I love family history and could listen to stories about what it was like growing up in the olden days forever. Reminds me to be grateful you know, sometimes I can whinge about the smallest things and then I remember my grandmothers had 6 kids each. My great-great-grandmother actually had 17 haha! So you know I can just imagine her sitting up there tutting me every time I get annoyed with how noisy my house is. Also, maybe Britney Spears, I feel like someone needs to check on her and make sure she’s ok haha.
*Images via FB@thejunglebodygeelong
Insta @thejunglebodygeelong
Website: www.thejunglebodygeelong.com.au
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