Meet Jill Kristin Berkana: Education Entreprenuer and Holistic Healthcare Passionista

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill Kristin Berkana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill Kristin, how do you think about risk?
If you do not take calculated risks you risk staying stagnant and missing an opportunity to expand, learn and grow! When the potential only exists for success, then it is not a risk. That’s a guarantee. A risk means you may fail, you may not make it and you may get damaged. This is something to sign up for if you have a solid plan and fully understand what you may lose if it does not work out, if you can sustain that damage, and the potential win is far grater than the damage you may suffer. That is the difference between a calculated risk and just risk. If the potential win outweighs the risk of loss it may be worth it to jump off that cliff! Other times the juice is just not worth the squeeze. After considering everything, I will often bring in an advisor to bounce everything off of. They may advise me not to take the risk but I still may decide to. Speaking the risk out loud to another person and trying to convince someone it will work is a great way to convince yourself it will work or figure out why it won’t and explore what can be changed to make it work out.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There was a moment in my life when everything came together in such a way to force me to question the way I was living. I always had this unfulfilled desire deep within that informed me that I was not living up to my potential. At one point, life pushed me down so hard that I had the great realization that I would not be satisfied until I did something original and grand that would not only benefit myself by providing joy and the feeling of an accomplished life, but that would give me a legacy and make my life an asset to this world. I had been a very busy massage therapist in private practice for 16 years. I had peaked by meeting my goals as a holistic healthcare entrepreneur and there was nowhere else for me to go. That is when it hit me during a session with a beloved client that I needed more hands. That I wanted to have a positive impact on the quality of more than 3 or 4 peoples lives a day. It was time to pass the torch and become an educator. I jumped in and the experience of jumping in is what taught me how to be an educator. Jumping in to the classroom taught me how to teach. Jumping into business taught me how to run a business. Jumping into marketing taught me how to market. Jumping into managing finances taught me how to manage finances. Jumping into project management on a complex curriculum development project taught me how to do that too. Jump in… swim or die. The Berkana Institute of Massage Therapy and all branches of this project is mindfulness based, artistically inspired and grounded in science. My vision is to make a positive impact on the global community at large, by educating and promoting extraordinary people committed to becoming holistic health care professionals, superior Licensed Massage Therapists and Mindful Bodywork Artists; by providing a comprehensive curriculum, expert instruction, and state of the art equipment, in a focused, and awe inspiring environment. We are a community of expert bodywork educators who support a small and elite group of ambitious, clear and eager students dedicated to the pursuit of a holistic lifestyle and career path.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Red Rocks Amphitheater, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, The Cheese Emporium in Longmont, Clyfford Still Museum, Domo Japanese Restuarant. Prospect New Town, Jamestown, The Boulder Dushambe Teahouse.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family and friends. Especially my son Jade.

Website: www.berkanainstitute.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkanainstitute/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berkana/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/massageberkana
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Berkanainstitute
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/berkana-institute-of-massage-therapy-longmont-2
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMqq6G5CRYI