Jennifer Brewer

January 2026 Issue
by Edwina Hoyle
Photography by Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC

Jennifer Brewer was born and raised in West Virginia, the oldest of three girls. She earned a degree in marketing from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and her dream was to get to a big city as fast as she could. She worked at retail giants Gap and Victoria’s Secret and was living in New York City on 9/11. Finding herself unhappy and dissatisfied, she came to Hilton Head Island with a friend – with no job and no plan, but she loved being in the sun rather than the gloomy, dismal weather and aftermath of 9/11 in New York. From Hilton Head, she moved to Asheville, NC, where she discovered yoga at a non-profit organization. “I took a full weekend immersion workshop that changed my life,” Jennifer said.

She learned that yoga is more than movement. There are breath techniques, a philosophy, self-study and the whole scope of the system to support changes. Jennifer lived in Asheville for five years, then returned to Hilton Head. She taught beach yoga at Sonesta Resort for 13 years and waited tables as a second job. Four years ago, with her yoga practice thriving, she gave up serving tables.

“The real lesson for me is choosing my response—pausing instead of reacting. Remembering who I really am, minus the titles,” Jennifer explained.

Think about all the titles we hold as women: daughter, granddaughter, mother, spouse, sister, caregiver, money manager, planner and organizer, soccer mom, club president, board member, volunteer –-oh, and yes, the title at your “real job.” Now, imagine shedding every title, every responsibility, every obligation and being whisked away to a serene place in nature where you take a pause. A place where you can just be, where you can breathe, a place where you can remember to nourish your body and your soul. “Women are nurturers, and we are better to those we care for if we fill our own cups,” Jennifer added.

In addition to teaching all levels of yoga, both in classes and private lessons, Jennifer’s dream was realized by offering yoga “retreating.” She calls it “retreating” rather than vacationing because the two are very different.

It was during the Covid pandemic that the seeds of retreating were planted in Jennifer’s heart, and the following year, four people emerged from the lockdown and made real connections—in person—in Costa Rica. “Everyone was frightened, but it was successful—a dream way to connect,” Jennifer said. “It was amazing to get into the world instead of online, on phones, and through masks. We all wanted to connect one-on-one, and afterward, I knew this was what I wanted to do,” Jennifer said. “The next retreat sold out.”

Since then, Jennifer has hosted retreating in the mountains of North Carolina, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, and, in February 2026, the location will be Dominico, an island north of Barbados. Retreating is a one-week inclusive experience, and a safe way to travel for women, especially widows and single women who are reluctant to travel alone. Jennifer said participants, so far, have ranged in age from 40-80, and one 80-year-old woman even climbed Machu Picchu in Peru with the encouragement and support of the other women.

“Retreating is a way to get to know ourselves, follow our intuition, and pause and find joy,” Jennifer said. “We’re all navigating the same things: fears, challenges, exhaustion, getting out of our comfort zones. Sometimes other retreats are intense experiences with raw, vegan diets and too much to do. I want women to revive themselves and thrive, so this is not a cleanse or deprivation. It’s a time to pause and be nourished with food while surrounded by nature in beautiful coastal areas, mountains, forests, or jungles.”

Jennifer’s dream is to offer four retreats a year, one for every season, as women navigate the seasons of growth, abundance, and transitions in their lives. From sunrise yoga classes, to healthy fulfilling meals to gentle movement to adventure and rest, retreating is connective, meaningful, and restorative.

“Yoga is a way of life, but it’s easy to slip into the daunting ‘I have to’s’. I encourage people to go back to their why. Why do you have to? If there is no reason, find something you want to do,” Jennifer explained. “You don’t have to be an experienced or professional yogi to benefit from the practice or join in retreating. You are worth the investment! I believe in it.”

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Up Close:

• Jennifer can tap dance and twirl a baton. She took dance lessons and learned how to get in front of people and keep going when you make a mistake.

• She said she is an introvert and likes being curled up at home with a book.

• Her dog, Roux, is a 6-year-old flat coat retriever mix.

• Jennifer loves cooking and baking. Her two favorite dishes are pound cake and the classic Julia Child recipe for Coq au Vin.

• Philosophy on time in the kitchen: “Putting love and time into cooking is like yoga. Your senses are enlivened. I try not to think or struggle. It’s magical—just pure enjoyment.”

• For more information visit: JenBrewerYoga.com