Picture yourself on the beach with your new favorite book, enjoying time in the sunshine. You pass on your typical fun fiction choice this time, to read a few chapters of the new mindful book that has been on your mind since you started it. You can’t wait to talk about what you’re reading at the sunset beach dinner with your new book club friends.
Before this was me, I was hesitant to join a book club because I love to pick my own reads and really appreciate a good summer novel! But, I recently heard of a new Mindful Book Club that piqued my interest and I decided give it a try because it promised a unique experience unlike any local club I’ve heard of before.
Julie Vincent, a Mindset + Wellness Coach, meditation, and yoga teacher (based in Rowayton, CT) launched this unique offering with busy women in mind. Her club promotes mindful non-fiction books on important wellness topics that you may want to read about but don’t really make time for. She breaks them down into manageable chunks and offers weekly coaching to help you digest the info and put it into practice in your life.
"I like to think of it as personal development with a social twist" explains Julie Vincent, creator of the Mindful Book Club and wellness business, Clear Space for Joy. “My personal book club has brought me so much joy over the years, and I saw an opportunity to create a mindful version that would help people read for self-care and growth as well as connect them with new like-minded women and grow a community.”
The club launched with the first selection The Fun Habit by Michael Rucker and we just
finished Worthy: How to Believe You Are and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima for month two.
Her first book choice even included author involvement, a special value add for members. Mike Rucker of The Fun Habit was excited to connect with us and offered a kick-off letter, Q&A throughout our time reading the book and final words wrapping things up, as well as an instagram share!
Julie thoughtfully planned the offering to include more than your typical book club meet-up. She shares a weekly insightful email with prompts and content-focused exercises, offers group coaching and accountability via a members-only chat, and there is a kickoff meeting and an end-of-book event that was a highlight for all of us - a homemade picnic dinner in Rowayton, overlooking the water at sunset!
Like the idea but pressed for time? Julie welcomes audio book listeners too. I listened to my books during kids drop-offs, sports activities, while doing laundry and dishes. It made even those tasks fun, which is one of the lessons I have put to practice from The Fun Habit.
If you want even more joy this summer, Julie is an authority on transformative wellness and embodying your most joyful life, no matter what stage you are in. Besides the book club, she works with clients one-on-one, teaches mindfulness and meditation classes at Pause + Purpose in Westport, and offers corporate workshops and speaking.
The next club launches August 1, featuring Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee, so you still have time to join and bring some mindfulness to your summer reading. I hope to see you in the club!
"I like to think of the Mindful Book Club as personal development with a social twist."