Meet Tamara Jacobi
"The Jungle Girl"
I’ve been known by my friends as “the jungle girl” but this year that changed to “jungle mama.” My son, Zephyr, was born right around the same time that my book was released (bringing book and baby to life has been an adventure!). Though the jungle is definitely now flowing through my veins, I was actually born in VT and raised in Quebec. How did I end up living and working in the Mexican jungle? Well, as my father would say, “I’ve never been one for the status quo!” Here are tidbits about me:
Roots
Born in Newport, Vermont
Raised on Lake Memphremagog, Quebec, Canada
Home now: San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico (Oct - May), Ridgway, Colorado (May - Aug), Lake George, Adirondacks NY & Lake Memphremagog, Quebec (Aug - Oct.)
Nationality: North American!!!
Studies
Student of life
Middlebury College (VT), Degree in Environmental Economics, class of 2006.5. Attended a class called “Entrepreneurship 101” where I wrote the business plan for the Tailwind Jungle Lodge
Institute for Integrative Nutrition, 2009 - 2011 . During my early years in the jungle I forgot to take care of me…oops. I desperately needed to study holistic nutrition to get my health back on track. Understanding that health is the essence of success as a wildpreneur was a turning a point.
Work?
Never really had a “real” job. Work, play and purpose have always been intertwined.
Owner, manager and adventure guide at the Tailwind Jungle Lodge, 2007 - to present.
Holistic nutrition coach, 2009 to present.
Passionate writer and author (see articles here).
Leader of the tribe of Wildpreneurs!
Author of Wildpreneurs (HarperCollins Leadership Feb. 2020)
Where I Find Inspiration (the most powerful medicine)
Jungle, the ocean, the forest, the lakes, high peaks, rivers…the natural world is an infinite source of inspiration.
My son, Zephry and my yellow lab, Paris, offer me gentle yet profound wisdom/inspiration daily
Crazy inspired by my fellow wildpreneurs—their stories, passion and unique journeys
My parents (Tiger & Judi Jacobi), co-owners of the Tailwind Jungle Lodge and my best friends
My Tarzan (Walter Wright), captain of sailing vessel TAILWIND
Favorite Quotes
“Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” —Howard Thurman
“Oh the places you will go!” —Dr. Seuss
“For the simplicity on this side of complexity, I wouldn’t give you a fig. But for the simplicity on the other side of complexity, for that I would give you anything I have.” —Oliver Wendell Homes
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Laozi
Family Adventures (all before I turned 21…)
Baja 2007
2000 miles of bike-packing on the USA’s continental divide trail (from Jackson Hole to El Paso)
Backpacking California’s 220-mile John Muir Trail (loved it so much we did it twice!)
Backpacking Vermont’s 270-mile Long Trail
Mountaineered up Mexico’s 18,490-foot Pico de Orizaba (3rd highest peak in North America),
Kayaking 800 miles down Mexico’s Sea of Cortez
Inside My Brain
Virgo
50/50 introvert extrovert. People lover who needs plenty of alone time to recharge.
"Precrastinator" (precastinator = opposite of procrastinator). Working on finding a balance here!
Body
Endorphins = Think beach bootcamp, long trail runs, SUP surfing, distance swimming and road biking up mountain passes
Restorative & Yin Yoga (keeps me balanced)
Ayurvedic Dosha: Pitta (most of the time, gotta have those cooling foods to calm my turbo personality)
Self care. It has taken me decades to learn how to love my body and understand my bio-individuality. Read about my journey in Chapter 7 of my book - Invest In Yourself.
Food
On my plate: kale (from my friends organic farm) + avocado (collected in the jungle)+ salmon (frozen from my recent Alaska adventure) + sweet potato (my favorite food!)
Whole foods—yes please. Foods as nature intended .
Special occasion: Carrot cake (YUM!!!)
On-the-go: Green superfood bars & green smoothies
Daily Mantras
Change is inevitable, struggle is optional.
Go with the flow.
Breathe.
Release tension, set intention.
My Health Journey
Just a few years ago, I was struggling. I had moved to raw canvas of jungle to build an eco-lodge. Not exactly a traditional career choice . . . but I was pursuing the life of my dreams! Unfortunately my stress levels were tremendous. New culture, new climate, new business; I found myself was eating emotionally, yo yo dieting and making poor food choices. I was unhealthy and imbalanced as I struggled with crazy sugar cravings, insecurity, weight gain, hormonal imbalances, low energy and more. Frankly, I was a bit of a mess. To top it off, I discovered that I had only one functioning kidney.
Things were not going well. All I wanted to do was hide and sleep.
I knew that needed help. Luckily, a guest of my in the jungle pointed me to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. After checking out the website I knew this was exactly the program that I needed. I could study from the jungle! I thrilled to discover the concept holistic nutrition--nourishment from food, lifestyle, fitness and from the world around you.
Through a distance learning program, I was able to study holistic nutrition while continuing to grow my eco-lodge. Within a few weeks my health was back on track and inspiration was flowing through my veins. I learned to listen to my unique body and take care of myself! Holistic nutrition changed my life.
Today I'm loving life! I feel balanced, happy, healthy and inspired! I'm happy to report that my jungle lodge is thriving (please come and visit!). Turning my heath around has allowed me to do everything that I love. Now I'm ready to support YOU with feeling your best as a WIldpreneur.
