Passion project

Artist brings yoga studio and designs to Mid City

The “do what you love” movement is on the rise and gaining momentum in the Capital City, with people turning their creative projects and hobbies into full-time vocations.

One such artist-entrepreneur is Lauren Collignon, a Baton Rouge native and owner of Flaming Lotus Jewelry. She is a pro at breaking with convention, challenging the status quo and doing what she loves. In September, Collignon added another item to her list of passion projects and opened Purusa, a new yoga studio in Mid City. In addition to yoga, she’ll offer a curated collection of her soulful jewelry along with other locally made creations in the new space.

“I was supposed to be an engineer, be in normal society and follow the rules. But I was never really cut out for that,” Collignon says.

After having her wisdom teeth pulled at 30, she laughingly recalls wanting more teeth pulled rather than having to return to her job in the corporate world. That’s when she knew she had to make a change. “One day you wake up and trust in yourself,” she says.

She took a risk and launched a full-time career in jewelry making. Flaming Lotus Jewelry has amassed a large local following with its zodiac line and acrylic lotus and crystal earring collection.

Collignon says her success as an artist hinges on her ability to stay true to her own interests and passions. “When I started making jewelry,” she says, “I thought, ‘I’m going to make this because people will like it.’ Then, one day I woke up and said, ‘I’m not going to do that anymore. I’m going to make what I like.’” She saw a spike in sales when she began focusing on themes she found inspiring.

The resulting jewelry collection naturally complements the yoga she facilitates at Purusa. Most of her jewelry is yogic-themed, like her “Om” cuffs and third eye headpieces. Local yogis who are drawn to her Mid City studio will likely find something wearable from her in-house boutique as well.

The artist also assembled a dream team of yoga teachers to share what she calls Purusa’s “mission of love.” “The teachers that we have … they are beautiful, amazing people. They are my best friends. I handpicked bright, shiny souls to be around all day,” she says.

Collignon’s career as a jewelry maker/yogi is a radically different one. She’s doing what she loves, with no real concern for the financial sacrifice of that choice. “I may not be going to Rome tomorrow, but I can pay the bills and I get to have a Mohawk,” she jokes.

Her advice for aspiring artist-entrepreneurs: “Throw out your fears and conditioning of what you’re supposed to do. If you act out of love and not duty, if you follow your passion and stay true to yourself, then you cannot fail.”

ONLINE:
Find out more about Collignon’s jewelry collection at flaminglotusjewelry.com. Also, classes at Purusa have begun; sign up at purusabr.com. The studio is at 2931 Government Street.