Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Servin.
Lena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. I grew up in a bit of a rough neighborhood, South East San Diego. It helped me to develop street smarts and a sense of humor. It was here that I met my husband at 13-years-old, and became a mom for the first time at 17-years-old. With the pressure and new responsibilities of being a mother, I dropped out of high school and went to get my GED at the urging of my father.
By the time I was 25, I had three children. Life was really about raising them and proving to everyone else that I was not the quintessential, societal label of a teenage mom dropout with no real future. I was determined to make the most of my life even then.
In 1992, my husband and I decided to move to Temecula to raise our family. It was affordable, and we really wanted our kids to have the opportunity to go to a good school and live in a safe neighborhood. When my kids were old enough to be in school full-time, I decided it was my turn to further my own education. I became an RN and went to work in the Emergency Room. I discovered I was made for it! I would describe myself as skilled and compassionate, yet I also possess a tough and fierce nature that developed in my early years. I knew then that my background and experiences had helped me cultivate the essential skills and demeanor needed to survive in a fast-paced, hectic environment like the ER.
I continued my education obtaining my BSN and furthered my career in flight nursing. For me, it is the pinnacle of nursing and gives me the ability utilize a scope of practice beyond the usual skillset allowed in hospitals unless you are a physician.
As a flight nurse, I respond to 911 calls as well as take critical patients to higher levels of care. I consider it an honor to help people when they need it the most, and I enjoy every single minute of it. However, working in such a fast-paced, high-stress environment taught me that I also needed balance. I sought that out through yoga, hiking, and meditation.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey hasn’t always been a smooth road. It definitely wasn’t during the years of rearing three children as a young parent, and it was even harder when I wanted to go back to school as a 30 something-year-old woman. I suffered with depression for a number of years. What got me through it was knowing that I was capable of doing whatever I set my mind to as I had proven to myself in the past. Even when others would tell me I’d never make it, I was determined to prove them wrong. I think I’ve spent a lot of my life proving people wrong. Even when it was myself. If there was something that seemed insurmountable, I would set a path and just put one foot in front of the other.
I’ve traveled to India to study Ayurvedic medicine, climbed Mt. Kenya in Africa, and achieved more than I could ever have imagined. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Now I am finally starting to settle in a little. That doesn’t mean I will stop growing, it’s just in a more linear direction focusing on other areas of my life closer to home. After having been interested in energy healing for a number of years and benefiting from the effects, I decided to become a certified Reiki II practitioner. And after practicing yoga for the past ten years, I decided to pursue my certification as a yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance Foundation.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
My husband, my soulmate that I met at thirteen, and I purchased an amazing, healing property in wine country Temecula, already named Serenity Cove. We founded our business after the name of this magical land knowing that it would be very special to not only us but many others who were destined to come. The minute I stepped onto the land, I knew it was special. It feels like an exhale. It’s five acres of old, Oak trees, boulders, and cactus gardens. It is adjacent to a beautiful hiking and biking trail and minutes to the wineries. We knew immediately it was a place to be shared.
We’ve grown it into a space for yoga retreats, health/wellness events, and a place to just get away from the chaos that life can bring. We offer outdoor yoga and meditation classes, Reiki treatments, and venue space rental. There is a brand new 30-ft Airstream on the property that we call “Bliss,” which is up for rent on Airbnb. It’s a space where you feel like you’re camping out amongst nature, but definitely doing it in style and not far from town. It’s an ideal location for a girl’s trip, couples getaway, overcoming a bad break-up, or just wanting to unplug.
Temecula is a great place for a health and wellness retreat. The community itself is very health-conscious and active. There are a lot of young families and up-and-coming businesses going in every day. Our proximity to San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles make it ideal for a quick getaway. I have seen it grow exponentially for almost thirty years, and natural areas like Serenity Cove are becoming less and less available.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I am not sure that I would have done anything differently. What you at one-time view as a misstep, you later see as an important lesson. Would I have chosen to become a teenage mom and drop out of high school? Not necessarily. I think it made the road I was destined to end up on that much more difficult. However, it certainly instilled a sense of appreciation and a valuable perspective I would not have had otherwise. Not having things come easy builds tenacity. And tenacity is an extremely valuable tool to have in all areas of life.
Pricing:
- “Bliss” Airstream Rental from $88 per night
- Reiki Treatments $75 per hour
- Yoga Classes $25pp/hr
- Meditation Classes $25pp/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: serenitycovetemecula.com
- Phone: 951-296-7369
- Email: lenacorene@serenitycove.biz
- Instagram: serenitycovehome
- Facebook: Lena Factor Servin
Image Credit:
Ethan Necochea
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