Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Powell.
Alexandra, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, I suppose it’s as unique a story as anyone else’s, a wild child at heart-fighting to make a corporate medical sales career work while fighting my inner battles and looking for acceptance and peace. That’s the short of it. The longer of it would be a spiritual journey that began as a young adult. Having attempted suicide in my middle teenage years, I spent a lot of the following decade looking for the meaning of the life that had been saved.
I found myself immersed in books of comparative religions, the similarities, the differences, near-death experiences and the metaphysical philosophies of life and death, meaning and purpose. Initially, I was Bible thumping for verses and the meaning amongst those, but when I was 25 and after more trauma, I turned to yoga. By mistake really and not straight to the mat either. I dabbled in aerial silks and yoga both to start, next I found Buti Yoga (it’s own rhythmic blend of yoga, plyometrics and dance. Buti led me to Kundalini & Chakra healing, which led to my interest in studying yoga abroad, in India.
Initially, I had planned to travel abroad for a year and wrap up that trip with my 200 ryt. Due to circumstances outside of my control, that plan wasn’t possible. I did end up traveling abroad for a much shorter time than I had wished and I loved every minute of my experience in Rishikesh throughout my training. When I returned home, the aggressive corporate sales environment didn’t coincide with the spiritual growth anymore and I chose to step away from the career I had built in the middle of 2019. Blue Sky Yoga later that year.
Blue Sky Yoga was an idea after many years serving with the special needs community as a volunteer, witnessing and living the stressed-out corporate world, and working in a medical field with orthopedics and pain management. I wanted to share what brought me peace and encourage others to pursue the same path to their own wellness. Over the last several years, I had made an effort to educate myself when and wherever possible. I completed an incredible program, Special Strong with founder Daniel Stein and teach Kids Yoga in the fall throughout the calendar school year. My love for community and wellness is exemplified in the approach BSY is taking in our design. A local art gallery for aspiring artists, a safe space to practice both yoga + meditation no matter where you are on your journey, and a place to grow, a place to be, a place to love.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think obstacles create better competitors. I’m not competing with anyone but myself but it’s definitely nice to be on this side of a few hard lessons. In the midst of deciding whether or not to leave the medical sales field, I was dealing with an exceptionally inappropriate firm, who was my employer, and the nagging and increasing health complications presenting themself with zero consistency. The stress from the environment I was subjecting myself to everyday (cubicles and fluorescent lighting) had raised the cortisol levels in my blood to the point that my immune system was wreaking havoc on my body in ways that were unsettling and disorienting.
I was at a fork in the road and just as I was about to pull the trigger on pursuing yoga full-time, I was offered a job with a competing start-up firm, which was looking to build out a division I had a lot of experience in. I was dangled a giant carrot and after a lot of prayer and conversation and negotiation, I accepted a lofty job offer and killer sign-on bonus to join their growing team.
The celebration was short-lived, several months after getting the gig set up to go, one of the operating partners got popped with his 7th DWI and ended up serving significant jail time (deservedly) and I learned my lesson on vetting flashy people and their flatteries. It was a couple of months after that I connect with my partners at Blue Sky Sports Center, who loved my enthusiasm for the special needs and IDD community and mindfulness for all.
We’d love to hear more about Blue Sky Yoga.
Blue Sky Yoga is a yoga and meditation studio. It’s a shared space and one for instructors to grow along their own path. We know that Yoga is for EVERY. BODY. We offer Kids Yoga and Yoga for the Special Person, Kundalini Yoga (Chakra and Energy Healing great for moms) Spiritually Centered Flows and more. Having a diverse teaching team and network, we think that each teacher should honor their spirit creating all sorts of standout services! Check out our Spine Saturdays or Sports Recovery Sundays both coming soon, and you’ll see that yoga really is for EVERY. BODY.
Being a semi-private studio with class sizes of 6-12 (with COVID-19 our class sizes are limited to 4 people), we are able to intimately learn our students and better assist them along their journeys. Our workshops, popup events and Glow in the Dark Classes are worth checking out and don’t miss our volunteer events or Monthly Book Club.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I know that I love God with all of my heart. I’m not trying to make him proud. I want him to make me better through His Love.
Pricing:
- $12 drop in rate
- $50 unlimited kids membership
- $50 private family lesson for the special child
- $25 private virtual lesson
Contact Info:
- Address: 950 E. Main St. Allen, TX 75002
- Website: www.blueskyyoga.org
- Email: info@blueskyyoga.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bluesky_yoga
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/blueskyyogaallen
Image Credit:
Matt Ryan
Kasie Samikool
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