Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Wood.
Alyssa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I got started teaching yoga back in 2012, primarily working one-on-one with other moms that I knew personally through my daughter’s activities. I come from a background in dance and yoga poses came fairly “easy” to me when I got started, Then in 2013, after a terrible car accident, it was back to the office job grind while I took some time for total body rehabilitation. I had “only” needed hardware in one arm, but my back and neck were in pain for months to follow. For the first time in my life, I had to really, really work in order to get my body back to a place where I could move freely. Stability, flexibility and mobility were no longer things that I took for granted in my own body and this newfound appreciation for my health began to trickle out verbally to the people around me through encouragement and solicited advice. In 2016, I decided to take what I had learned in getting myself back in shape and use that knowledge to help others achieve their happiest selves by finding the healthy lifestyle that suits them best. After completing my personal training certification, I began to increase my yoga client base.
Although, my private clients are primarily yoga-focused, my trainer certification helps me approach each student with a broader base of anatomical knowledge that is supported through continuing education requirements. At the same time, the deeper that I travel in my yoga studies, the more compassion I bring to each of my student interactions. Without a doubt, that car accident should be credited for my current teaching style. I instruct from a place of love and my only absolute rule in practice is that my students move their bodies with kindness and awareness above all else. I like to think that my strength as a yoga teacher lies in my ability to see each client as more than a body trying to achieve physical fitness; I want to enable each being I meet to pursue their highest form of healthy body, mind and spirit.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Going from a full-time, salaried, free health insurance office position to the sometimes uncertain income of self-employment has had its obvious logistical challenges along the way. But, whenever I doubt my decision to pursue the lifestyle that exemplifies so much of what I feel passionate about, I take a second to feel grateful for everything the journey has taught me thus far. I’m not sure I knew myself at all, before I started following my own path — and I don’t even remember that 9-to-5 woman that I used to be anymore. My best piece of advice for anyone that feels like they may not fit the mold for a traditional professional trajectory is this: following your dreams means accepting that your dream may not be the same as everyone else’s and that’s okay.
When I stopped trying to imitate how I thought a successful person was supposed to behave, I was finally able to begin articulating, how I want to lead my life and what my personal markers for success are. My version of success isn’t the same as anyone else’s — and that’s what makes it worth pursuing. As I continue to grow my business, my personal motivation is to constantly evolve. What I did yesterday led to where I am today; what I am doing today will lead to my goals of tomorrow and to me, success is defined by continuing to learn and explore by doing what I do best — spreading curiosity and enthusiasm to the people around me. Everything in life comes with a set of happy possibilities when you approach the world with an attitude of wonder and gratitude.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Yoga Teacher & Life Enthusiast – what should we know?
I provide yoga instruction and guided meditation in personal homes as well as my home studio. Recently, I have also began working with guided meditation remotely, but I make my best effort to work with clients in-person first so that I am aware of any postural habits that may affect their meditation experience. In my efforts to reach clients that are uncomfortable with the idea of entering a yoga studio, I partnered up with Uptown Training beginning in July 2017. Through this partnership, I have been able to reach clients that could benefit so much from learning to breathe through life one breath at a time, but who were previously deterred from giving yoga a try for one reason or another.
My mission behind working with clients privately is to make yoga physically accessible to as many people as possible by tailoring each practice to the specific needs of the student. I want to overcome the myth that you have to be flexible or thin or fill-in-the-blank stereotype in order to start a yoga practice; the only prerequisite to practicing yoga is a willingness to learn. By meeting with clients in their homes, according to what works for their schedule, I have managed to open the world of yoga to those that want to pursue a personalized and safe practice free from the distractions of others. Most yoga teachers can agree that the real yoga begins once we are able to turn inward; when I meet with clients in a small group or one-on-one basis, exposure to the expectations of the outside world is inherently minimal.
We are able to start each session in an atmosphere that supports the most efficient route for focusing mind and body in order to reap the most benefit from each asana or meditation. My clients’ goals vary greatly: I work with clients that want to focus purely on the mobility/stability and breath benefits that yoga has to offer, while others like to learn more about yogic philosophy and teachings. I find that I am best able to advance my clients’ goals when they can communicate with me confidentially about what they are bringing to the mat each time we meet — and more importantly, what they want to walk away from the mat having experienced. I love the energy of teaching studio yoga classes, but there is absolutely nothing more rewarding than having the special opportunity to track a client’s yoga journey alongside with them every pose and discovery of the way.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Across the board, we have to learn to stop pitting women against one another. Societal “cat fight” norms emerged because we allowed ourselves to be convinced that another woman’s talent or beauty or economic status should define what *all* women should be like. This back-and-forth, ebb-and-flow of female cultural expectations is constantly shifting, but one tenet remains disturbingly the same: if one woman succeeds doing things a certain way, then all women are expected to follow the same path as the first or else risk criticism for doing things differently.
It’s time, we stop thinking of innovation as being a masculine pursuit — the greatest boost we can give to female leadership, entrepreneurship and creative endeavors is to embrace women’s roles as innovators. Her path to success can look different than my path to success and your path to success can look different than mine. Success is determined by personal values and it’s time that we stop criticizing each other’s priorities. The pursuit of one’s passions should always follow an intensely personal path, one that isn’t defined by other people’s opinions. The greatest gift that women can give to one another is the support and space necessary to take control of their own success stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://uptowntraining.com/alyssa.html
- Phone: 214-546-1502
- Email: alyssa6485@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bubblesvonbonbon/
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/Uptowntraining/
- Other: https://shakti-yogacenter.com/
Image Credit:
Krystal Gorrell Photography
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