Reframe the Path

Originally written 8/25/23. After everything changed (and some things didn't change at all) in the wake of the Maui fires, I felt a brief moment of despair. While I didn't lose anything tangible to the fires (luckily) I did lose a lot of energetic magic I was manifesting. The fires broke out on 8/8/23 which was also the Lion's Gate Portal opening - a day recognized for being lucky and where manifestations would be most possible. A day to also connect with with force of nature.

I'll still understand myself and the experience of this traumatic event that left a scar on my heart and soul. This was a place I lived within, as a guest of the island, for only 156 days and was just barely beginning to know. Just as quickly as I left I dropped my anchor and had a plan for the next 6 months, the fires were already drastically changing thousands of lives. I thought this was a sign to just stop trying so hard to make something out of being a yoga teacher. I've been teaching yoga since 2008 and started practicing in 2003 (20 years ago when I was pregnant with my son Tyler). For the last 15 years I've tried multiple times to launch a career out of being a yoga teacher.

There were times when it was a full-time job but it wasn't sustainable. Most of my career as a yoga teacher has been labeled as a "side hustle" or hobby. Making a living as a yoga teacher is pretty challenging when you are the sole provider in a household. I'm not complaining but it's been frustrating at times. I have also felt the lack of understanding when people try to identify who you are in the world by the label of your title or job. "Just a" yoga teacher was thrown around often. Let me just take a moment to clarify what being "just a" yoga teacher has taught me over the years. First, I'll identify the many hats I've word under this label: yoga studio manager, yoga studio assistant, 300-ERYT yoga trainer, yoga teacher coach and mentor, business owner, entrepreneur, and community volunteer.

I have learned through my yoga teacher training (as a student) and as the creator of a Yoga Alliance-approved 200-RYT program, and all the roles I have played to: Coach Lead Mentor Teach Facilitate Inspire Support Heal Help Write Curriculum and Lesson Plan Manage a Yoga Studio Lead, coach, and develop hundreds of yoga teachers Market, sell, promote, and facilitate yoga teacher training programs Manage a facility Develop workshops and plan events Create an Experience that changes lives So, instead of feeling like the door just shut on all this, I'll open a new one and reframe what I thought I wanted. I am humbled by what this experience has yet to teach me and will "slow myself down" a bit and keep being humbled.

Trauma is my new teacher.

Transformation is something I will never take lightly again. I share these words in honor of the Maui community that is still living in fear, doubt, and unknown and I believe in the power of creation from destruction. This is a chance to make things better. So, I'm reviewing what I thought to be true and reframing this idea of being a yoga teacher and creating purpose within my career. I'm still here. I'm lucky I'm still here. I will keep showing up and owning my mantra because I believe I'm meant to help inspire more wellness in this world.

Thank you for being a part of the journey!