We were lucky to catch up with Celeste Mccarthy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Celeste McCarthy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I had scoliosis, and as a kid was a dancer but didn’t do any sports beyond that. My spine was curved and the muscles surrounding it were weak, so I was in consistent back pain. You learn to live with it but it definitely wasn’t ideal for functioning well in life. I planned to be a teacher and earned both a BA and MA in English. In my mid 20s I discovered Bikram yoga, and after consistently practicing for about six months I started noticing my back pain lessening and my body feeling stronger. I started to realize the real impact of yoga on the physical body, and also started to feel less anxious and more calm. A few years later I had my first baby who was born with a rare kidney disorder and spent a month in the hospital while the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong. Having this traumatic experience defined me as I went through survival and coping mode keeping him thriving and alive. I wasn’t able to go back to work as a copywriter or fulfill what I thought was my calling to be a teacher as I pivoted to full time caregiver. During this time, I revisited my yoga practice and cried many healing tears in studio as my nervous system restored and my heart healed. I came to a deep understanding of yoga being a healing modality that connects you to your breath and self, well beyond the physical part of the practice. I received my first YTT-200 hour certification from SWIHA in 2004, with a heart-felt calling to share this practice with people suffering through both physical and emotional pain.

Celeste McCarthy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I love learning and discovering ways to share my vision and calling. I developed a strong desire to share yoga with those who needed its healing power. I started teaching mommy and me yoga classes, bringing my toddler and newborn with me, and eventually landed a teaching spot at Golds Gym. In 2010 I started working the front desk at our office (Protea Medical Center) and managing the practice but, as it grew, I felt out of my element since I had no experience in business management. We hired a front desk manager and woke up on day with a calling to restart my yoga teaching career (Yoga in the Park Ahwatukee), enroll in an online health coaching program (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) and jump headfirst into another YTT 200 program with LifePower Yoga. This was all in 2016, when my now three kids were well situated in school. Sometimes inspiration comes in bursts, and for me it was that year in my early 40s when I decided to take the reigns of my life and career back. I am a relatable Holistic Nutritionist because I meet people where they are and am able to ask the questions to help them find those “aha moments” themselves, while championing their successes with, and in some cases for, them when they are unable to see themselves clearly. I feel my yoga classes are the same: I try to always find the balance between effort and ease, challenge and empowerment for students, no matter their comfort level with yoga or experience on their mats.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I believe having a beginners’ mindset is key, no matter how much of an “expert” you become in your field. I have been practicing yoga for two decades, teaching consistently for almost a decade, and seeing patients for 8 years. There are always lessons to learn and blind spots to discover to help ourselves reach full potential. I also believe in the powerful lesson of failure. Let yourself get lots of experience (in my case, teaching different formats at different places and at different times of day), to learn what serves your teaching and lifestyle the best. Allow yourself to celebrate the success of your best class and also the lessons from your “worst” one. Yoga teaches us that nothing is permanent, and there can be freedom from mental chatter and judgment of self when we live more in the present moment – even when it is uncomfortable.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I am the second oldest of 9 kids and in that role have been a people pleaser my whole life. I have spent a decade in therapy unraveling the grooves of co-dependency, people pleasing’s counterpart. I still do shadow work when the need to over-please and over-commit comes up, but I have learned the tools of setting boundaries and holding space for myself as well. I’m still learning how to say “no,” and that even if technically I can step in to do something, it doesn’t mean I am obligated to. I am still learning, age 50, that you can’t please everyone; in the effort to do so, you deprive yourself of joy and self-worth. In doing your best, I’ve learned to also give myself grace when I make mistakes. My favorite quote is from Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better,”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.protealife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protea_movement/