We recently connected with Heather Hopper and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Back in 2009, I was teaching third grade at Lakehill Preparatory School in East Dallas. At that time, I was honored to be awarded the East Dallas Teacher of the Year award for Elementary School. During the awards luncheon, two ladies spoke about teaching adaptive yoga through a program called Yoga for the Special Child. My dad and I looked at each other and he spoke aloud what I was thinking… that god was speaking to me about what I needed to do to be of service to our community.

I chose to resign my position at LPS at the end of that school year and took the last week of school off, using my last PTO days. I traveled to Sarasota to learn the Yoga for the Special Child program and jumped off the proverbial cliff into teaching yoga full time. That first year was hard… trying to cultivate clients, keeping the bills paid, and learning how to balance yoga teaching and my own physical and mental health. I continued tutoring some of my former students, as well.

Although it hasn’t been easy, I am so grateful I took that leap of faith. I have helped build a thriving children’s yoga business and teacher training through yogees yoga 4 kids, learned mindfulness practices, taken a variety of different trainings to cultivate my teaching skills, and developed numerous workshops and teacher training offerings in a variety of yoga and mindfulness practices. All along, I have continued with my tutoring and educational coaching offerings, as well.

Recently, I have decided to make what some might consider a risky move again… Leaving yogees yoga 4 kids in the pursuit of focusing on my own businesses as well as providing website and ghostwriting services to other yoga and wellness professionals and office hours mentoring yoga teachers.

Every leap has been one of faith… in myself, the universe, and my own heart. Every leap has been worth it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started tutoring students with neurological and learning differences when I was still in the classroom. As someone who is also “neuro-spicy” and with diagnoses of both dyslexia and input/output disorder, I have a unique understanding of the challenges students face in the “typical” classroom. With a focus on adding mindfulness practices to our sessions as well as honing study and executive functioning skills, I teach my clients the tools they need to be successful in the classroom and beyond. I am most proud of my tutoring and educational coaching clients’ ability to take what they have learned and continue to use those skills in college and in their professional careers… far beyond what I taught them in middle and high school.

My yoga career started while I was teaching elementary school, as well. Over time, I have continued to hone my teaching skills by taking multiple workshops and trainings that both expand my ability to teach a variety of bodies and abilities as well as to focus on creating a trauma-informed space for both group and private clients. I believe that connecting with the student is the most important part of what I do… whether on the yoga mat or over a math assignment.

I currently provide adaptive yoga to children and adults through group classes to school programs and dayhab programs as well as private clients through my company, goodyoga. I also teach group classes through studios in the area that are open to adults of all body types that focus on balance and joint mobility. My tutoring business, The Mindful Tutor, provides tutoring and educational coaching to students in grades 3 and up and college students. Finally, I provide web design, updates, and newsletter services, through the Wix platform, to wellness providers. In all of these areas, my focus is to align client needs with their abilities and create a partnership of mutual respect and a place for the client to be brave and take risks without fear.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

The most important thing in building my reputation within the community I serve is that I walk the walk. I really believe that connection is the most important thing in what I do. Connecting and listening to others, whether they are using words or not, is key to what I do and how I provide for my clients. I really believe in the power of paying attention and caring for our community in small ways that spread like ripples… while being aware that everyone has trauma, our words are powerful, and every life has value and should be celebrated.

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

I think the most helpful thing for succeeding in this field is to have the attitude of a lifelong learner. What we know about the brain, bodies, and how we learn is always shifting and changing. The ability to adapt to changes in how I provide services, how students learn and process, and new understandings of education and physiology are tantamount to my being able to provide the best services possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.good-yoga.com
• Instagram: @goodyogatx @themindfultutor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodYogaHeather https://www.facebook.com/themindfultutor.goodyoga/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-hopper-good-yoga/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodyogaforeverybody2967

Image Credits

Samantha Martin, Gina Korzack, Atali Samuel