We were lucky to catch up with Laura Fessenden recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I obtained my yoga therapy certification in 2021 through Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. My intention for this training was to grow my yoga network, teach yoga and hold yoga therapy sessions in my free time. What I didn’t realize was that everything I had learned in my 600 hour training would be needed to navigate through my own challenges.

In November of 2022, my boss/mentor/friend died by suicide. It not only shocked and saddened the staff and customers of the bakery I work for, but it shook the entire community. Everything felt upside down; the unanswered questions of why this happened, the unknown future. The path seemed so dark and hazy. There was so much support for us in the way of counseling resources, volunteers to help fill in for staff that needed time off. At the time I was the General Manager of this bakery and felt so overwhelmed but also knew that we needed to keep things going for our community and for Andy’s family. I immediately dug into my yoga therapy toolbox knowing that I need to care for myself if I’m going to remain strong for the rest of the team. I feel so grateful for these tools that help me to breathe, move, and look inward for answers. I also have the ability to share these tools with others who are suffering. My path is now clear; run this amazing bakery and hold space for myself and others. I have a gift.

Laura , 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 have been in the restaurant industry since 2001 and have seen the good, bad, and very ugly. I knew as soon as I started practicing yoga in 2008 that this would be a long-term practice for me, but also realized that this would be my way of serving others as well… especially those in the service industry. I obtained my RYT 200 in 2016 in Eagle CO, and then my Yoga Therapy certification in 2021. It became clear during my yoga therapy training that the pandemic amongst other things had created so many challenges for people in the service industry. During lockdown, there was a loss of hope, identity for people that had lost their jobs with restaurants and bars closing their doors for good. People began to grow impatient with limitations due to the pandemic and were unkind to those in the industry. Restaurants were having a hard time hiring and many establishments were understaffed which added extra stress. I also learned during this training that I was holding on to some trauma that I experienced at a young age in one of the restaurants I worked at. This training showed me how to move through that trauma and also handle present and future challenges that have come my way.

I can show individuals to acknowledge when they are in discomfort (physical, mental, emotional) and use those moments to learn new ways to navigate those feelings with breath and movement. Our entire history is stored in our bodies. Trauma from generations before can be stored in our bodies. We are holding on to a lot, and our bodies need a way to process that; sometimes beyond talk therapy.
I’m proud to be in this industry and to have tools for others during their challenges whether they are related to industry challenges or not.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Training and knowledge are incredibly important in being successful in my field, but I there’s a lot to be said for experience, and growing through experience. In my field, there’s no end to what I could learn as a yoga teacher and yoga therapist. There’s new research and data being brought forward and my success can be measured by staying on top of new information as it’s released, but using that knowledge in real time through experience is how I will know what will work best for my clients.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My purpose has always been to serve others. This is why I spent many years in the service industry as a bartender, barista, restaurant manager. My reputation of having excellent customer service as well as genuine interactions has crossed over into the yoga community. As a yoga therapist, I focus on individuals that are in the service industry who have struggles for various reasons. Because I can relate to these individuals on that level, I think my clients feel comfortable sharing with me, and trusting that I can hold space for them and their challenges.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.restoreyogatherapy.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lfyogatherapy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.fessenden.1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-fessenden-0ba36296/