We recently connected with Aire Stillman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Aire , thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

I started my first business as an online fitness coach, which later expanded to in-person sessions. But when COVID hit, I had to shut down one business and began working with my ex-partner at a gym while trying to scale things online. Everything felt like it was on pause.

As I navigated the challenges, my work naturally evolved into mental wellness and life coaching. I realized that even during my nursing career, I was always offering life advice. And during the pandemic, the need for emotional and mental support became even more urgent for everyone.

After the split with my partner, I fully embraced the transformation. I shifted gears while also touring and collaborating on music projects and performances. Eventually, I moved across the country to California, where I blended my fitness and life coaching work with dance and sound healing—taking it to an entirely new level.

Looking back, I’m grateful I started when I did. Business growth requires consistency, but I was growing in many other ways—bringing my audience along for the journey. And while my path changed from what people originally expected, I wouldn’t trade it. What I started with was nice on the surface, but what I’m doing now aligns with my true purpose and expertise.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

a woman or child who has experienced a traumatic life happening and is already attending therapy, or doing some sort of mindset and internal healing work—is struggling with:
A woman or child who has experienced a traumatic life event and is already attending therapy or engaging in mindset and internal healing work may still struggle with:

Feeling Disconnected from Their Body – Trauma can cause dissociation, making it hard to feel safe in their own skin.
Emotional Suppression – Even with therapy, they may struggle to fully express or release deep emotions.
Anxiety & Overwhelm – Healing is not linear, and they may feel stuck in cycles of anxiety, fear, or self-doubt.
Difficulty Trusting Others – Trauma can create barriers to forming healthy relationships and community connections.
Physical Tension & Chronic Stress – Trauma often manifests in the body as tightness, aches, or fatigue.

My therapeutic dance and movement work can be a powerful bridge between their internal healing and their physical and emotional release, offering a space where they can process their pain beyond words and feel safe in their bodies again.

They can finally let go of the emotional weight that therapy and mindset work couldn’t fully release.
They can move forward without fear—embracing life while honoring their loss.
They can sleep better, breathe easier, and feel lighter instead of carrying grief like a constant burden.
They can rebuild their relationships without feeling isolated or misunderstood.
They can integrate their loss into their life in a way that feels sacred and empowering.

Save Money On:
Expensive therapy sessions that aren’t working for them anymore.
Alternative healing methods they’re experimenting with but don’t fully understand.
Endless books, courses, and workshops that give knowledge but no real transformation.
Stress-related doctor visits, medications, or treatments caused by grief weighing on their body.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining moments of my journey—and a true test of my resilience—was the year and a half I spent recovering from a major injury after being hit by a car. I went from performing on major stages, dancing for crowds of over 100,000, to barely being able to walk, forced onto crutches, and in constant physical pain.

But what hurt even more was the feeling of being stuck—especially as someone whose life revolved around movement, expression, and showing up for others. I still had to work—I still had a mission. But suddenly, even getting out of bed felt like a mountain to climb.

What shifted everything for me was when I started observing people around me who lived with permanent disabilities—the quiet courage, the daily strength, and the grace in their perseverance. I saw myself in them, and I felt deep empathy. It grounded me. It reminded me of what I still could do.

That’s when I poured myself into writing. I used that season of stillness to finish my book—Reflections of Unconditional Love—which later became a best-seller in 9 different categories. Every word I wrote came from a place of raw truth, grief, hope, and healing.

That experience taught me that resilience isn’t always about pushing through at full speed—it’s about honoring your pain, adapting your path, and turning stillness into purpose. I lost my movement, but I found my message—and that has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life’s work.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work taught me the science behind mindset, energy, and how our thoughts shape our reality. His approach helped me understand the power of intention in entrepreneurship and healing—how to align vision with vibration.

“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield reminded me that resistance is part of the creative process. It gave me language for the inner battles I face as a creative and entrepreneur, and how to show up anyway—with discipline and purpose.

Jamie Lee Curtis’ memoir “Worthy” moved me profoundly. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter how successful or iconic someone becomes, we’re all still wrestling with the fundamental question: Am I worthy? Her vulnerability pushed me to own my worth and the value of my voice in rooms I once felt too small for.

The “Earn Your Happy” podcast by Lori Harder has been a consistent source of real-talk and inspiration. Her episodes blend soul and strategy and have helped me build confidence in the balance between ambition and authenticity.

Lastly, my mentors—from stage to studio to business—have been living, breathing textbooks for me. Watching how they lead, pivot, and stay grounded in their vision has shaped much of how I operate today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://airestillman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aire_stillman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erica.stillman.58
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aire-stillman-29549a223

Image Credits

Dumisani Maraire- @dumisanimarairejr @redcarpetseriers