We were lucky to catch up with Alexis Gulliver recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alexis, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Out of university, I had started working for Johnson & Johnson in Supply Chain Management. During this time, in order to manage the stress of my position within the company at such a young age, I started going to yoga classes. Fast forward 12 years later and I had left J&J and had been teaching yoga full time in Istanbul, Turkey. I had had yoga TV shows, ran studios, and given countless retreats, workshops, and yoga classes. I was giving an especially popular workshop, when a student approached me after class saying how much she enjoyed class and wanted to invite me to teach her team. She was Turkish and only visiting her family for the summer before returning back to Europe. As it turns out, she was the Director of Finance for Johnson & Johnson’s entire European team. Before I knew it, I became the yoga teacher for all of their corporate retreats, giving my career full circle.

Alexis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into yoga when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 22. In lieu of surgery, I pursued alternate forms of therapy and stress reduction, which lead me to my first yoga class. I would get MRIs every 6 months to monitor the tumor. What I noticed was the more yoga I practiced, the more my lifestyle changed. I ate a richer, more balanced diet, slept better, and took care of my overall general healthy with more awareness. What I think is important to remember, is no matter where you are starting from or why, the benefits will spill over into all areas of your life.

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

I think its the same as any strong successful relationship. I chose my profession every single morning when I wake up. I practice gratefulness, I don’t take it for granter. I realize what I blessing it is to do what I love and I decide everyday to show up fully, for myself and for my students. If you “phone in” one area in your life, I’m sure you do it in other aspects as well. Yoga can mean active participation in the moment, as it is. So that is what I do, I fully participate in my day.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I spent too much of my career comparing myself to others. What they could do in their bodies, what they were doing on social media. Yes, we need to be inspired, but not to the extend where you feel you are lacking. Decide what your values are, what motivates you, and then stick to it. The right people will understand what you are doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alexisgulliver.com
• Instagram: alexisgulliver
• Facebook: alexisgulliver
• Linkedin: Alexis Gulliver
• Youtube: alexisgulliver

Image Credits
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