Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alicia Christine Beach . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alicia Christine , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
When I was a young girl my family always said that I am rambunctious. This word is defined as being uncontrollably exuberant. I can attest that today I am a woman who is exuberant in how I live, express myself, and live out my purpose. With every decade of growth on my womanhood journey, I have taken big risks to experience change. I found out what makes me the most happy and I no longer hide authentic me.
When I was 16 I interned at NYC marketing firms, fashion houses and music companies. I left it behind taking a risk to study religion. That’s a huge jump but I felt I needed to dive into the world of religion as a way to heal emotional pain. While studying education, I had opportunities to tour singing, record albums, and even be in music videos. One day, I saw a social media post about background singing and I took another risk. I flew to Atlanta, got the gig and in the next couple of months, I was singing at a stadium in South Africa. When that season concluded I dove into more self-discovery and learned that I love travel and I needed to focus on my wellness. I value holistic healing not only for myself but to see black people thrive through lifestyle changes. Again, I took a risk and applied to a program to study somatic healing, Ayurveda, and soon became a restorative yoga teacher. Pivoting my career and moving to different cities to pursue multiple passions has presented challenges but I never wanted to live with regret. I always wanted to see and experience the world. The regret of staying the same is harder than experiencing the scary of taking risks.
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.
Pivoting into the world of wellness was a natural progression for me from ministry and education. My family has been in the service of loving people and serving the community for over 5 generations. I grew up seeing my family lead with generosity and empathy leading people and pivoting into creating spaces for people to heal their mind, body, and spirit came to me naturally.
As a performer, I learned how to create environments of healing through music. When I wasn’t singing I was working in residence halls, nonprofit organizations, and women’s shelters as a coordinator and mentor. In these roles, I helped people life plan and dream again in the midst of some of the most difficult times in their lives. At the time, I did not know that mentoring young adults around life routines, self-care and emotional wellness would lead my life into mindfulness coaching and transform my personal life too! Today, as a restorative and mindfulness guide, I use my gifts to facilitate unique experiences for people to rest their minds, relax their bodies, and practice mindfulness in creative and supportive ways.
In 2022, I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune condition that can have an impact on muscles and lungs. This health crisis shifted me to make more lifestyle changes and commit to a lifelong journey of healing. When sickness shows up I believe that there are lessons to be learned. I needed to learn how to honor myself and to make daily decisions to support my gut, my evolution and my emotional peace.
I decided that I was going to detox my entire life and I transformed into a woman who was more grounded and committed to loving myself and others most healthily. My body took a turn for the better by using the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, my intuitive gifts, and yoga to heal. I recovered from vocal chord damage, and limited leg mobility to solo traveling, vocalizing, increasing my lung capacity, and manifesting joy!
Today, I provide mind-body wellness coaching, workplace wellness workshops, and restorative retreats for individuals and groups online and in person. I seek to help people who desire to manage and eliminate stress, emotional pain, and the effects of lifestyle inflammation.
My approach to this work is anchored in creating safe spaces for peace and healing through breathwork, meditation, easy movement, journaling and even singing. These are all ways that individuals heal emotionally and even physically to experience a reconnection to themselves, ultimately coming into a greater sense of self-understanding and self-love.
I am genuinely proud of my personal evolution because it has taken a lot of courage to break the shame that can come with facing and healing our own traumas while navigating life changes that come with diagnosis. Embracing self-love and body confidence can be increased through practices that give the mind and body space to reflect, accept and recover. Healing is even more beautiful when we find people on similar paths and we choose to heal together. I am hopeful to cultivate a community of like-minded people who want to share and learn from each other in real-time.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I was diagnosed with DM I was faced with a challenge to change my mindset and habits or risk staying the same and seeing my health potentially decline. I partnered with my professional medical team and naturopathic practitioners to become well. I researched my prescriptions, I found support groups, I applied for scholarships for trainings and I learned much about spirituality and healing. Admittedly, I did too at the start of my healing journey but I learned alot. In meditation and resting, I integrated the knowledge and gained the courage to keep going. I permitted myself to get things wrong and to just be.
The principles of yoga helped keep me grounded while in the thorns of healing and remain today.
Some believe that holistic healing is hard and requires you to change your whole life at once. While this holds some truth, drastic changes can be harmful to you so you want to be mindful and go slow as you implement new routines, foods, supplements, and daily practices.
While navigating new abilities mentally and physically, I learned that work can also get complicated. Managing my energy has been key to maintaining a healthy level of activity for myself to prevent overworking. You have to want to heal more than you fear. Fear is such an inhibitor to healing. Fear can look like stressing yourself by overcommitting, not being honest about your new abilities, and moving as though your health has not changed.
Give yourself what you need, and honor yourself. Your mindset matters because it guides your decisions. Consider that you may need to take time off work, find a new role, and or take seasons of sabbaticals. These breaks from fast-paced environments can prove to be beneficial when you are on the path of optimal well-being. Resting is resilient.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Wholeness will take a lifetime and I embrace the joy in this journey. There are many times that I have wanted to quit “healing.” Being your advocate in the medical system, workplace, and public-facing spaces especially as a woman of color is tough. Feeling alone on the path of holistic healing is real.
Making choices about what you will consume and the pace at which you will live will set you apart from the majority. Will you allow these differences to be your magic or will you be ashamed of your story, journey, and new choices? Every day I reset through journaling, prayer, and meditation to remind myself that I am committed to wholeness. My wholeness will not be denied because daily, I commit to giving my mind, body, and spirit what is needed to experience joy and bliss beyond all barriers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.itsaliciachristine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsaliciachristine/
- Twitter: https://www.threads.net/@itsaliciachristine
Image Credits
Tyre Thwaites
@jodianne.beckford
@rebelspectrum