We recently connected with ALICIA DUGAR STEPHENSON and have shared our conversation below.

Hi ALICIA, thanks for joining us 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.

Climbing the corporate ladder after college got real scary when I realized I no longer felt inspired. I had pushed through the daily struggles of being diagnosed with lupus, just to make other people happy. I was NOT happy with my life, even though I had liquidity and a benefits package. Every day I would have a fight with snooze until I couldn’t fight it any more. I realized I needed to help people like yoga helped me.

Backstory: I had been the front row, over-achiever, parent-pleaser, straight A’s student all my life. My parents got to brag on how I applied to Harvard, even though I ended up with a quarter-million dollar double-bachelor’s degree from the Harvard of the South, Rice University. Any logical person would be happy to be in my shoes and on my trajectory.

BUT, I couldn’t help noticing how peaceful I felt getting restful sleep after yoga, mending relationships and healing trauma. I realized I needed less medicine, over-reacted less, and was more happy when I practiced yoga. My job didn’t make people happy like that. Sure, I helped people smile, made their day even, but I desired to bring the type of peace to the world that yoga brought to me.

Then, I was given the opportunity to become a yoga teacher. I had never thought teaching yoga would be my thing, because it didn’t check the boxes I had been given in my upbringing.

The calling started. I felt like I could make a difference, if I could just figure out how to make yoga work.

So…I started doing it on the side of my professional career. I would EASILY wake up early to teach yoga, even though it was earlier than the snooze fights I used to have. And, I loved how inspired I felt after helping others find their own calm in this chaotic world.

The risk came when I decided to pursue yoga full time. I had never heard of a full-time yoga professional, but I was determined to make my stamp on the world, to shine light into the dark places, to help the hurting.

Even though I was terrified of going against the traditional career lifestyle I had built, I knew I would be unhappy and get sick from forcing my body to operate in the status quo.

Well paid positions, retreats, teachers and mentors started lining up in front of me and all I had to do was lean in. Soon I had exceeded my previous salary. I even got to celebrate making 6 figures as a yoga teacher!

Taking the risk of doing something against what my parents thought was a good idea, and really leaning into my decision has changed my life! I now am happily married, work from anywhere, spend ALL holidays and birthdays with my family (without requesting permission), and get to make a positive difference in 1000’s of lives!

I am grateful that younger Alicia took the risk and made my life now possible.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2009 at a rock bottom moment in my life. I was waking up in daily pain and the doctors would tell me to keep taking all the pills I was prescribed. I didn’t feel like I was getting better, so I started searching for natural remedies. I finally found yoga, and everything changed!

I fell in love with the relief I would feel after each class. I was finally sleeping better, needing less pain meds and being nicer to my family. After enjoying the benefits for a year, I realized that I could impact others and share the benefits by becoming a teacher.

When I started teaching, more people of color felt like yoga was for them too. I felt honored to study yoga in depth enough to certify teachers all over the world! Yoga was no longer just for rich people!

I published my first yoga book, which allows readers to learn about body energy within themselves.

Since 2017, I have been teaching people who feel called to help change the world for the better. I feel like the worse the world gets, the more and more it needs people who are willing to be the light.

So if you have had any type of positive experience from yoga that changed your life for the better, please consider how much your loved ones can benefit from you knowing how to share yoga with them. Being a yoga teacher is the best way to pour from a full cup!

If you have questions about how to get started, ask me on Youtube or Instagram @afroyogaqueen

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I feel like I was made for this work. I mean, where else can barefoot and yoga pants be considered professional?

I was also always someone who enjoyed being around people in a good mood. After yoga, people are their most happy, zen-ed out selves! They are kind and uplifting, and we get to share smiles and if I am lucky…hugs too!

Making my purpose a professional endeavor has forever changed my work and life balance! I am able to make my own schedule and plan to attend any family function I choose. I can work around my husband’s schedule, so lots of cuddle time. Plus! I can travel for work or pleasure and still have my business make money.

I am so happy I teach yoga!

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

Communication is crucial in success. It allows me to curate my branding, my messaging and even my conversations with clients.

I use yoga to help me with intentional communication, and it has changed the reality of my business.

Its easy to run interviews for potential clients, discuss business with interested investors and even nurture my promising and upcoming students.

Contact Info:

• Website: scale.goldyoga.info
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afroyogaqueen/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-dugar-stephenson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJd2qwKyTt3oh9mMFugKZPA

Image Credits
Trent the Engineer Gavin Wegener