Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alycia Anthony. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alycia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I would have to say one of the defining moments was in 2019, the time Grady Goat Yoga Tampa Bay asked me to instruct the Guinness Book of World Records Largest Goat Yoga Class with 501 participants!

All I was really told at the time was that I needed to create a class to be officially submitted and that I would lead that class with (hopefully) enough people to break the previous record. I wasn’t aware of the number of participants in the previous record when I 100% agreed to teach the upcoming record attempt.
Cut to the day of the event, and I find out there are actually going to be 500 people in attendance!

Thankfully, I was blissfully unaware and I didn’t know the numbers before I showed up, so I had like 1 hour total to be nervous. During that hour or so, we also had to set up 500 yoga mats that kept blowing away in the breeze. On top of that, the hands-free microphone headset that I normally wear to teach was not connecting to the large speaker. So, instead, I was given a regular hand-held microphone and taught the whole class while demonstrating with one hand holding a microphone to my mouth the entire time! What an adventure that day was. We hit every intensive checklist item necessary for submission, completed the wonderful goat yoga class, and a few weeks later, we heard back that we officially set the record.

That day taught me that there is no point in working myself up or getting overly anxious before a big event. I was able to instruct under a higher-pressure situation with some bumps along the way like that without being nervous for three business days beforehand. It will eat up your time and energy that could be spent being blissfully unaware, unbothered, and moisturized. I am prepared, of course, but I try not to take on any of the hypothetical stress I used to create for myself. I try to wait until it is real and in my face and then deal with it from there, because I know I can handle it, constructively and professionally!

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 began taking dance classes at the age of 3, and along with our regular dance training, we would have supplementary yoga classes, so those have always been intertwined in my life. As I got older, I wasn’t getting enough yoga practice for my liking and enjoyed those classes so much, that I started taking the yoga classes offered at my local gym to compliment my competitive dance training. I kept up with my education through college, studying Exercise Science, Kinesiology, and Dance, and receiving my Bachelor’s Degree. I completed my internship plus additional certifications for Group Exercise and Yoga back in New York. I moved here and I have been teaching classes all over Tampa and surrounding areas ever since.

I started out teaching yoga classes and working front desk services and membership recruitment at a newly opened gym in St. Pete. From there, I expanded to teach a variety of exercise, dance, and yoga classes at different gyms, studios, and after-school programs at local community centers. I would also take every subbing opportunity if another instructor asked me to cover. One of those subbing opportunities actually ended up being to teach goat yoga and I have been the instructor at Grady Goat Yoga since 2019. Around that time, I also began teaching recreational and competitive team dance classes at a local dance studio all while continuing my regular yoga and exercise classes.

In regards to dance, I have performed as a dancer at the Tampa Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and choreographed and performed dances for various events and causes, including Creepy Couture Fashion Shows in support of The Spring of Tampa Bay. I also performed ‘Lyricism’ Live Painting and Dance Performances, which was featured at events including the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts and the Tampa Bay Art & Music Festival 2022.

Starting in 2020, I moved some of my exercise classes online, created a yoga program for a local open-air spirits distillery, and also developed our program ‘Bend, Bubbles & Brunch!’ at the Epicurean Hotel to provide weekly yoga classes outdoors and a space to unwind. Back in 2016, I began teaching a morning yoga and brunch event and around 2017, we implemented an evening poolside yoga class “yoga under the stars” at a couple of community centers. So, combining those into one event just made sense! We continue to offer poolside yoga every Sunday at Epicurean Hotel in addition to private yoga classes, which are also available to schedule for a date and time that works best for you and your group.

In 2022, I launched a yoga and exercise clothing line in collaboration with Ocean Vibe by Wini Wu x Alycia Yoga, a local, woman-owned clothing line. I set up our outfits at markets in the area, helping women connect with clothing that makes them feel beautiful, confident, and comfortable.

Throughout the past 10 years, I have taught my yoga classes for many private events. These include bachelorette parties, bridal showers, baby showers, Valentine’s Day and holiday classes, classes at vacation homes, bars and distilleries, birthday celebrations, spa days, celebrity clients, you name it! You bring the occasion, I bring the yoga and relaxation.

Today, I continue to teach both online and in-person exercise classes, dance classes, yoga classes (goat, poolside and regular), private events, and personal training. I bring my clothing line to local markets in the area, as well, and enjoy connecting with other local businesses and vendors throughout Tampa Bay. I dance and choreograph in an assortment of styles, in continuation of my life-long passion. I work with local businesses and teach yoga classes at their locations, on-site, as well.

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

Yes, all day, every day! I have actually had a bunch of people ask me if I think ‘getting into yoga’, getting a certification, or teaching classes is “worth it”. And I ask back, what is “worth it” to you? What is your definition of worth? Is it financial? Is it because it appears easy? When you think of doing the thing you love, your passion, do you do it for financial gain? Not necessarily. I am in my profession because I want to help encourage the idea that safe exercise, yoga, dance, health and wellness is for everybody. If I have to trick you into doing yoga and exercise by also playing with goats or enjoying some bubbly poolside after class, I guess that’s just what I have to do! All joking aside, the joy, relief, confidence and relaxation I can encourage and instill in others through my classes makes me choose my specialty over and over, every day for the past decade, the present, and beyond.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Accessibility is extremely important to me. So, offering beginner friendly instruction, demonstration, and alternative options for difficulty or ability is imperative to all of my classes. I also instruct chair yoga, seated classes, as well as wheel-chair and transfer-friendly yoga classes. I have also encountered countless first-timers in my classes throught the past decade. They sometimes come in a little apprehensive, and leave class feeling like they can incorporate movement into their lives more regularly, expressing that it was much more pleasant than they expected. While I offer some more challenging and exciting classes, I supplement with plenty of options for modification.

Additionally, I have had to sort of make up for others’ less-inclusive experiences that have made some people really uncomfortable and hesitant to even give yoga another try. With gentle encouragement, a promise I will never make anyone do any yoga poses or exercises they aren’t comfortable with. The reassurance that I have the education and background to provide safe and effective instruction, I invite and encourage anyone who would like to give it a try, to participate!

Last but not least, I do love to include humor and laughter (when appropriate) and definitely think it’s okay to smile and have fun with your wellness. We can be lighthearted and still accomplish our goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beacons.ai/alyciaa.yoga
• Instagram: @alyciaa.yoga
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alycia.anthony.18

Image Credits

@andrewjoelphotography