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

Hi Amber, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Overall, I’m happy as a creative. My work is personally fulfilling, and I have a lot of authority and autonomy over what I do. I get to take power naps, go to the beach, work out, or run errands while other people are at their 9-5 jobs. If I want or need to take time off, it’s fairly easy to find coverage.

On the flip side, in order to make enough income to pay my bills, I have to juggle various commitments at different locations, and I also have to create my own opportunities through networking. It takes a lot of energy to market myself, including maintaining a social media presence, and creating content for public and private online spaces.

My work requires that I be well rested & in good health, so I’ve had to establish boundaries for myself that sometimes make me feel like I”m missing out on a social life. I’m often up before dawn, so socializing at night is a big deal and it’s got to be something meaningful, or I’m not going to sacrifice my precious energy on it. When it comes to dating, it can be hard to find someone whose lifestyle aligns with mine.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job, and I think I might be a very different person. I struggle with answering to authority and feeling helpless. If I did have a regular job, I would need to be high up on the chain of command, or I’d be miserable.

Even on the days when I don’t feel like working, I know that once I show up, I’m going to get into my flow state and feel good about it. Whereas, I don’t think I could say that about a regular job.

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’ve been a lifelong athlete and student of the human body. I’ve always been passionate about learning, teaching, and empowering others. I have experience working in physical therapy, sports medicine, massage therapy, nutrition services, yoga therapy, and personal training. For a while, I thought I might enter the public health domain, but I prefer to work closely with people in achieving their goals.

I started teaching yoga in 2012, and left bartending in 2014 to become fully self-employed. I practiced massage therapy out of my home, and taught group fitness in studios and gyms. I started offering yoga teacher training programs in 2015, and moved from NM to CA in 2016. In addition to yoga, I started teaching Pilates and Strength classes.

I started taking pole dance classes in 2018, and my work shifted toward women’s empowerment. Some of my fitness classes took on a sensual, or feminine flavor, and I began to offer online women’s coaching groups in 2020. I am certified to teach pole fitness and twerk, and am passionate about providing safe spaces for women to dance and explore their feminine energy. In 2021, I created an online course for Feminine Embodiment, which includes yoga, sensual movement, energetic healing, shadow work, and women’s health.

I also work closely with athletes and non-athletes of all genders, helping them to prevent and/or rehabilitate injuries. I am passionate about helping people cultivate a better quality of life by filling in the gaps in their training, and this looks different for each person. For some, I emphasize corrective exercise or cross-training, and for others, we focus on recovery or restorative practices. Often my approach to personal training looks more like physical therapy than traditional weight loss.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I moved to SoCal, I had to build my business and clientele from the ground-up, and my particular style of teaching is different from what people are used to, and somewhat industry-disruptive. I encountered a lot of rejection, which only made me more resilient and determined.

I still think of the time that I was teaching a class at a studio in Santa Monica, and half of the students walked out because I wasn’t following the formula that they were accustomed to. Of course, it hurt my pride, but I didn’t let it throw me off my rhythm, and I finished the class with my head held high.

Over time, and through experience, I’ve become secure in what I offer, and have a deep knowing that I’m not meant to please everyone. For each single negative comment I’ve received, there are at least 50 positive ones. I’m so grateful to those that continue to seek out my special sauce, and share with me the ways that I’ve influenced their lives for the better.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Creativity requires time and space to thrive. Unfortunately, our capitalistic society leeches time and energy from people, and gets them stuck in survival mode. People that would otherwise be creating or making other fantastic contributions are spending all of their time working to meet their basic needs. I believe that the best way to support a thriving creative ecosystem is to pay everyone living wages, institute universal health care, and to stop protecting corporations over people.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ambercostilow.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getlitfromwithin/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/getlitfromwithin
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmberCostilow
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/getlitfromwithin