We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Edde recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?
Throughout the past couple years, life has changed quite a bit for me. Between the pandemic, moving homes, a couple new jobs and even becoming a yoga instructor, it has been a very interesting ride to say the least. One of the few constants in my life, while everything else has been changing drastically, has been Pilates (and now yoga). Being able to stick to something I am so passionate about, which also grounds me, has been indispensable during turbulent times.
Stepping on my mat and showing up for myself and my clients has confirmed day after day that I am on the right path. Seeing the smiles on clients’ faces when we meet is so sweet. They all think I bring the good vibes and positive energy, but I really don’t think they realize how much they fuel me, too. It’s genuine happiness with which they arrive, and true accomplishment with which they leave.
A couple of my most cherished moments are when a client, a sweet older woman who is the most active person I know, always has something kind to say walked into my class and through a smile said “you bring the sunshine into this room every time”. Something so simple, yet touched me so deeply. My most tenured client, which has become a dear friend, has never enjoyed exercising as much, and does not workout on her own much, but now her body craves movement and she gets so excited the days we get to train. Small gestures like that really warm my heart because it shows how my method translates into others loving to move their bodies and creating a deeper connection with themselves.
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
SAFARAE was originally founded as a wellness brand with a curated Pilates platform offering on-demand classes focused on low-impact, energizing and intentional workouts to align your body and mind.
We are currently undergoing a rebrand and offering Pilates and Yoga through The SAFARAE Experience: transformative flows filled with low-impact exercises that create sustainable, positive change which goes far beyond the mat. While in flow, and through guided breathwork, you will find a mind-body connection like never before. We offer a carefully curated sequence of exercises using your body weight and mat, which lengthens, strengthens and protects your entire body. Working out should make you feel good, as it releases tension from the body and mind. Tutorials, tips, cues and modifications are included to ensure you get the most out of your workout. We are also launching something super exciting in September (so stay tuned!).
My mission is to inspire and empower people to implement exercise and healthier habits into their daily routines to create a happier, balanced, more conscious lifestyle. My passion is to help others feel stronger, healthier and happier while celebrating everything your body CAN do. Change is gradual and consistency is key. Plant the seeds, do your part and let life work its magic, too!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Wow! The biggest lesson I’ve had to unlearn is that the only constant in life is change. I grew up (and still am) very control oriented. I’ve always thought I could control much more than I really can. Life will surprise you time after time, and all you can really do is manage the situation the best way possible, while being proactive with everything you can be, but letting life flow – so tricky, I know!
I feel like the pandemic really exposed that life can be done in so many other ways, and maybe even better ways that had never been a possibility because uncertainty had never been so high. This lesson where life is constantly changing, also uncovered another lesson, which is that things are not black and white, or right or wrong. I have always been very empathetic and open-minded, but my expectations for myself are extremely high. Allowing there to be gray areas, and letting things be the way they are, without needing to label everything, has allowed me to let life flow a bit more. It’s something I work on every single day, because change doesn’t happen overnight. Letting go and embracing newness into my life started with the pandemic, and now I feel like I have a different outlook on life.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Right in the midst of the pandemic, October 2020, I was going through a huge personal rough patch, when all of a sudden my dad has a heart attack. It was so much happening at the same time, that I didn’t know what to do so I leaned into Pilates as my escape. A couple of weeks after I received an Instagram DM asking for private lessons. I gathered the strength and decided to show up. The next year was the hardest year of my life, but Pilates, and specially this client (and now amazing friend), really helped me push through. It was a commitment I had made to show up for her, and little did she know at the time, that it was those classes that helped me get out of bed and feeling 1% better every day. I kept showing up, even after moving about an hour away, I made sure to stick with the schedule we had agreed no matter how sad I felt, and continue to show up for her and for me.
Sometimes the people that light your path may not even know it. I always send my good vibes, share a smile when in passing and try to make people laugh and smile by being myself, being kind and showing respect. I truly believe small gestures can have the biggest impact. Also, my dad is in the best health and living his life!
Contact Info:
- Website: safarae.com
- Instagram: @safarae_
Image Credits
@catirephy