We caught up with the brilliant and insightful April McMillan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

April, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

One of the biggest trends I personally see is that yoga instructors are in abundance.

While I absolutely love that so many individuals are utilizing yoga teacher trainings to become more self aware, gain bodily awareness, and serve communities they are passionate about, I also see some of these same individuals not staying in their lanes when it comes to teaching others.

Just like with any profession or career path you fine tune the focus and intention of your experience via your trainings or area of interest. This fine tuning of yoga teaching is no different than other career paths. For example, a 200 hour training is a foundation for you to build upon. Completing a 200 hour training does not make you an expert in this industry. There are several areas of special focus, like yin yoga or ashtanga to name a few, that require additional trainings due to content. These additional trainings are for you to help safely engage those you are teaching based on the intention of the class format.

How you hold space for a class and the use of your words matter. In the yoga industry we are encountering more and more individuals who have experienced trauma, experienced different types of loss, and might be having medical or mental health challenges. While we cannot be everything to everyone, this awareness does allow us to make choices on how we wish to further our yoga education.

April, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My love for yoga has not been lifelong. I started my love of serving others when I graduated from The Ohio State University in 2004 with my MSW and was then licensed as a social worker in Ohio in 2005. I have since kept my license active and do the continuing education every two years even though I do not readily practice like I did early in my career.

What led me to yoga was health challenges following a partial hysterectomy. My body was changing and I was searching for answers that modern medicine could not answer. Truth be told, I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for and yet everything I needed, I ultimately found on my yoga mat.

When I first started my yoga journey, I never had the intention of teaching. I made the decision to do the initial 200 hour training because I was looking to heal myself. When I dove into the training I knew I found something special. This practice brought an awareness to my life that I didn’t know was missing. The more I dove in, the more it transformed how I saw the world. I often wish I had found this beautiful practice sooner because of the impact it has on my heart. However, I was told by many wise teachers, “you found yoga when you were open to receive its gift.”

Not only did I find yoga, but I found a way to transform my heart with this practice when my life was shattered on 9.23.19. My oldest son, Isaac, died by suicide on this date and it is believed an undiagnosed encephalitis was the cause of him running ahead. At the time of his death I was in the process of completing my 300 hour yoga teacher training with specialty focuses in yin yoga, restorative yoga, and subtle energies of the body.

What led me to yoga initially was the desire to heal my body. Once again, I found myself searching for answers that this world could not provide. I leaned into the practice that has continually transformed my heart and how I serve others. I never knew how yoga would then transform my relationship with my son in death.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure I would teach again after Isaac died. I had always been told by my peers and students that I spoke and led from a place of authenticity. Being authentic meant being vulnerable. I wasn’t sure I could be vulnerable with a heart that was broken. With lots of love, encouragement, and tears I stepped back on my mat to teach. It was through this process and being in two amazing studios that held my heart that I could then begin to see the light bloom in my darkness.

That light was the birth of my yoga studio, Anahata Mosaic, and my family’s non-profit, He Who Laughs; Championing Mental Wellness, in honor our son who is deeply missed everyday. When people ask what sets me apart from others in the yoga and wellness industry it is a hard question to answer. I know I am not every person’s cup of tea. I know my teaching style is for those wanting a work in, not a work out. I also know the truth I speak about our loss is not easy for others to hold. I however, cannot separate these things out of who I am. These things make me and the spaces I have created unique. I do not hide who I am on and off the mat. I try to live as authentically and as fully as I can because I know firsthand how quickly life can change.

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

I am not sure how many individuals decide to open a business during a pandemic, but we did. So many individuals thought we were crazy for opening a yoga studio at the time the world was on fire. I mean we said yes to the space and then two weeks later the world shut down.

My husband and close friend routinely asked me if I was sure about my choice to open a small business. Without hesitation, I kept saying yes and I kept moving forward. I knew I had to persevere and have faith in what I could not see, but felt with every beat of my heart.

It was scary.

It was hard.

It has taught me so much about what it takes to make this intention into a reality.

Owning a small business requires you to be fluid. It requires you to be present and in the moment. It requires you to know your worth, especially in a world that will almost always ask you to compromise.

Stewarding these two businesses has been anything but normal. Each business invites me to dig deep and know who I am. My resiliency is built on the intention that I want to leave the world better than I found it and that I desire to simply be a good human.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

There are so many lessons that cross my plate daily that it is hard to choose just one. However, the one that seems most prevalent as of late is the notion of overscheduling. We are in a culture that glorifies the hustle and loves to say how busy we are in our day to day activities.

When our doors opened to the yoga studio in June of 2020 for in person classes, I dove into the business head first with my first class ticket to ride the hustle bus express. We had to meet the needs of the community we were servicing while keeping the costs relatively low. That meant it was the April show for teaching, cleaning, and marketing. I knew opening the business would be challenging with the state of the world, but I was up for the challenge. I wanted to be the change I wished for the world.

We just celebrated our third birthday this year in May of 2023 and I am slowly unlearning the need to hustle. My body can no longer hustle like it did 3 years ago and honestly, I am grateful. I am learning the power of saying no, and that a well placed no can lead to a pretty powerful yes. Busy is a choice and it does not determine your worth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.anahatamosaic.com
• Instagram: @anahatamosaic
• Other: He Who Laughs; Championing Mental Wellness is found online at www.hewholaughs.org and on twitter @He_Who_Laughs.

Image Credits
Credit images belong to April McMillan, steward of Anahata Mosaic and He Who Laughs