We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aylin Montoya. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aylin below.

Aylin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

A defining moment in my life came after I suffered injuries from several car accidents. Just after completing my 200-hour YTT, I found myself unable to maintain a consistent yoga practice due to a debilitating back injury. I endured chronic pain for months, struggling with the physical and emotional toll it took on me. Then, I discovered Phoenix Community Acupuncture. After various sessions, I finally became pain-free. Each session, I meditated and repeated the affirmation, “There is always light at the end of the tunnel.” For a long time, I wasn’t sure what that meant because I didn’t see any progress, but my faith ultimately proved me right—there is always light, even in the darkest times.

I share this story because this experience fundamentally changed me. It taught me to deeply empathize with those dealing with chronic pain and emotional stress, and it gave me a new perspective on life. I believe I had to go through that experience to learn not to take my body for granted and to better guide others in connecting with their own bodies.

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.

I am a certified yoga instructor with over six years of teaching experience in the Phoenix area and recently earned my Sound Healing certification. I specialize in gentle and restorative yoga practices. Gentle yoga is designed to be soothing and accessible, ideal for those new to yoga or seeking a slow, mindful, and meditative experience. It emphasizes connecting the breath with each pose and focuses on relaxation and mindfulness. Restorative yoga, on the other hand, is a soft, calming practice that promotes deep relaxation and stress relief by holding restful poses for extended periods, often with the support of props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks. This practice activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system to create healing and balance. In my classes, you can expect an intentional practice paired with sound healing during savasana (the final resting pose in a yoga class).

Additionally, my sound healing events offer deeply immersive and meditative experiences, where I surround participants in soothing sounds and vibrations. Using instruments such as crystal singing bowls, Tibetan bowls, chimes, and an ocean drum, I create a sound bath that enhances relaxation, inner balance, and profound healing. Each event begins with a brief introduction, guided meditation, and intention setting, followed by a sound bath lasting 45 minutes to an hour. The sound frequencies guide participants into a state of deep relaxation and inner peace, leaving them replenished and grounded.

I host sound healing events and yoga classes each month. To book a class with me, please visit https://linktr.ee/theholisticindigo.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my community has been nurturing relationships with those who support me. Interacting with my followers, students, and supporters is incredibly important to me. I aim to embody the human experience in these interactions, viewing them not just as clients but as valued people of my community. By treating everyone like a friend and getting to know their stories, I can better empower and support them on their personal journeys.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A pivotal moment in my career came in 2017 when I began my yoga practice. Initially, I was simply looking to try something new, but I quickly became so passionate about it that I found myself practicing 2-3 times a day. Yoga brought me a sense of wholeness and peace that I had been struggling to find. At that time, I was juggling a full-time job and full-time studies at GCC, which left me feeling utterly drained and burnt out, with no social life outside of work and school.

After a few months of dedicated practice, I noticed a profound transformation in both my mind and body. I was surprised that this experience wasn’t more widely discussed in my community, and I felt a strong urge to share the benefits of yoga with others. When my yoga studio offered a teacher training program, I took a bold step and decided to leave college to pursue yoga instruction. This decision has been one of the best I’ve ever made for my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/theholisticindigo
• Instagram: @theholisticindigo

Image Credits

Angel Martinez