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

Hi Berfin, thanks for joining us today. Have you ever experienced a times when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?

One of the biggest U-turns in my professional life wasn’t in the industry itself—it was my own career.

I began my career as an attorney in Turkey, earned a master’s degree in technology law, and eventually opened my own law office. From the outside, everything looked stable and successful. Yet deep down, I felt disconnected from the life I was building.

Yoga had always been part of my life, but over time it became much more than a physical practice. It changed the way I handled stress, uncertainty, and personal growth. Eventually, I made a decision that surprised many people around me: I left my legal career and moved to Miami to pursue a completely different path.

Starting over in a new country was both exciting and intimidating. I became a yoga teacher, built a new community from scratch, and slowly created a career centered around movement, wellness, and helping others feel stronger in their bodies and minds.

Looking back, what seemed like a dramatic U-turn was actually a return to something more authentic. My legal background taught me discipline, resilience, and professionalism, while yoga taught me trust, presence, and courage. Today, both experiences continue to shape who I am and how I serve others.

Sometimes the most important career move isn’t climbing higher on the same ladder—it’s having the courage to choose a completely different one.

Berfin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Berfin Gerz, and I’m a yoga and Pilates instructor, wellness coach, and the founder of Berfyoga. Originally from Turkey, I spent years building a career in law. I earned a master’s degree in technology law, worked as an attorney, and eventually opened my own law office. While I was proud of what I had accomplished professionally, I always felt a deeper connection to movement, health, and personal growth.

Yoga first entered my life as a way to stay active, but over time it became something much more meaningful. It taught me resilience, patience, self-awareness, and how to navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity. Eventually, I made the life-changing decision to leave my legal career behind and move to Miami to pursue a completely different path.

Today, I teach yoga and Pilates both in person and online, working with students from different backgrounds, ages, and fitness levels. My goal is to help people feel stronger, healthier, and more connected to themselves. Through my classes, I focus on building strength, mobility, confidence, and consistency in a way that feels accessible and sustainable.

In addition to group classes, I offer private sessions, online programs, and wellness-focused content through my social media platforms. I love creating a supportive community where people feel motivated, encouraged, and inspired to take care of themselves—not through perfection, but through small daily habits.

What sets me apart is that I understand what it feels like to start over. I left a successful career, moved to a new country, and rebuilt my life from the ground up. Because of that experience, I approach teaching with empathy and authenticity. I know that growth often happens outside of our comfort zones, and I try to help my students develop both physical and mental strength.

What I’m most proud of is having the courage to follow a path that felt true to me, even when it seemed unconventional. I’m also incredibly proud of the community I’ve built—students who show up for themselves week after week, support one another, and continually surprise themselves with what they’re capable of achieving.

The main thing I want people to know about me and my work is that wellness is not about perfection. It’s about creating a lifestyle that helps you feel good in your body, confident in yourself, and connected to what matters most. My mission is to help people discover that strength, both on and off the mat.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life was leaving behind a successful legal career to pursue a completely different path in wellness.

Before becoming a yoga and Pilates instructor, I was an attorney in Turkey. I earned a master’s degree in technology law, worked in the legal field for years, and eventually opened my own law office. On paper, everything looked like it was going according to plan. I had invested years into my education and career, and I was proud of what I had accomplished.

At the same time, yoga had become an increasingly important part of my life. What started as a physical practice evolved into a tool for self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth. The more I practiced, the more I realized that helping people through movement and wellness brought me a sense of purpose that I couldn’t ignore.

The turning point came when I decided to move to Miami and start over. It was a decision filled with uncertainty. I was leaving behind a stable profession, my business, my network, and everything familiar. Suddenly, I was building a new life in a new country, studying again, earning certifications, and creating a career from scratch.

There were moments when I questioned myself. Starting over can be lonely and uncomfortable, especially when you have no guarantee that things will work out. But that experience taught me that growth often requires letting go of an identity that no longer fits.

Today, I teach yoga and Pilates, lead classes both online and in person, and have built a community that extends far beyond the mat. Looking back, I don’t see my journey as leaving one career for another. I see it as bringing together everything I learned along the way. My legal background taught me discipline, professionalism, and perseverance, while yoga taught me presence, courage, and trust.

That pivot completely changed the direction of my life, and it remains one of the best decisions I have ever made.

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

One of the strongest examples of resilience in my life was rebuilding my career and identity after moving from Turkey to the United States.

Before moving to Miami, I was an attorney in Turkey and had even opened my own law office. I had spent years studying, building my career, and creating a professional life that many people would consider successful. Walking away from that was not easy.

When I moved to the United States, I essentially started over. I left behind my business, professional network, friends, and the comfort of knowing exactly who I was and where I was headed. Suddenly, I was in a new country, adapting to a different culture, studying again, improving my English, and working toward becoming a certified yoga teacher.

There were moments when the process felt overwhelming. I questioned myself, doubted my decisions, and wondered if I had made a mistake by leaving behind something so established. Building a new career from scratch takes patience, especially when progress is much slower than you would like.

What kept me going was my practice. Yoga taught me that resilience is not about never struggling—it’s about continuing to show up, even when things feel uncertain. Day after day, I kept practicing, learning, teaching, and taking small steps forward.

One moment that stands out is when I began teaching my own classes and realized I was creating a community of people who trusted me with their health and well-being. It reminded me that every challenge I had faced was helping me become the person I needed to be.

Today, when people see me teaching yoga and Pilates in Miami, they often see the result but not the years of uncertainty, sacrifice, and persistence behind it. Resilience, for me, has been the willingness to keep moving forward even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. Looking back, I’m grateful I trusted the process because some of the most meaningful opportunities in my life came after I was brave enough to start over.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.berfyoga.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berfingerz/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berfingerz