We recently connected with Christina Taalla and have shared our conversation below.

Christina, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in life was leaving a stable job that could have advanced into a safe career to follow my heart’s desire to teach & lead as an Entrepreneur in the Yoga Industry.
Although I am no stranger to risk & had taken professional risks prior, this risk felt so big to me as it happened amidst multiple life changes including a divorce and assuming larger financial responsibility for myself & 2 young daughters. It was scary and came with a lot of unknowns.
The one thing that carried me through was the strength of & belief in my desire which the universe seemed to continuously affirm even during moments of doubt. It was truly incredible, as anytime doubt or worry would creep into my mind, I was offered another opportunity, or a client would approach me post class to share how they benefited from the class & give praise.
I was working as a Dietitian in 2019 when I decided to pursue a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. Prior to my work as a Dietitian, I had spent many years – over a decade – working in general fitness, gymnastics coaching & instructing Reformer Pilates. I left the field due to worries about my future in the Fitness Industry, which looking back I now see how my inner doubt got in the way of possibilities. Wellness has always been my passion, and really mindful artistic movement & creation/ design, continue to be so.
During my own personal struggles & transitions, the yoga practice was the one place I found solace, peace and always left the mat deeply connected to a strong sense of self, inner strength & a quiet knowing. I believe in this practice so much and the power it holds – and that is why I chose this path & what I hope my students connect to every time they come to their mats.
In a nutshell, I gradually transitioned over about a year and a halfs time to teaching Yoga full time. It did not come without its fears; during COVID I was still working part time as a Dietitian & instructing part time. In March of 2021, I had to decide to either return to the Dietetics clinic as a full-time employee or give notice. I chose to follow my heart and Intuition, and even though I had no idea how it would turn out within 2 months I was offered a position as Lead Instructor which replaced that income and had also acquired more teaching opportunities & private clients. Every time I took a leap, the universe came in & filled the gap.
Because I chose to follow my heart, my inner knowing and lean into & through my fears, I am where I am now. I have taught over 7,000 hours of Yoga since my first class in 2019. I have continued to learn & grow in my industry through experience, and completion of additional certifications, including a 300hour Teacher Training, Yoga Nidra, Yin and Sound Healing. I have taught in amazing spaces – CIVANA Resort, The Andaz, The Scottsdale Resort, Scottsdale McCormick Resort, and Mountain Shadows. I have formed friendships and community and acquired a depth of living while having fun & helping others feel stronger, more confident and most importantly – more connected in their bodies & minds. When I actually sit & reflect on the last 5 years of my life, I am amazed at all I’ve experienced & all the Universe has co created with me.
I think this risk for me was about learning all will always work out and always be okay as long as you trust yourself, follow your heart & lean into your inner knowing. By taking the time to quiet all the outside noise, distractions, opinions and sitting with yourself every day, the path will become clear, your belief in yourself will become stronger and you leave space to work with and allow the Universe to work its magic in your life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been in the Fitness Industry for a long time & it really began with a history in competitive gymnastics. I fell in love with the strength & grace of the practice and because of this I chose to complete my first bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, BS (ASU) in 2007. After graduation, I left the US & spent 3 years teaching general fitness overseas in France. (My father is French) When I returned to the states in 2010, my love of mindful movement led me to multiple certifications & a career in Reformer Pilates. I merged into the field of Yoga in 2019 through my own personal powerful experiences in the practice. (that is the short version) I believe all types of movement are beneficial – from weight lifting to walking – but Yoga has impacted me the most on a Mind-Body-Spiritual level.
I hold an E-RYT 500hr Yoga Teacher Accreditation through Yoga Alliance, as well as YACEP. E-RYT means I have I have completed 500hrs of teacher training & taught at least 4 years or 2,000 hours. YACEP is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider; meaning I can provide & lead in depth trainings to other teachers on various subjects.
I completed my 200hour Teacher Training through Sumits Yoga in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2019 & my 300hour Teacher Training through Modern Yoga also in Scottsdale Arizona (2022) under the direction of well known & experienced Yoga Instructors John Salisbury, Anton Mackey, Courtney Fox, Cheryl Olliver.
As a detail oriented individual, I naturally gravitate towards practices for my own personal practice that are alignment focused & heavy, such as Ashtanga & Iyengar. I believe alignment & engagement of the proper muscles leads to a stronger, safer, more efficient & effective practice. It’s also about what you learn through the practice about your own body, your “problem” areas, what you are and aren’t enganging, your patterns or habits that makes the practice so powerful. It’s like a reorganization of everything internally.
The breath work of the yoga practice also holds so much power – most human beings do not breath effectively or as powerfully as the body is capable of. The practice teaches you breath awareness, breath control & direction – and this impacts not only the body, but also the mind – calming things down internally, resetting the nervous system and leading you to more control of yourself, your reactions & responses. And this is a skill or a tool that transfers off the mat as well.
I teach & guide a variety of experiences – from Slow Flow Vinyasa, more technical foundational practices, Power Vinyasa, Yin & Restorative Yoga and Sound Healing. My style of teaching will always challenge you to strengthen yet I do so in a way to meet you where you’re at and also extend compassion and empathy into the practice & experience. I love adding a creative spin and although there may be some components that remain the same each practice, the path or design will rarely ever be the same.
I have also lead group meditations for various corporate organizations, most over online platforms. I love these sessions as most working individuals really need that 15 minute pause in their day – to breath, to slow things down, to release in a sense & clear all those things on their mind. When your mind is clear, you are no longer in a state of reaction & can approach now each situation or interaction with much more oversight, or depth – presence. You actually now benefit your organization, your patients or whatever your role or job is in the organization much more once you’ve taken a pause. I always receive wonderful feedback from participants after these sessions about how much those 15 minutes did for them.
I offer group sessions, events, workshops – on a variety of topics for students & teachers alike – as well as private sessions. I think (and hope!) my clients choose to work with me due to my level of knowledge & expertise of the human body, the mind body interaction, the yoga practice as well as the way I do things & how I lead each session. I am always attuned to my client’s needs that day, and while I can challenge the body and push edges, I am also soft, nurturing & responsive to them.
Clients come to me for many different reasons – to learn the poses, to become physically stronger, sometimes to have a fun flow with friends but also to relax, to breathe deeper & feel more calm, settled in their bodies.
The word that best represents me and my brand is balance. Yoga to me is about learning to skillfully engage. With yourself & with the world. And alongside the physical practice there is also an internal process going on. To learn to skillfully engage means knowing yourself – and knowing when & where to push, to effort or challenge & also when to back off, to do less & allow the process to unfold, I think this process & practice lead to optimal health in the whole.
I am most proud of the ways I’ve grown, the way I conduct myself & the way I do business. I think I hold myself to a high ethical standard (thank you to my parents for being wonderful examples) and strive for quality and presence in each session and interaction in itself. I am also really proud of the example I have set for my daughters – that you can follow your dreams, that it will work out if you truly trust your dream & the universe and to show up always in integrity, apply yourself – to put quality work in.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

To be truly successful in your field, I think you have to get out in your field – observe & learn. Education and knowledge only really gives us one small piece and will only get you so far. To truly learn & grow in your field you have to experience and be willing to put yourself out there – try new things & go new places, meet new people, collaborate and be willing to get uncomfortable to truly be comfortable. Often times in your field there are so many different directions you could go, and you won’t know which direction you really want to go until you’ve tried different paths. This is also the lesson of learning yourself, what works for you & what doesn’t and also seeing your natural gifts, talents aligned with your passion. So many times, we may choose to go one direction because we think it’s safer, or others’ opinions have weighed in more than our own. But if you’re willing to be brave and try new things and experience different settings, meet new people, see different ways things are done – that can lead you to a path where you are now more aligned with who you are, what you have to offer – your gifts – and what you’re naturally passionate or lit up about. And success will naturally follow.
You’ll also learn what has worked for others and what hasn’t. You will start to see a way for you to do the thing you really want in a way that works for you.
You have to be willing to fall. Or look like a fool. Basically face your fears. The other side is so wonderful though.
I also believe success lies in connections – in your network. This is another part of putting yourself out there rather than remaining complacent. In meeting new people and new networks you never know where those connections may take you or what they may offer you. Try to approach things with an open mind. You can always decide it isn’t for you or aligned with your own internal vision. But you won’t know until you go, and you’re probably going to learn a lot on the way.
And the most important part of success I believe is being authentic and in tune with yourself. Authentic to yourself, in interactions, how you show up in the world. And that’s between only you and yourself. You have to spend time with yourself in reflection, in connection with yourself, in understanding yourself, your desires, your goals. You are the only one who holds the answers – at one point you have to rely on & trust yourself for your path. It’s really that inner knowledge that is going to open doors. And you have to be willing to go – to do the things when you hear that inner voice speaking. Even when it doesn’t make sense – that’s your intuition. Intuition doesn’t always make sense. You have to learn to trust it.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

During my career as a Pilates Instructor I also merged into an assistant management role – mainly responsible for assisting with things team oriented & some community engagement. I helped train new onboarding staff to get them consistent with the brand & studio class offerings as well as led continuing education and advanced anatomical comprehension & knowledge.
When I obtained the role as Lead Instructor at YogaSix it felt so natural in a way, as looking back it was a lot of the things I did in my Pilates career. And also elements that I value and believe in.
When I merged into the role of Lead at YogaSix, I had a vision for my team. A vision that included collaboration, respect always, positive energy exchange, and ultimately working together for the higher benefit of everyone – the studio, the employees, management, our students.
I think the most important piece in managing a team is to get to know your employees and get to know them on a bit of a deeper level. Observe & know their strengths – reflect that back to them, let them know how well they’re doing & that they are valued for what they offer. Also get to know their weaknesses and hopefully learn to guide them in a way with that knowledge in a way that they are growing past and it is not an issue for the business or corporation and or their performance. I do think there is a line where you may have to cut ties with an employee for the good of all. And hopefully that doesn’t arise, however it’s a two way street. In a management position, it can be tough. You care for your people & as manager you also hold the vision for your business in your vision. You have to learn to balance both and know the negotiables and non negotiables. And hopefully you know those so well that when you hire you’ve already done the background check and investigation work to know if this person will be a good fit with the business or not.
In interactions with employees – Be honest. And in that, share what is relevant, leave what is not. Be sincere and genuinely care for your employees & their best interest. Always lead with praise and what they are doing right. Address concerns 1 or 2 at a time. Look for improvement & praise when there is. You have to be present, consistent to your team and engaged. You employed them for a reason; remember that & gradually introduce growth in the direction you see as their manager. There does have to be a point of letting go, not micromanaging and letting them do. And once realignment has been addressed, you have to give them the space to integrate & show up.
Also hold yourself & them always to the standards of the business. After all, we are the walking talking breathing role model of a business. If we are not operating in that, how & why should we think employees will.
As far as maintaining high morale, I think this is done through first yourself – in how you show up, in how you talk walk and do your act. Your own belief & presence impacts others. And fun group building activities. Hold the continuing education, the staff meetings, the business end of it – but also the fun part of it. Go out for happy hour after. Plan a fun group activity like Top Golf or a Spin Class. Do something out of the ordinary. Allow the space to just be with them without the pressure, the demands of the job itself.
And share. Share the growth of the business and praise them – that’s their hard work and effort that has contributed to that. Energy spreads – good and bad alike. Spread the good stuff as it comes! A good review – praise the employee publicly. A big contract signed or something big happening for the company – share it and include your employees, make them a part of it. They feel special and valued, seen when you do that & part of a bigger something & what you’re all doing together. Celebrate your wins.
One last word for the all of it- Always be aware of yourself. When you’re in the business setting and in any type of interaction your example is always placing an example for all those around you. Have fun, be personable without losing the overhead view of everything else – values, your company’s standards & positive inspiring forward momentum energy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.christinalynnyoga.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinalynn_yoga/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-taalla-98469a51/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristinaLynnYoga
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hBnVfv6ttT2MSrL24KUmq?si=f0fa1a2de1af49bb