We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Devari Tolliver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Devari, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Over a year ago a took a risk on myself with motivation from others and people who enjoyed and believed in the energy I was giving by creating my own cardio dance platform and establishing my business as Devotion to Health and Fitness LLC in 2022. I was actually fired from the dance studio I was working at after I had placed a resignation letter with a date in mind. The dance studio manager decided to push my date forward and end classes.
So with an amazing group of individuals who supported my vision I began my own classes “DanceWerk”. DanceWerk is described as freedom to dance with no rules; only the rules you decide. The routines are created to be fun, free flowing, and yet challenging, creative with a variety of music genres. The dance moves and exercises are created with modifications and flexibility to meet your personal need.
With this risk, I started instructing classes at a small location in the Crenshaw area. Since I took this risk with support from several indivduals, I was able to understand my purpose and what consistency truly means then building a brand.
I am now in the process of establishing a business partnership at the same dance studio my classes are currently held in Los Angeles, CA.
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.
Meeting me and getting to know me is understanding the vision and mission of Devotion to Health and Fitness LLC. Devotion to Health and Fitness LLC represents my heart and soul. I have a strong love for the community I serve in South Los Angeles. Being aware and conscious of the energy around me and also within the community that has endured oppression and systemic circumstances that inhibited our knowledge of self and has contributed to self-destruction gives me the courage to motivate others especially other women to no longer normalize depression, obesity, feeling sick, or feeling a lack of energy. Devotion to Health and Fitness LLC also represents my past, present, and future. In the community or in general people have developed illness as an effect from our emotional wounds and addictions. We were not taught to use healthier modalities to cope with trauma or negative feelings. Devotion to Health and Fitness LLC is not just about “DanceWerk”, working out and Colon Hydrotherapy but about building a community that consciously develops the skills and knowledge to live harmoniously in happiness and create self-love. I lead and instruct weekly cardio dance fitness classes that have kick ass music and target the full body. My classes also enhance cardio-strength while building and developing muscle strength. I use music that has a feel good energy with a positive message. My classes are for everyone and all fitness levels. I create a free space for individuals to be “who they are”. I provide modifications to each move or exercise while simultaneously encouraging individuals to challenge themselves. Colon Hydrotherapy is my saving grace which helps others understand cleansing the body helps with releasing waste. Cleansing the body releases not only waste but triggers to release what we are holding on too within our organs which is a reflection of emotional wounds, pain, or trauma. This holistic practice has been around for centuries, however, people have no knowledge that we are capable of taking responsibility of our health and wellness. Not waiting for someone to tell us about our health but engaging in practices that are preventative and healing to the mind, body, and spirit.
Devotion to Health and Fitness LLC will soon expand and launch one location where services and classes will be held to serve the community. Classes will also be mobile and be held at varies locations. Currently, you can find my colonic services in South Los Angeles at a private suite with flexible hours and classes at a location in South Los Angeles on Tuesday and Thursdays at 7pm for 60 minutes.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Growing and Developing Devotion to Health and Fitness LLC has been challenging yet amazingly rewarding. DanceWerk classes have developed naturally over the past year by word of mouth or by touching the experience. What does touching the experience of freedom feel like when your in your reality of working daily and caring for the family. People need an escape to be great and experience their inner “Diva” or “Hot Girl”. My focus to gain clientele and members has been pure by serving the community in the highest capacity which will attract whom is suppose to access the space at this specific time.
You can find information about Devotion to Health and Fitness (Classes and Wellness Services) on my website (devotiontohealthandfitness.com and IG: devotiontoheatlh.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Two books I am currently diving into has been The Kabblion” and “The Maps of Consciousness”. Understanding the level of energy and vibration that is attractive although all energy can be contagious. My entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy has been impacted by these two books in understanding a can create any construct and energy in my class and service model. The Kaballion impacts my grown and understanding in the duality of anything (pros and cons) and that each object or energy source has two sides of the same coin.
“The Maps of Consciousness” has been a heart felt read; reminding me that each being on earth is functioning at some type of level of consciousness and some individuals are lower and higher than “I”. How can my energy be contagious in brightening the room and aspiring others to be motivated to feel freedom in the mind. “Let loose!’ and be in a blissful high by accessing our natural endorphins that kick in dopamine of our brains9ol!
Contact Info:
- Website: devotiontohealthandfitness.com
- Instagram: devotiontohealth