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

Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Back in 2012 I was let go from my corporate job. At the time I had been teaching cardio classes for fun and extra income. I had just started discovering yoga a few years prior due to various minor injuries that slowed me down. When I left the corporate world I knew it was for the best, but my confidence took a hit. I definitely shed some tears in yoga during savasana, but I also felt the practice was helping me release and heal. I decided to be done with the corporate world and take a local 200 hour yoga teacher training. This was a huge risk leaving guaranteed income to then spend money on a yoga training and not be certain if I would secure work afterwards. It was the best decision I ever made! My yoga and wellness career took off and lead me further down the path of healing and sharing this with others. I left corporate and have never looked back realizing that this is truly my calling. I feel blessed to guide others down this path of stillness and healing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started my fitness journey in 1998 teaching cardio kickboxing and I still teach it today. When I found out I could make money, get fit and work with people I was sold. I continued teaching as a hobby until 2012 when I decided to make fitness and yoga a career.

I did my first training locally in Portland, Maine in 2012 and to further my education in 2015 I joined Kranti Yoga school in Goa, India. India is the birth place of yoga so I wanted to go to the source of the practice to deepen my knowledge. There I fully embraced the culture, food and traditions that encompass a deep yoga practice. This training pushed me beyond my limits cultivating deep knowledge of classical yoga. Ashtanga is a rigorous practice of a set series of postures and if done daily will cleanse the mind and tone the body. Having this deep knowledge of yoga, India and the traditions sets me apart in my industry. My teachings, music and practice are in line with traditional India based yoga practices.

One accomplishment I am extremely proud of is Indigo Sol Retreats. My business partner Jen Pike and I created Yoga and Wellness retreats that encompass healing through Yoga and Reiki in desirable locations. Currently we offer 2 retreats one in Saint Augustine, FL and one in Saco, Maine. These include daily yoga, SUP yoga, Reiki treatments, Meditations and Sound Healing. We keep these retreats small and intimate so we can truly get to know each one of our guests and offer them the healing they truly desire. When you travel with ISR you travel with friends. indigosolretreats.com

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

Yoga is not a competitive sport! When I first practiced yoga I approached it from a competitive stand point. Having been in fitness for years and playing sports as a child I figured it was like any other activity. I was wrong! Yoga is about cultivating self awareness, listening to your body and taking your gaze inward. Rather than comparing yourself to those practicing around you challenge yourself and grow with your practice. They call it a practice for a reason as with anything it takes time and effort. But, the best part is you can go at your own pace and modify when you need to.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Jen Pike and I met in ballet dance class when we were 6 years old. We have been in and out of each others lives ever since then. We both initially went in different directions with our careers, I was in travel and Jen was in business. But, that voice inside our heads kept nudging us both to follow a career in wellness and healing. Jen and I did our Reiki training together and realized we both love to heal and work with others. That is why in 2024 we opened our Yoga Retreat business Indigo Sol Retreats. Sometimes you take the long way to arrive at your destination, but its not about how long it took to get there it is about the journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: indigosolretreats/com
• Instagram: indigosolretreats
• Facebook: Indigo Sol Retreats
• Linkedin: Erin Collins Kimball

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