We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Evan Lee Breed a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Evan Lee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

When I found out I was pregnant in Tulum Mexico!

After an impressive 16 year career at the executive celebrity and top tier fitness in NYC I was burnt out!

I was a workaholic doing the grind EVERYDAY and hustling everywhere I went. My mentality was go, go, GO.
After saying goodbye to NYC, and dropping into the healing of Mexico, I became pregnant at 40!

Anyone that knows me has heard me say that being a mother was something I felt innately built for but I was living a single life focused on my career. I wasn’t sure if having a child was in the cards – especially as I got “older.”

I did not set out to be an independent mama and I hoped there was time to do things the “traditional way” – being with someone you love, having the house, money, job, etc. Turns out the universe has divine timing and I’m doing things a little differently.

Although it’s one of the scariest decisions probably in my life, I am blessed with a beautiful support system of family and friends so I chose to have the courage have my baby. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind when I found out I was pregnant.

Of course there are many challenges within motherhood and as a new solo mama sometimes I feel overwhelmed, drained, exhausted, and isolated – bit since have my sweet Cielo, I could not even begin to imagine life without her!

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

I have an impressive career spanning 16 years at a top executive and celebrity level, starting out as a principal dancer for Vissi Dance Theater (NYC) for 8 years, performing Modern, House, Contemporary, and African works all over New York City and Internationally.

In 2007 I became a Certified Classical Pilates Instructor licensed to train students on all pilates equipment.

From 2009 – 2018 I worked as a Master Trainer of the Tracy Anderson Method where I inspired, affected, and changed lives daily. My work has taken me all over the world training some of the most influential people including; Naomi Campbell, Gwyneth Paltrow, JLO, Robert Downey Jr., Emma Watson, Kim Kardashian, Rose McGowan, & Olivia Wilde, which lead me to being cast in HBO’s critically acclaimed GIRLS and can be seen on the Season Premiere for the final season.

After a near decade in dance fitness, I traveled to Bali to receive my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in 2018. While there, I landed the position of Executive Director of Global Talent & Training for Pvolve. In 2 years I successfully scaled the method and training program to prepare the company to move to flagship studios in NYC, Chicago, and LA.

In 2021, while pregnant with my daughter, I received her 85hr Prenatal YTT and successfully launched Heavenly Bodies Prenatal Project. The on-demand Prenatal movement program is designed to safely strengthen the expectant Mama for the body changes experienced in pregnancy, and is safe for all trimesters.

After 16 years in New York City, I was called to Tulum Mexico where I taught at Holistika Wellness Center – leveraging my experience to deliver a high caliber of fitness to the growing Tulum metropolis. It was in Mexico that I began aligning my movement practice with the moon cycles and is where Moon + Moves was born launching SOON. Moon + Moves is a movement based program designed to sync women to the rhythms of the Moon so they may produce powerful results in their lives and bodies harnessing the power of the Moon.

It was also in Tulum that I intersected with AIR Bar Fit and am excited to now be an instructor on the platform. To find a like- minded colleague in the industry is such a dream come true and the work we’ve done together so far is truly groundbreaking!

I wasn’t aligned with the “top” fitness brands I had been committed to, so I chose to take the time to craft my own original style.

I had subscribed to the belief that in order to be healthy and fit, I needed to use heavy weights, contraptions, elevated heat, and hard core movements. In the fitness industry, I was literally asked to hire models as trainers and fitness models for some of the top brands. It felt misleading and fed into the culture of “thigh gap”, “new year new you”, “runway lines”, “summer bodies”.

I knew those were not beliefs I wanted to participate in any longer and after the pandemic, leaving NYC and moving to Mexico, I finally had time to reflect on my own practices, beliefs, and the impact I wanted to make on my clients and the world.

I provide a humanness throughout my personal and professional life. I aspire to inspire and want to keep people motivated whether that’s through Mamahood, Music, Movement, or Travel

I create and design programs for classes and clients that speak to each person individually or inspires the masses; embodying anatomical intelligence, musicality, and creativity by sequencing dynamic, toning, and sculpting workouts using light hand weights, light ankle weights, yoga blocks, or no equipment at all.

I have created a movement practice that is functional, intentional and effective so that others feel empowered and in alignment with the universal flow. The movement is special, original, authentic, and will leave you feeling energized, excited, and motivated with your endorphins SINGING – moving your body in a way that brings you JOY while still feeling strong and fit. My clients leave having a full body experience with all the senses stimulated and wanting more.

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

When COVID hit the world I moved to Tulum. It was as if the virus didn’t exist there! I went alone and was terrified but once I touched down into the healing vibes of Mexico I was in literal paradise. I thought my story was unique until I heard everyone telling the story. It was if everyone from NYC and LA moved to Mexico.

The magical synchronicities of Tulum are unreal. I made the best of friends in the 6 months I lived there, Kiya Knight of AIR Bar Fit being one of them.

We met at Holistika Wellness Center at the cafe after I taught my class and we knew we had to work together. I took her class at Selena when I had just found out I was pregnant with my daughter. Now we laugh because she wondered if I had a little belly from drinking too many cervezas and eating too many tacos!

Who knew that 2 years later we would be collaborating fitness choreographers!!

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

Throughout my entire movement career I have experienced resilience. I’ve been known to start at the bottom then make it to the top.

I began dancing when I was in high school and fell in LOVE! I knew it was risky choosing dance as a career, especially with little training, but I mustered up the courage to audition for one of the top 3 dance colleges in the country. With minimal dance experience I did the best I could. The ballet part of the audition process was the most humbling, but when it was time for solo freestyle I busted out my gymnastics skills – and I GOT IN!

I was in all of the beginner dance classes freshman year but by the time I graduated I moved up to all advanced classes and was performing on stage alongside the most talented dancers in the college.

When I moved to NYC I struggled financially as a Pro dancer then by the time I left the city I was an Executive Director making 6 figures!

For my journey, I put in the work and had perhaps more failures then victory’s but I kept it moving. I experienced a ton of rejection in the dance and fitness industry but I did my best to not compare myself to anyone else or take anything personally.

The beauty of growth is I remain a work in progress. I try my best to not talk about what I’m going to do but be about the action and go for it. I walk it like I talk it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.airbarfit.com/evan-lee-breed
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanleebreed/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evan.breed
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYpoFFtBe4PifxcI_D54y7Q
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/evan-lee-breed/

Image Credits
Jenna Duffy Anthony Tudisco Matteo Matty Matt