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

Alright, Grace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Embodhi turned out to be very much intentional, even if that wasn’t necessarily the plan! Hahaha. After quitting my corporate career in property management and beginning yoga full-time, I had decided on “Yogabygracie, LLC.” At the possibility of opening a studio months later, I began to play around with yoga names, researching spiritual names, and “embody” popped up. It stuck with me, I begin to play around with ways I could spell it, and came up with “Embodhi.” It wasn’t until I opened realized the name was the overall mission of the studio. Yoga is seen in so many different ways, lights, and some as sort of a “members-only” club. People can feel like their are prerequisites of the practice, or may feel intimidated practicing among others. Embodhi is a space where you can be unapologetically you. Find your practice within yourself, what feels good honoring yourself, your body. How do you Embodhi yoga?

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.

Have you ever taken a deep breath, and used it to relax your entire body? Yeah, that’s yoga! So many want to practice, or are intrigued, but allow the images they see, or think they have to “study” the practice before they start. Not true! While living in Atlanta years ago, a friend of mine asked if I wanted to try yoga. After getting to the studio, I realized it was actually “hot yoga,” a room of 90 degrees! Had no clue it would change my life. Yoga teaches us how to respond to our environment, not react. Going through a divorce, while becoming a caretaker of my mother, in addition to a 4 year old, yoga was my outlet. Moving back to North Carolina, practicing at Midtown Yoga, I was invited to gain certification. Teaching yoga, inspires me as a student and even more as a teacher, allowing a deeper connection within my community, as well as myself. Embodhi Yoga teachers are students first! The practice starts with us, as we bring it to you. We offer various classes through the week, including our signature class Embodhi flow, a 60 minute hot yoga class, linking poses through variations, incorporating music for a creative yoga flow. Other classes include core and strength, deep stretch and restore, meditation classes, as well as our “Micro flow,” taking a steadier pace with foundational poses, great for beginners! We offer workshops throughout the month and events, including Happy Hour with Yimosas (Mimosas) every First Friday of the month.
At Embodhi, all are welcome to practice yoga. Our teachers teach to the midline, meaning we teach to whom is in the room! We encourage modifications if needed while saving space for advanced poses if wanted. Embodhi is your space to go inward, and practice by honoring your body. I am most proud of having students comfortable enough to try advanced level poses, along with students who may choose to lay on their mat the entire time. I am extremely proud of this community! It is more than I could have imagined. I want students to understand that yoga is YOUR practice. You don’t have to be flexible, nor have a specific body type, nor background to practice. Practice is the key word, consistency helps with progress! Have a child like curiosity as to where this practice can take you, it is totally within your reach. Yoga practice can not only change your mindset while reducing anxiety, in addition to reducing muscle pain, increasing blood flow and oxygen, and inducing relaxation. One of my favorite quotes is “The magic yo are looking for, is in the work you are avoiding.” Love!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I am completely authentic. We are sometimes taught to look, act, or simply be a specific way in order to be successful. Finding purpose in what I love doing, and connecting with so many people, I am an open person. We as a society are so much more alike than we think, as I tend to teach what I have been practicing, or what has been resonating in my life in that given time. I have found being open and transparent, in most cases resonates with others! Be you, be fun, be creative, be transparent. Whatever it is, just be you. The love will shine through.

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

Teaching Chair Yoga was not intentional, however, has been a part of my practice for a year now! A student from the previous studio I taught at contacted me in requesting private yoga sessions for her mother. Her mother had recently completed physical rehabilitation, and was experiencing muscle fatigue and struggling with equilibrium amongst other things. When asking her mother what her goals and limitations were at the time, it was mainly balance, She had of goal of traveling with family overseas, and wanted to be as independent as possible. However, she wasn’t sure if she could manage getting down on the mat, and back up. Only teaching a little over a year, I had no clue how to proceed! Then I remembered a friend had given me a book on Chair Yoga some months prior. After reading and researching, I realized Chair Yoga would be our beginning. We spent the first 4 months practicing breath and core activation. We used the chair to activate certain muscles in her legs, while engaging core poses in our workouts. We worked to standing without assistance, first using momentum from rocking, Eventually we began standing, then squatting to hover over the chair, back to standing. I am so proud to say that we have now been working outside the chair for the last 6 months, now using basic foundational poses while standing, only utilizing the chair for balancing poses. I am so freaking proud of Miss Susan, her work, and dedication. She is so strong, and now more independent. Happy one year anniversary to her, and I cannot wait to see what’s to come year 2!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.embodhiyogastudios.com
• Instagram: @embodhiyogastudios.com
• Facebook: @Embodhiyogastudios
• Linkedin: @embodhiyogastudio
• Twitter: @yogabygracie

Image Credits
Katrinawizephotography