We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Isabelle Marie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Isabelle , looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?
When trying to get your foot in the door in your profession and there is uncertainty of how and where to start, the best way is to just jump in head first with good ol’ fashioned risk-taking.
When I first started teaching yoga, I had what is needed for the job- the knowledge, passion, but lacked the wisdom only gained from rolling up your sleeves, a.k.a. life experience.
Life experiences are those things that we are unable to control and that result organically from the byproducts of doing the work, making connections, and building up your own network of resources that not only you have created, but shape and support your own vision.
But when you have what it takes and you know what you want for yourself, it is not easy to be given a chance because you do not have the life experience that would make you as desirable as say an individual who has been working in their profession for many years.
When I began teaching yoga over 20 years ago, I was living in Seattle, Washington where the wellness scene was not only well-established in the Pacific Northwest, but a beacon in the United States. That said, there were numerous wellness practitioners already well established and thriving. I wasn’t sure where I fit in and where to jump in.
I knew I needed to gain more experience teaching and the only way to do it was to just get out and do it. After all that is how you figure things out. So I hit the pavement- literally & figuratively (as this is before being connected with technology). I figured out where I wanted to partner with and marched right in, making myself known. Nowadays, that is mainly done by reaching out through some sort of a platform. I did it the old school way and still prefer the 1:1 face time any day over keyboard warrioring.
I also was super open to trying out new opportunities. My ideal setting to teach is in a studio setting or something in alignment with holding space for students. But when I first started out, I didn’t have the luxury of choosing where I would teach, you take what you can get to gain experience and also get your name out there.
One of my very first opportunities was teaching inmates in the county jail.
Inmates who had proved themselves through good behavior had earned
enrichment activities, including yoga classes.
At that time I was mostly filling in for full-time instructors who needed their classes covered for the short term. I was also in the work-study program at my home studio where I stood by waiting for teaching opportunities to surface. And they did, but mainly in the form of teaching pro-bono in exchange for gaining experience.
So I volunteered to teach yoga to inmates at the county jail. It was not what I envisioned myself doing. I had goals of teaching in a well-lit, open and airy space, smelling like lavender and lingering leftover nag champa incense that most studios seem to be marked with.
The space I led classes for the inmates in was nothing like this… Cold, smelled like a cafeteria, super dirty. Yoga is practiced and taught barefoot. After my very first class, the bottoms of my feet were a silvery charcoal color. For every class ahead, I wore shoes. I learned to adapt. I had a lesson in lowering my expectations especially in environments that are unfamiliar.
I typically offer hands-on adjustments and assists as needed, but in this setting, any physical conduct was off limits as I was unaware of the inmates history. Placing my hands on someone’s body that I did not know- even with the very best intentions, could change on a dime putting myself in a potentially problematic situation. I learned from this how to communicate through my words clearly and succinctly.
Lastly, I also got my first lesson in setting boundaries ultimately leading to me understanding how to take up space and be seen and heard… with respect if I may add. Let me explain a few things about me… I do not exactly have a towering physical presence that commands a room. Coming in hot at a few more than 5’ tall and easily lift-up-able, I am what I refer to as pocket-sized. I don’t take up a lot of space nor do I try to. I prefer to blend into my environments and am most comfortable observing. But since I am a yoga instructor and my profession requires me to engage with others, there is no way to get away from learning how to command a room. If I wanted the inmates I taught at the county prison to take me seriously, I needed to find that confidence I already had inside and use that to be my foundation for the command I would later develop as a leader. So each week I went back and taught. I made many mistakes. There were times when I would instruct something, stumble on words, with a not so graceful recovery. That kind of finesse only comes with the wisdom gained from putting in the time in your field and from life. So I would stumble and the inmates would roast me. I’d leave after each yoga class I “led” feeling defeated, but never questioning my still kindled passion for sharing the goodness of yoga. So I stayed the course. Each week I would return back to the county prison with refined skills and new tricks that I had ironically learned from the inmates I was supposed to be teaching.
The teaching opportunity at the prison was only a short term gig. I was initially interested in it for the sole purpose of padding my resume and my intention was to only teach there long enough to fulfill their contracted position then I would be out as soon as the gig was done.
That entire experience opened up my eyes to so much more. I learned how to hone teaching skills, got a lesson in setting boundaries, and how to have presence in a space so that I can be seen and heard.
I learned what it is like to absolutely suck at something and put yourself out there even when you are getting [figuratively] nailed in the face with a rotten tomato.
So though my initial intention for volunteer teaching was so that I could gain solid experience, I left that gig with much more than I anticipated all because I took a risk on something that I had no attachment ultimately to the outcome. I also grew a bit more into who I would become today. We do that each time we take a chance on something.
That single experience opened up many doors for me. Many from the community heard what I was up to and I began to receive invites to teach karma yoga classes (donation-based) at my home studio. 100% of funds raised would go to a partnership organization. I took particular interest in this relationship and eventually was hooked on the spirit of selfless service, seeking out non-profit organizations that shared the same values such as one of my very first opportunities with Robert Thurman, Founder of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies to the Peace Program at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Along the road of risk taking, I also deepened my own studies, after all I am a committed life-long learner.
My training programs are inspired by my own life and teaching experiences. None of that would have happened if I sat back not taking chances at the random opportunities that always open doors.
Moral of the story. Say yes to new things because what you are really saying is what if and you never know where that will lead you.
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.
Yoga and spirituality was always part of my sphere. My family, in particular my mother’s side, always embraced agnostic and metaphysical, ritual and cultural traditions throughtout our family’s legacy. It was a common sight to walk into my Tía Gabby’s studio & see a picture of Jesus Christ (she was catholic) next to a picture of the Dalai Lama. She prayed with her rosary but also smoothly moved each of the 108 individual mala beads through her fingers in her meditation seat, reciting quietly her mantra given to her by her guru. Gabby was my main teacher in that world. She told me stories of our history, her travels, studies, and only made me more curious about the world around me. I was also a gymnast from basically diapers through all of my teen years. Not only was I always immersed in the world of body movement & its artistic expression, I absolutely loved it. When I started practicing yoga as a child, it was an organic match. Besides how great yoga made me feel, it helped me find my voice in so many ways, stoking my inner flame of purpose.
I have thousands of hours of training under my belt and continue my studies as a lifelong student, stepping away from life and into concentrated immersions and trainings.
All of this has culminated into a curated offerings all informed by the fundamental and ancient teachings of ayurveda, such as many yoga styles: hatha, vinyasa, restorative, yoga nidra, pre + postnatal, youth, pranayama (breathwork), and meditation, and community: outreach: non-profits, private organizations, corporate wellness, events, and high-profile clientele. Helping others achieve their personal wellness goals in pithi bites is my passion and my mission.
What I am most proud of is that I got to where I am by myself mainly by staying committed to my work vision. I took risks, had some huge failures and wins, and learned invaluable lessons along the way. No matter the outcome, I always stayed the course.
I recently moved to beautiful North Lake Tahoe and am looking forward to throwing down roots, connecting with my new community, and most important, continuing to take risks that open doors to new experiences.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Having good social skills- FULL STOP! Honing your social skills tool belt is something that gets easily taken for granted, especially today when we can get away with zero human interaction while completing a full work day, social check-in’s, even exercising while staring at a screen. And it’s not hard or a big ask! So here are some pro-tips that will take you very far:
1. Eye contact, for bonus points, smile!
2. Say Please, Thank You, Sorry, and I love you. Well, the latter is subjective on the situation most certainly and probably not going to be applicable in a work setting. BUT, still good ones to add to the superstar social skills bucket.
3. Follow-up. This is a big one that gets missed. That simple follow up after a big connection is the difference between creating a long-lasting relationship and losing all the momentum from the moment only to fall flat, making it difficult to rekindle later on. Not following up is also a good way for a prospect to lose trust that you would be reliable and very easy for you to get passed up. So get after it or someone else will.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The willingness to take risks in my career are definitely what has made me stand out. I don’t place limitations on myself or adhere to a certain way things should be done. I love making new connections, finding common ground, & creating new experiences that if I had played safe, I would never learn about. Each new endeavor has resulted in my career taking little unexpected pivots that have positively shaped who I also am today. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.isabellemarie.com
Image Credits
Thu Tran/ 2TPhoto Tayler Carlisle