We recently connected with Kendra Shae-Marie Mullings and have shared our conversation below.

Kendra Shae-Marie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I was single mom of 2 with a successful corporate career that provided a great material life for myself and my children. Everyone applauded my success and it was really great on paper. In reality my children were sleeping when I left for work and sleeping when I returned. I pacified them with material things on the weekends so I could work. Off paper I was extremely unhappy and suicidal.

Yoga was a practice I had turned to in times of crisis since my late teens but I only understood it as physical exercise. One day I found myself in deep emotional crisis and knew instinctively that it was a life or death moment in the truest sense. Over the course of a week I resigned from my job, dumped my long term boyfriend, gutted my closets, pantry and entire home of any and everything that didn’t serve or existed in unnecessary excess. All the while practicing yoga but in a way I never had before, I was being instructed from within.

Then of course I had my now what moment which was made far worse by family friends who questioned my sanity and how the kids and I would survive. I questioned my own sanity and I really wasn’t sure how I would provide but I knew I could breathe again, I could eat, I could sleep and I wanted to live, just differently. I actually felt full, alive and energetic. I couldn’t believe how dull I had become in the pursuit of a better life.

I gutted my living room and started a free or by donation yoga studio in my home where I offered practice teaching. Some weeks I made hundreds of dollars, some weeks I made nothing. Every week I was more sure that this was for me. I signed up for my first yoga teacher training and took many courses, seminars and conferences to supplement my ever deeper independent dive into all things yogic, esoteric and occult.

On March 2, 2017 I experienced third eye reopening. This led to a complete life transformation. I credit remaining in sanity through the reconnection to inner wisdom to the time spent at Karma Teachers, Vancouver, Canada. There, in a circle of eight women I call sisters, I was given a safe and brave space to fall apart and put herself back together again, all the while supported by wonderful teachers and unconditional love. I learned that vulnerability is strength
and so I am not shy about sharing my lived experiences, from childhood sexual abuse to under age stripper to teenage mother and then some. I am now very open because I knows what it is to feel alone and want people to know that no matter the situation, they are never alone. I learned that we have the ability to heal ourselves.

KendraYoga Center is now ten years old. We embody whole-life wellness. KendraYoga is racial justice, education justice, gender justice, food justice and so much more. We are a life line in our community wether the need is spiritual or external. The practices shared are those that have helped me along my self-healing journey.

My business idea came up with me and fills a need within me to live my most authentic life without societal limitations or restrictions. It was life saving. I enjoy sharing my yoga practice, writings, paintings, singing, and dancing with all as well as spending time with my family. My goal is for my life to be a contribution to joy, love, peace, bliss, abundance, and liberation for all.

-K

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.

KendraYoga Center is owned and operated by the Mullings-Tatum-Cameron family of Georgina, York Region, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 2014 and is committed to making yogic, esoteric and whole-life wellness practices accessible. They offer all branches of yoga practice, massage therapy and alternative complimentary practices.

KendraYoga Center has some offerings that are free or by donation, in any case one is never turned away based on financial ability. They offer safe, brave and nurturing spaces where self-healing can begin. They also bring Yoga practice to schools, daycares, offices, resorts, private functions and public events. They facilitate kids yoga day camps, teacher trainings, workshops and conferences.

KendraYoga Center stands firm in their conviction that yoga MUST include social, racial, education and gender justice. These convictions are upheld by the other businesses and initiatives under the KendraYoga Center umbrella such as The Blue Butterfly Shop, The York North Conference, Georgina Black Excellence Society, Black Saturday School and A Community Within Our Communities LGBTQ2S+ Youth Panels.

They are continuously grateful for the support shown by their community and beyond.

@bluebutterfyshops
@yorknorthyogaconference
@g.b.e.s_
@blacksaturdayschool
@intersectionacwoc

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

We have built a reputation in our community by being authentic, community centered and willing give back.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The pivoting at KendraYoga Center is constant. Our willingness to pivot is at the root of our longevity. We constantly try new out new ideas with a willingness to let go of anything that isn’t working.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kendrayogacenter
• Facebook: @KendraYoga

Image Credits
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