We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Farris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kimberly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

A defining moment for me was getting to a place in life where I questioned whether I am moving with purpose. I have excelled in my field as a Health Scientist, but I am still not quite fulfilled. Prior to the pandemic, I’d identified a yoga studio where I wanted to start my yoga teacher training. Unfortunately, the studio closed and I started the process all over again of finding a studio and training program. Once the world began to open up and the opportunity to enroll and complete teacher training arose, I knew that I could not let the opportunity go by.

Kimberly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kimberly Farris and I am the owner of Kymistri Wellness, LLC, which centers around yoga, meditation, and wellness, based in Atlanta, GA. I am also a Health Scientist, working in the areas of diabetes prevention and management services. Over my career, I’ve worked in non-profit organizations, university settings, and government. My goal in creating Kymistri Wellness, is to provide a safe space for women of color to meet me on the yoga mat so that we can move, breathe, and rest together. I am a 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and a Certified Sound Practitioner, using various sound instruments such as crystal singing bowls, gongs, ocean drums, chimes, and other instruments for meditation and healing.

My yoga teacher training was centered around Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative yoga. The Vinyasa flow focuses on linking breaths to movements. Yin yoga is a slow-placed style focusing on longer holds of postures and is meditative in nature. Restorative yoga is a restful practice, focusing on slowing down and opening the body through passive stretching. Finally, sound therapy, sometimes referred to as sound healing sessions, uses music, various tones, and vibrations to balance the mind, body, and spirit, while also creating a therapeutic atmosphere for an emotional release, deep rest, and rebalancing of the nervous system. I curate my sessions to meet the needs of the students.

I found yoga as an alternative workout than the traditional gym even though it was difficult to find a welcoming community. Many times, I was the only person of color in the room; however, I used the practice to release and recharge my mind, body, and spirit. Recognizing these benefits spurred me to create a community for women who look like me who also shared similar life experiences. As a Black woman, my lived experience includes, but is not limited to, dealing with racism, discrimination, and marginalization in the workplace and in many cases, society depending on the place where you live, work, and play. Yoga and sound in the Kymistri Wellness community is welcoming and supportive. There’s something special and powerful about looking around the room and seeing teachers and other women practicing that look like you.

As I consider what I’m most proud of regarding Kymistri Wellness as a business and brand is the purposeful intention that I used as I was creating and bringing my dream into fruition. It’s easy to look around and think that there may not be room for your business, but each person is unique and brings a different perspective to the table (or in my case, to the yoga mat).

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

After completing my yoga teacher training, I became a member of Yoga Alliance as a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). This membership requires me to complete a number of teaching and professional development hours during a specific timeframe. I was blessed with the immediate opportunity to teach at the studio where I trained. This allowed me to apply what I learned, and to grow my own style of teaching and flow in a comfortable and familiar setting. I also began offering private and semi-private sessions, as well as small and larger groups in various settings, which has challenged me to become a more diverse teacher. What I mean by this is depending on the setting, whether the individual(s) are novice or advanced, as well as the energy in the room, I use what I’ve learned, what I’ve experienced, as well as new skills learned through professional development to help me deepen my own practice as well as guiding others on their unique journey.

From enrolling in Sound and Vibrational Practitioner training to Mindfulness Training, and other courses and hands-on training that I have on my list will help me to share what I’ve learned with my community. One of the most important things that matters most in succeeding in this area is being authentic and true to myself as a lifelong student and teacher. Understanding that every individual comes to their mat for their own reason. Yoga represents different things to different people; therefore, flexibility as a teacher to meet students where they are in a space that is non-judgmental, welcoming, and safe.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Growing a business, especially one that is totally new and different from what I’ve previously done is a little scary. I’m learning to give myself grace and to pivot when necessary and to not feel badly about it. I am not in a race or in competition with anyone else. One of my current challenges is creating and posting content on social media to increase my following and engage my audience. I follow a number of individuals I think of as yoga influencers and I love their content so much so that it can feel intimidating. Recognizing there’s room for all has encouraged me to compete against no one else but myself.

However. this isn’t the first time that I’ve changed directions in my career (aka my big girl job) and personal life, as well. Each time I changed directions, it wasn’t long after that the universe showed me that change was needed. Kymistri Wellness LLC is a relatively new venture and it will take time to nurture and grow. I get excited thinking about where this road will lead.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kymistriwellness.com
• Instagram: @kymistri_wellness
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KymistriWellness
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/kymistri-wellness-llc

Image Credits
Natosha McCrary, Owner of Amour De Soul Photography