We were lucky to catch up with Kyla Hallums recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyla , thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

2021 i led my first ever empowerment retreat in Costa Rica! I only had 4 people sign up and was going to lose money, but I decided to take the risk. I knew I wanted to lead retreats and follow this new path of empowering people but I was TERRIFIED. I put things on my credit card and made it work. The retreat turned out to be truly life altering for each participant, I trusted my gut and jumped into the deep end and I made it work! Now each of those participants have returned for more (sold out) retreats, and one of them even flew me out to her home to work with her privately!! Trusting myself and just doing the damn thing on that first retreat is what has propelled me to be where I am now, and I wouldn’t change a thing 🩵

Kyla , 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?

I had life saving open heart surgery on September 1, 2013. When I woke up from that surgery I knew something had to change. I knew I was meant for more but I had no idea where to start. I went to a salsa dancing class, and so it began! I was OBSESSED. I went to every class that was available and immersed myself in dancing. It was the first time I ever felt like my body could be beautiful. I always felt like an ugly duckling, but when I moved it felt natural I knew I could become a good dancer. I realized that for me dance was what brought me to myself. Dance is where I healed, so I wanted to make it my job to help heal people with dance/movement. I wanted to create spaces and containers where people could wake themselves up instead of needing life saving surgery to wake you up to living a beautiful life. I feel most proud of my gift of being able to bring people back to themselves. I don’t offer any specific program or blueprint to my clients. I simply create a space for them to begin to believe they can have the life they want. The work is up to them. I feel most proud of the long list of success stories from my clients. That their success and growth is in credit to them, not me. It’s not about me, I just create the space. I’ve worked really hard to learn how to create that space and I am so proud to know how many people it has helped. People usually come to Baila with Kyla to dance, but they find that there is so much more beyond the movement. 💕

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Share share share and share again! The trick to social media (for me) is not thinking too hard. If I get inspired I post about it. If it hits me at 2am I post at 2am. Being committed to vulnerably sharing who you are is so important people want to see something REAL something that makes them feel things. When I dance I dance for the 20 year old version of myself that hated her body and wouldn’t dream of expressing herself fully. People can feel how connected I am through the screen because it’s real, Dance saved me. So find the thing that makes you feel and share it with an open heart. And know that when you do that some people will hate you for it. That’s okay, do it anyway. P.s. don’t look at the comments too often. And have good friends that remind you to stay out of the comments when you go viral. Keep sharing, be real, and be you. 🩵

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’m really not a reader honestly. I want to be, and I love the idea of it but I’m just not. However, the book the four agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz shifted my life. I read it a few times a year because adhering to those 4 agreements has made my life so much more peaceful. I think that book (when someone is ready for it) can change everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: Bailawithkyla.com
• Instagram: @bailawithkyla
• Facebook: @bailawithkyla