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

LaAlishia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Has Covid resulted in any major changes to your business model?

Before the world shut down due to Covid, I had decided to expand my business. Business was booming, and I never turned a customer away. The only downfall was the lack of a social life. I taught group yoga 4-5 days each week, scheduled microblading sessions afterwards, and still found time to include private yoga classes. Keep in mind, I still had a full-time job! Needless to say, I was on a mission! I had no days off.

Then Covid shattered my world! It was clear that business could not continue as usual. Once all the restrictions came into place, I had no choice but to sit, hope, and come up with a plan. Even though I was not able to work my full-time job, I realized that, with some technology and ingenuity, I could still teach yoga. As I did this for some months, I starting teaching a little less so that I could rest and recognize the plan God had for me. During this down time, I focused on what I was missing in both of my businesses. I made a list of goals. I spent time reflecting on my future. What did I want out of this? Where did I see my business going? Is this something I really enjoy? How can my business help others? My purpose was reconfirmed. I’m here to make people smile. I want people to feel beautiful inside and out.

During the shutdown, clients were begging for services. Whether they had gained a little weight, were concerned about their appearance on Zoom, or just had the free time, clients continued to need my services. Like many others, I used Zoom to teach yoga. This allowed me to expand my hours , having sunrise and early morning classes, as well as evening classes that didn’t require clients to travel long distances, and allowed many to include their children and spouses. I encouraged clients mediate, use mantras for self care, and to focus on their inner energy, inner beauty, and peace of mind.

Eventually, as restrictions began to lift, I hesitantly began providing in-person services. I was sure to require masks, have sanitizing stations, limit the number of clients, and eventually, required evidence of immunization. I encouraged my clients to be safe, use PPE, and remember healthy habits so that they would eventually emerge from this shutdown in better shape than when it started. Throughout all that, Covid taught me that I needed structure, to make time for my peace of mind and growth. Covid allowed my business to grow in ways I never considered and forced me to move outside of my comfort zone.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

FOUNDER | INSTRUCTOR

Alishia Gilbert has always had a positive and growing presence around Atlanta. This yoga enthusiast and all-around athlete of over 20 years, is constantly finding new ways to connect others with peace, inner beauty, and improved health. After the heartbreaking death of her father, Alishia began to make a healthy lifestyle a top priority while finding her inner beauty. She was introduced to yoga several years ago, quickly adapting it to her fitness routine. Her company, La’s Beauty and Wellness, was birthed from the idea of carefully building the total person.

La’s Beauty and Wellness is a premier health and wellness company with an edge. We focus on being healthy and improving the mind, body, and spirit through other health-related products and services. I offer microblading, Henna brows, Ombre brows, body sculpting (e.g. ultrasonic cavitation, cellulite treatment, butt enhancers, laser lipo).

La’s Beauty and Wellness continues to establish itself throughout the Metropolitan Atlanta area by educating people to become a better you. She understands that the most efficient way to help others improve their lives is by remaining devoted to always striving to become better herself.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I have always been very active. I played basketball, was a dancer with my high school marching band, and had been a part of a competitive cheer team since elementary school. I was always expected to exercise and train nonstop. I was expected to push through the pain.

As a student, full-time employee, and someone that enjoyed socializing and dating, I struggled with stress, fluctuating weight gain and loss, anxiety, and relationship drama.

I knew that I needed to focus on my health and mental wellness. At some point, a friend told me about yoga. I did my research and learned that yoga offered a good workout and helped you to focus and find peace. I took my first class and I fell in love immediately. With each class, I learned that exercise, stability, and being centered was still possible without endless visits to the gym, sharing sweaty, questionable machines, paying extreme fees, and then feeling inadequate once there, and guilty after missing days.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Being in my comfort zone. I couldn’t grow I needed to be hungrier so I can expand.

Contact Info:

• Website: Laswellness.com
• Instagram: @lasbeautynwellnes
• Facebook: La’s Microblading
• Other: @Laslotus88

Image Credits
@Tunnelvisionatl