We recently connected with Lindsay Hess and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsay , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

The doorway into my current field started after becoming a certified yoga teacher. I live in a place with a pretty saturated yoga market and so getting a foot in the door and creating a name for myself was going to be tough. At that time, I decided that if it was going to be tough anyways, I might as well create everything from the ground up myself. I chose to go out on my own from the very beginning. I found a little art studio to teach yoga classes in at night. I had no idea how to run a business at that time, no community or following. I remember actually being scared that if I listed myself on google, too many people would come, so ironically, I held myself back out of fear of being “too successful”. I would sit there, in this little studio, night after night when nobody would show up, asking myself what I was thinking. Questioning if I should have just gone the traditional yoga studio route. I remember saying to myself, “someday, I’m going to be so happy I did this. Someday, I’m going to have an entire community, where my classes are full and people are eager to learn from me.” It took years, but it finally happened. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every step of the way was there for a reason and helped me grow as a person and within my own journey. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today without all of the hardship. Im grateful for every part of my story.

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.

What led me to my current industry, was my own healing journey. At 24 years old I lost my Mom suddenly to a heart complication. This resulted in immense grief and surfaced an array of unresolved trauma that I had no choice but to face at that time. Yin yoga, sound healing, breathwork, self study and somatic processing were all the experiences that aligned with me as I was working through this period of time. Once I realized how this changed my life, I passionately chose to devote myself to helping others unlock their own potential in the same way. I have since become a trauma aware somatic practitioner, helping those struggling with grief, burnout and complex trauma recovery towards a place of nervous system regulation. I help people get unstuck in body, mind, and life.

Currently, I host Yin Yoga classes, Sound Baths and Somatic Breathwork events across northern Colorado. I offer group and one on one lifestyle coaching programs in addition to yoga teacher mentorship and training programs. I bring together all of these somatic modalities at my retreats that span nationwide and internationally. I am passionate about building community and helping people become the best version of themselves. My hope is that this knowledge expands outward and impacts change across various communities of people.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I have helped countless students on their path to becoming yoga teachers. It’s very common for many new teachers to feel a sense of imposter syndrome after completing their training. Making lifestyle changes is hard, and isn’t something that happens right away. During this time while a new teacher is still trying to integrate their own practice, it can seem intimidating to be guiding others through their own change. In order to be successful in this field as any healing practitioner, one must learn to consistently show up for themselves, while also being gentle and kind to themselves on the days they don’t. Take a moment to remember that you are human. And it’s in that humanness, that you will inspire others. Live and share your life authentically, on both the good and the bad days. It is within those times that you will grow and transform. Trust. Nobody else is you, and that is exactly what’s going to make you successful!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Stop worrying about what anybody else is doing! In the early years of my business I was too absorbed paying attention to everyone else. Doing all the market research, seeing who was doing what. Pay enough attention that you allow yourself to be inspired. But beyond that, you are only wasting the energy that you could be spent investing into the next version of you. When you feel yourself stuck in this space, read a book, start a program, work with a coach, or join a community. We are much more inspired to be of service to others, when we invest into ourselves first. Everything you do adds to the canvas you are creating. Thinking that anybody else is competing with you, is simply a waste of time and energy. Go put that energy into creating your own authentic expression in this world by living what you teach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wanderlotusyogaandwellness.com/
• Instagram: @wanderlotuswellness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderlotusyoga
• Linkedin: Wanderlotus Yoga and Wellness

Image Credits
Shawna Stanley Katt Isbey