We recently connected with Lisa Feder and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I can’t say that there is one defining moment in my career, or careers, really, as there have been several over the past nearly 40 years. What I can tell you is that there is a defining theme, which is to “try again”. This theme began in high school, when I tried out for the Modern Dance Club, which was my singular goal in life at that time. It didn’t occur to me that I wouldn’t get in, even though most people who tried out didn’t. I had been a dancer and a gymnast–I was getting in. Until I didn’t. They had their reasons, and that was that. I was devastated. After I nursed my bruised pride back to health, I decided to go for it again the next year, using the feedback from the first tryouts to hone my audition. Yep, second time was the charm and I went on to serve as President of the club my senior year and it was one of my favorite high school memories. Fast forward to my MBA graduation–I was in a 3/2 program where I had completed 3 years of undergrad and 2 years of grad school. I was quite a bit younger than most of my graduating class and had much less work experience. I set my sights on a Brand Assistant job at Procter&Gamble–THE job for marketing majors. I don’t think I really understood what the job was, but I made it through the screening interview and was invited out for a day of interviews, which meant I had a chance. Until I didn’t. That rejection was the hardest hitting of the many, many rejection letters I received that year. I did end up finding a job. When I had interviewed at Procter&Gamble, the feedback I got was that I didn’t yet have a proven track record of accomplishment (the issue of being a bit young for an MBA). So at the job I did get, I set about accomplishing things. After 6 months I reached out to Procter&Gamble to ask for another chance. This was unusual because at the time they only hired out of colleges and graduate programs–I was already working. I did convince them to interview me again, and, in my first interview of the day, the hiring manager had his feet on the desk, leaned back, and said, “We didn’t want you the first time, why are you back?”. Well, maybe that was the defining moment because I was totally fired up from that question and I leaned forward in my chair, and said “I’m going to tell you why…” and by the end of the day I had the offer that started me on my first career–Brand Management. Being able to make a strong case and persevering, especially after a setback or failure, became a superpower for me that. served me through my corporate career and then when I went out on my own as a consultant, and then when I completely changed direction and became a Yoga and meditation teacher, and then when I started my business, which was all about mindfulness in the workplace.

Lisa, 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 worked for over 20 years for large companies, primarily in the marketing, Brand management, communication and product promotion space. During that time, I also taught aerobic exercise in the mornings before work. I really loved doing that; I’m a bit of a gym rat, and ex-gymnast and a dancer, and it was a great outlet that had nothing to do with my day job. So I always was a contractor at gyms teaching a few classes a week. I had not really practiced much Yoga when one of the gyms I taught at wanted to add a Yoga program and asked if I wanted to teach. “Sure”, I said, thinking it would be fun to teach something else. So I got my first 200-hour certification and started to teach. Then I got my next 300 hours of training and taught more and more. And I started to see some changes in my daily approach to life. There was a bit of softening of my Type-A, hard-charging approach. I didn’t lose my temper as much. I was more present. That was interesting. I studied more and took a few trips to India to deepen my learning. Teaching started taking up more of my working hours, even as I still worked part-time in the “corporate space” as a consultant. One day, observing a fairly contentious meeting, I thought ‘these people could use some Yoga!” And thus, my business, Being Well Yoga, was born.

Being Well Yoga brings Yoga, meditation, and mindful education on-site to workplaces, events, and just about every kind of gathering and community you could imagine. We also lead week-long international retreats for rest, relaxation, renewal and community. We help people get quiet, calm, flexible, strong, and resilient, so that they can be more effective in their daily lives.

I believe my understanding of the corporate workplace, my deep knowledge of Yoga and meditation, and my ability to create community are what sets me apart from other teachers. Further, my approach is accessible, with kindness, humor, and just a little edge to make it interesting.

Of course, during the pandemic shut-down I changed the way I work, like so many people. In addition to transitioning my corporate clients to Zoom classes, I created a community class that meets twice a week that is open to anyone anywhere. There is no just “dropping in” from time to time; students make a monthly commitment of one or two classes a week. The rate is reasonable enough that no one frets if they have to miss a class or two, however, the commitment encourages people to have a consistent practice. This class has students from all over the country (we have all the time zones represented!) and continues to grow, even after the pandemic. Many students get to meet each other in person during retreats, and I love seeing people who have practiced together for years actually to be in the same location! The class has a real community feel, with birthday celebrations and weather reports, and introductions of dogs and other pets. We now have been practicing together for over 4 years! At this moment, this is what I am most proud of.

I’m also very proud that I took a leap and created a career that is very different than anything I ever imagined when I graduated. I love helping people and this practice is a wonderful tool and support for health and well-being, change-management, peace, calm and more.

I love working with people in groups and one-on-one. We can work in-person or via Zoom. It is my greatest privilege and joy to help students find the practice that is right for them–the practice will meet them where they are; they are in the perfect place right now to begin. This is not about touching your toes or busting out a handstand–it’s about becoming present and mindful and comfortable in your body and mind. Yoga and meditation can become a part of your healthcare, and you don’t have to spend hours in class to reap the benefits. A little, with consistency, goes a long way.

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

I was raised, and then educated, with the idea that one has to always be producing. That you don’t rest until the work is done. So I found it very, very hard to ever relax, even during leisure time. I always had a nagging thought that I needed to do more. Sunday nights were the worst, when I felt I had to get a head start on the work week, so the stress began well before Monday morning. This productivity story (in my head) didn’t really have anything to do with whether or not I was working on the right things, the things that really made a difference. It was just “go, go, go”!

When I started practicing Yoga, I was able (finally) to get out of my head and back into experiencing and feeling my body and all of its wisdom–including gut reactions and intuition. When that came to the forefront, I knew I had to move in that direction–helping others get off the hamster wheel of thinking and be more mindful and present about how they spend their time.

It’s a journey, though. I still catch myself feeling like I need to do more and more and more. And then I remember. I am enough.

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

As a business owner, the most important skill is listening. I have expertise and great ideas, but those go nowhere until I have really listened, and heard, and understood, what is important for my students and clients. It takes attention and patience to listen, and it is so critically important.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beingwellyoga.com
• Instagram: @beingwellyoga
• Facebook: @beingwellyoga
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakfeder/
• Youtube: @beingwellyoga1662

Image Credits

all pictures are my own